Kearney has the last word as Derry claim some silverware

Armagh2-15
Derry2-16 (aet)

Armagh received two black cards as Derry won the O Fiaich Cup after extra-time in Crossmaglen yesterday.

Ethan Rafferty was the first to be dismissed by referee Brendan Rice in the 60th minute for pulling down Mark Lynch.

Brian Mallon followed in the second-half of extra-time for a similar foul on Benny Heron.

“Under those rules, they were black cards, but I’m no big fan of it,” said Armagh manager Paul Grimley.

“I don’t think a rule change was needed but we have to live with it now.”

Armagh and Derry agreed to play ten minutes of extra-time, five minutes each way, after the sides finished level at 2-13 apiece after normal time.

Both management teams also agreed to an unlimited flow of substitutions, with 21 made in total over the 80 minutes played.

The sides were level at 0-7 each at half-time.

Derry sub Declan Mullan scored the first goal of the game in the 41st minute with a low finish underneath goalkeeper Paidi Rodgers and Crossmaglen’s Kyle Carragher finished off a Jamie Clarke move with a goal for Armagh after 50 minutes.

Clarke, on his first appearance since returning home from America, missed a penalty before half-time but made amends by converting a second penalty attempt in the 58th minute.

That put Armagh three points clear but Mark Lynch’s excellent finish across the goalkeeper into the far corner helped Derry back into the lead.

Armagh sub Caolan Rafferty grabbed the last two points to take the game to extra-time.

Derry sub James Kearney scored the winning point in the second-half of extra-time.

ARMAGH: P Rodgers; P Hughes, G McCooey, M Murray; C McKeever, C Vernon, R Grugan; A Findon, P O'Neill; R Tasker (0-1), S Campbell (0-1), A Forker (0-2, 2f); K Carragher (1-2), E Rafferty (0-1), S Forker (0-3, 2f)

Subs: J Clarke (1-1, penalty) for O'Neill (25), S Harold (0-1) for Findon (35), M Shields for McKeever (HT), E McVerry (0-1, f) for S Forker (43), C Rafferty (0-2) for Grugan (48), B Mallon for Campbell (50), K Toner for E Rafferty (61), N Geoghan for Rodgers (62), N McConville for Tasker (63), K O'Rourke for Carragher (68).
DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, M McShane; C McAtamney, M Craig (0-1), SL McGoldrick (0-1); F Doherty (0-1), M Lynch (1-2, 1f); C McFaul, J Kielt (0-2, 2f), E Lynn (0-2); A O'Neill, E McGuckin, A Kerrigan (0-1)

Subs: D McBride for McShane (HT), D Mullan (1-0) for Kerrigan (HT), B Heron (0-3, 1f) for O'Neill (HT), C O'Boyle (0-1, f) for McGuckin (HT), P Bradley for Doherty (47), D Brown for Duffy (52), C Conway for McAtamney (65), J Kearney (0-1) for Lynn (66), C McWilliams for Craig (66), C Kielt for McGoldrick (67), P Cassidy (0-1) for Lynch (70).
Referee: Brendan Rice (Down)