Dublin attack shows class in second half

So Dublin will travel in good spirits to re-acquaint themselves with Cork in Parc Ui Chaoimh and Armagh shoot back across the border to mull over the possibility of facing Donegal in the championship without Diarmuid Marsden. Such are the ways of league life.

Marsden hoofed a bullet of a point early on to underline his well polished credentials but limped to the sideline after just 12 minutes, a sight which seemed to defalte Armagh folk both on and off the field.

Even if the Ulster side's demise revolved around the premature departure of Marsden, his replacement did little wrong; Peter Loughran fired over two points in the next twenty minutes, as Armagh retreated at the break just a point in arrears.

Still, there was a sense throughout that initial thirty minutes that Dublin had returned to their old stomping ground with the more sophisticated set of attacking blueprints and - as in the drawn game they proceeded to chalk up shameful wides early on.

But there was no lack of creativity, with Dessie Farrell buzzing about menacingly, Jim Gavin and newcomer Brendan O'Brien roaming the periphery and Brian Stynes revelling in midfield, the position he has specifically stated is his favoured.

Again, the opening period was defined by a blustery, stop-start kind of apathy, with neither team hunting with the sort of razorish hunger their followers will hope to witness over the coming months. After 17 minutes, Kieran McKeeney pumped a long through ball for Loughran to fetch and curl over to give Armagh a slender advantage but Dublin mucked in over the subsequent quarter hour.

Paddy Moran threaded a pass for O'Brien to convert, Darcy popped up free in the middle of the field and kicked a score and then Gavin and Keith Galvin worked the ball to Ciaran Whelan, who nailed the first of his three points.

Armagh stayed in touch through a McConville free and a marvellous score from Loughan, made possible by a subtle feint but there was always a sense that Dublin would step it up sooner or later.

Jarlath Burns and Paul McGrane, after a bright few minutes, were gradually forced to buckle under the supremacy of Stynes and, in particular, Whelan.

The strong Raheny athlete was inventive all afternoon and it was no surprise to see him take a central part in the defining score of the day. Two minutes after the break, loitering near the Armagh goal, Whelan grabbed a measured pass form Farrell and was quickly smothered by Enda McNulty and goalkeeper Brendan Tierney. Even as those present began to foresee drama in another Dublin penalty saga, the ball rolled limply from Whelan's grasp and across the line at a leisurely pace. Green flag and a general feeling that for Dublin, the hay was all but saved.

So it proved. Armagh battled on fruitlessly and with twenty minutes remaining, the Dublin forwards were turning circles in prairies of space. Farrell danced by McNulty for three second half scores, Gavin and Darcy converted frees and Stynes punched the air after he retrieved the ball from a sea of orange and converted another. That left matters at 1-11 to 0-8 after 49 minutes and it was difficult to visualise an Armagh revival.

McConville continued to impress with free-kicking opportunities and Paddy McKeever launched a whopping point which served as a footnote to his team's long-term threat but in all, it was a flavourless day for them.

They now have to contend with problematic injuries and maybe a slight dent in overall confidence also. Those on the Hill, meanwhile, hollered with the enthusiasm of fans who saw good portents in this league campaign. Their team are one game away from Dublin's first league title in six years and have a chance to redress an unhappy afternoon spent against Cork earlier this year.

Dublin: D Byrne; P Moran, S Ryan, P Christie; T Lynch, P Curran, K Galvin; C Whelan (1- 3), E Sheehy; J Gavin (0-2, 1 free, sideline), D Darcy (0-2, 1 free), B Stynes (0-2); N O'Donoghue, D Farrell (0-3), B O'Brien (0-2). Substitutes: M O'Keeffe for N O'Donoghue (42 mins), D Homan for E Sheedy ( 49 mins), L Walsh for P Moran (55 mins).

Armagh: B Tierney; E McNulty, G Reid, M McNeill; K Hughes (0-1), K McGeeney, A McCann; J Burns, P McGrane; J Rafferty, D Marsden (0-1), J McNulty, P McKeever (0-2), O McConville (0-4, all frees), C O'Rourke (0- 1). Substitutes: P Loughran (0-2) for D Marsden (12 mins), J McEntee for J Burns (46 mins), A O'Neill (0-1) for C O'Rourke (46 mins).

Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).