Champions less than impressive as Antrim hang tough

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier/Armagh ...0-15 Antrim ... 0-12: Much more was expected from Armagh than they showed in Saturday's All-Ireland Senior Football qualifier against Antrim at Casement Park. The titleholders did survive, but they were pushed to the limits.

A bit more experience and coolness by Antrim could have pushed the Sam Maguire Cup-holders out of the race as the Orchard County boys were but a pale shadow of their 2002 personae.

They were wayward up front and, although they controlled midfield, they failed to stop Antrim storming forward with sharp raids.

Armagh led by 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval after a first half which surprised Armagh. Antrim had dug deep into their resources to stay with the All-Ireland champions, and the argument was level twice - in the eighth (0-2 apiece) and 26th (0-5 each) minutes - even though Armagh had the advantage of the wind.

Play was rather ragged, and some of the decisions by referee John Bannon were baffling. Still, the closeness of the scores kept the game interesting with Antrim proving they were not going to be the expected pushovers.

Armagh might have had two goals, however, but first the crossbar and then full back Tony Convery got in the way.

On 18 minutes Paul McGrane ghosted in to connect with a centre from Oisín McConville, but the midfielder's punched effort came back off the bar.

Four minutes later a shot from the right by Steve McDonnell crashed off an upright, and Ronan Clarke's attempted shot was smothered by Tony Convery with the ball going out for a 45.

Antrim closed the gap to a point immediately after the restart as Kevin Madden pointed his fifth free-kick, but the better understanding and experience of Armagh proved vital.

Still, the Saffrons pressed the All-Ireland champions at every opportunity, and their defence, despite being under severe pressure, kept their net intact with some excellent blocking.

Paul McGrane held firm at midfield throughout for Armagh, while Steve McDonnell cracked over some excellent points - two in 60 seconds to leave his side 0-14 to 0-9 ahead after 58 minutes.

Antrim rallied and unanswered points by Kevin Madden (two) and Mark McCrory left just two points between the teams on 70 minutes.

Oisín McConville had the last say with a pointed free-kick in overtime for a three-point win that Armagh just about deserved. Yet, they never looked like All-Ireland champions

Armagh shot 13 wides, while Antrim missed the posts on just six occasions.

But one wonders what might have happened had Madden rattled the Armagh net on the hour instead of blazing over the bar.

"I was glad to hear the final whistle," said Armagh manager Joe Kernan.

"It was bad for the nerves, but I knew Antrim would not be the pushovers the pundits said. We knew better than that."

ANTRIM: S McGreevy; A Finnegan, T Convery, N Ward; S Kelly, R O'Loan, G Adams (0-1); J Quinn (0-1), M McCrory (0-1); K Brady, M McCarry, K McGourty; C Kelly, D O'Hare, K Madden (0-9, 7f). Subs: P McCann for Quinn (46 mins), T O'Neill for McCann (69 mins).

ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, J McNulty, K McElvanna; A O'Rourke, K McGeeney, A McCann; P Loughran, P McGrane (0-1); D Marsden, B O'Hagan, O McConville (0-7, 5f); S McDonnell (0-6), R Clarke (0-1), T McEntee. Subs: P McKeever for O'Hagan (46 mins), J McEntee for Clarke (51 mins), J Toal for Loughran (68 mins).

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).