Survival boost for Armagh as McKeever inspires

Armagh 1-14 Down 0-16:ARMAGH BOOSTED their hopes of Division One survival in the most dramatic circumstances when they edged past neighbours Down by a point in a thrilling showdown at the Morgan Athletic Grounds.

They may have endured a traumatic week off the field in the build-up to the tie but on the night Ciarán McKeever found himself in the spotlight for all the right reasons when his inspiring leadership and sublime equalising point that preceded Michael Stevenson’s winner confirmed sporting romance is alive and well.

The Orchard County’s flirtation with relegation is nonetheless still a live issue, while Down’s focus remains on a semi-final slot and should the teams replicate this form in the final scheduled leagues games they may both achieve their respective short-term goals.

Certainly a game rich in skill, high in intensity and garnished with several towering individual displays hinted at the possibility of better things to come.

Armagh manager Paddy O’Rourke is taking nothing for granted, though.

“We came into this game against a difficult backdrop but we now have got two valuable points. I thought the team’s application and character in a demanding situation were immense. But there is still work to be done if we want to stay in the top bracket,” said a relieved O’Rourke after the final whistle.

Armagh’s brisk start propelled them into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead with 10 minutes gone, Stevenson quickly stamping his imprint on proceedings by converting two frees, while Ambrose Rogers was equally sharp in laying down a marker at midfield for the visitors.

But Armagh were to suffer two major setbacks before the interval when first Peter Carragher was stretchered of with a suspected broken leg and then his replacement, Rory Grugan, was helped off with a hamstring problem.

And had it not been for goalkeeper Philip McEvoy who made stunning saves from Rogers and the lively Eoin McCartan, Armagh might have found themselves facing a mountainous task.

As it was they were just one point in arrears at the break, Down having bossed the last 10 minutes of the opening half when Aidan Carr took his tally of pointed frees to four.

But it was when the sides were deadlocked at 0-10 each in the 46th minute that Armagh plundered a psychological advantage when the influential Brian Mallon drilled home from a penalty after referee David Coldrick penalised a Down foot-block.

When Caolan Rafferty hoisted Armagh into the lead again, Mark Poland thundered over two fine scores to set the tone for the visitors’ anticipated gallop down the home straight.

But in a fairytale ending McKeever piloted over a spectacular score from the right touchline before the ice-cool Stevenson plundered an injury-time winning point.

ARMAGH: P McEvoy; A Mallon, D McKenna (0-1), F Moriarty (0-1); K Dyas, C Vernon, P Duffy; P Carragher (0-1), B J Padden; C McKeever (0-1), M Stevenson (0-6, frees), A Duffy; C Rafferty (0-1), B Mallon (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), B Donaghy. Subs: R Grugan for Carragher (19 mins), D Lavery for Grugan (32), J Lavery for W J Padden (half-time|), J Kingham for D Lavery (61) Yellow cards: Rafferty (28 mins), Moriarty (58), D Lavery (61), B Mallon (69).

DOWN: B McVeigh; D McCartan, C Garvey, A Brannigan; N McParland, D Gordon (0-1), K McKernan (0-1); A Rogers (0-2), K King; D Hughes (0-2), M Poland (0-2), A Carr (0-6, frees); C Maginn, E McCartan (0-2), C Laverty. Subs: B Coulter for Maginn (49 mins), C Reilly for E McCartan (59), K Quinn for Brannigan (62), A McArdle for King (63). Yellow cards: Gordon (28 mins), Garvey (40), Quinn (68), Coulter (62) Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).