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Details

Date Time Competition Season
12 June 2022 4:00 pm Sam Maguire Cup 2022

Match Report

Armagh cruise by Donegal

Armagh cruised into the quarter finals of the All Ireland in emphatic style after a 3-17 to 0-16 win over Donegal at Clones today.

Goals from Rory Grugan, Rian O'Neill and Stephen Sheridan was the difference between the sides as Kieran McGeeney's team continue to show impressive form heading into the final eight.

Armagh got off to the best possible start and hit the back of the net after just under 15 seconds. Rian O’Neill won the throw-in before finding Rory Gruggan with an inch perfect pass. Grugan turned expertly before smashing the ball into the top corner.

Armagh failed to kick on from here and struggled in retaining possession from their own kickouts.

Aaron Doherty, Ryan McHugh and two points from Michael Murphy gave Donegal the lead after just over five minutes played, before a Paddy McBrearty score and a free from Michael Murphy opened up a three-point lead.

Rory Grugan and Shane O’Donnell traded scores, as did Rian O’Neill and Ciaran Thompson in the following minutes. Thompson’s score for Donegal could have been the best of the half with a beautifully struck shot from outside the 45-yard line.

Armagh did find form again and when they played the ball in early to the likes of O’Neill, Duffy and Nugent, the Saffrons looked dangerous. Three points from their marksmen O’Neill and a cracker from Jarly Óg Burns brought Armagh back within touching distance of the side who knocked them out of the Ulster SFC.

On the half hour mark, the game turned in favour of Kieran McGeeney’s side after Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton dragged Aidan Nugent down inside the square. After consulting with his umpires, the referee awarded a penalty to Armagh and showed the Donegal number 1 a black card for his challenge.

Caolan McGonagle stood between the posts for the penalty, but Rian O’Neill blasted the ball home for his side’s second goal of the half. Jason Duffy and Rory Gruggan added another couple of points for Armagh before Michael Murphy’s free just before the interval sent his team into the changing rooms trailing 2-8 to 0-10.

Jarly Óg Burns got the first score of the second half before three more points from Rian O’Neill and a point from Stefan Campbell extended Armagh’s lead.

Michael Murphy and Jason McGee added points for Donegal, but Armagh put the nail in the coffin when Stephen Sheridan finished from close range for his side’s third goal of the game.

Murphy continued to try and claw back scores for Donegal but Conor Turbitt’s two points off the bench as well as Rory Grugan and Jarly Óg Burns’ third points of the afternoon continued to keep their side’s tally ticking over.

Niall and Shane O’Donnell added two late scores for Donegal, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Armagh.

The Saffrons will certainly fancy their chances against any side left in the competition after knocking both Donegal and Tyrone out in the past week.

Armagh

1Ethan Rafferty Goalkeeper
2James Morgan Defender
3Aidan Forker Defender
4Connaire Mackin Defender
5Aaron McKay Defender
6Greg McCabe Defender
7Jarlath Óg Burns Defender 26', 36', 70'
8Stephen Sheridan 12 Midfielder 57'
9Ben Crealey Midfielder
10Rory Grugan Forward 1'
11', 34', 63'
11Stefan Campbell Forward 46'
24Andrew Murnin 22 Forward
13Aidan Nugent 17 Forward
14Rian O’Neill Forward 30'
17', 22', 25', 27', 39', 50', 51'
15Jason Duffy 19 Forward 32'
16Blaine Hughes Goalkeeper
17Mark Shields 13 Defender
18Niall Rowland Defender
19Ciaran Higgins 15 Defender
4Conor O’Neill Defender
21Eoin Woods
22Conor Turbitt 24 Forward 60', 70+1'
23Ross McQuillan Forward
12Jemar Hall 8 Forward
25Justin Kieran Forward
26Cian McConville Midfielder

Donegal

1Shaun Patton Goalkeeper 28'
2Caolan Ward 19 Defender
3Brendan McCole Defender
4Aaron Doherty Forward 1'
5Ryan McHugh 22 Defender 3'
6Eoghán Bán Gallagher Defender
7Caolan McGonagle Midfielder
8Ódhrán McFadden Forward
9Jason McGee Midfielder 53'
10Ciaran Thompson 25 Midfielder 21'
17Peadar Mogan Forward
12Michael Langan 11 Forward
13Patrick McBrearty Forward 7'
14Michael Murphy 5', 6', 10', 38', 52', 59'
41'
15Shane O’Donnell Goalkeeper 16', 18', 70', 70+4'
16Michael Lynch Goalkeeper
11Niall O’Donnell 12 Forward 69'
18Hugh McFadden Midfielder
19Conor O’Donnell 2
20Paul Brennan Defender
21Neil McGee
22Jeaic McKelvey 5 Forward
23Daire O Baoill Forward
4Stephen McMenamin Defender
25Jamie Brennan 10 Forward
26Caolan McColgan
  • What a fantastic performance from Armagh to seal a 3-17 to 0-16 win over Donegal.

  • 70'

    O'Donnell and Óg Burns trade scores late on.

  • 63'

    Point for Rory Gruggan.

  • 61'

    Conor Turbitt scores with his first touch for Armagh.

  • 60'

    Michael Murphy free.

  • 58'

    Stephen Sheridan has now put Armagh ten points up with another goal.

  • 52'

    Two quick fire points from O'Neill followed by one by apoint by Michael Murphy.

  • 46'

    Stefan Campbell point.

  • 42'

    Michael Murphy booked.

  • 39'

    Rian O'Neill adds another for Armagh.

  • 37'

    Jarly Óg Burns with the first score of the second half.

  • 36'

    We're back underway in Clones.

  • 35'

    Both sides out ahead of the second half.

  • 35'

    What a cracking first half of football and it's Armagh who lead 2-8 to 0-10 at the break. Still all to play for in the second half but Armagh will be confident especially with the wind at their backs.

  • 35'

    Murphy free for Donegal.

  • 34'

    Gruggan point for Armagh, 1-6 without reply now.

  • 33'

    Jason Duffy point.

  • 31'

    O'Neill buries it into the back of the net and gives his side the lead.

  • 30'

    Patton drags Nugent down and is given a black card, penalty Armagh. Drama here at Clones.

  • 28'

    O'Neill levels it for Armagh.

  • 28'

    Ward with a block off the line to deny Campbell a goal. Great block but massive miss.

  • 25'

    O'Neill free.

  • 24'

    McGonagle booked for late challenge on Rafferty

  • 23'

    O'Neill with another for Armagh.

  • 22'

    Ciaran Thompson with a cracker from distance.

  • 19'

    Another point for O'Donnell.

  • 18'

    Rian O'Neill with a great solo score for Armagh.

  • 17'

    Shane O'Donnell point for Donegal.

  • 14'

    Great start to the game so far, both sides clearly well up for the clash.

  • 12'

    Rory Gruggan free for Armagh.

  • 10'

    Murphy with a free.

  • 8'

    McBrearty with another point. Armagh struggling from their own kickouts.

  • 6'

    Murphy witht wo quick fire points to give Donegal the lead.

  • 4'

    McHugh with a point for Donegal.

  • 2'

    Doherty with a chance for goal which is saved by Rafferty and the Armagh keeper puts it over the bar. First score for Donegal.

  • 1'

    Rian O'Neill wins the throw in and delivers a great ball into Grugan who buries it into the top corner. Great start for teh Saffrons.

  • Conor O'Neill back in for Armagh for Connaire Mackin after an injury in the warm up.

  • Just over ten minutes until throw in 2 changes for both side's with Aaron Doherty and Peader Morgan replacing Stephen McMenamin and Niall O' Donnell for Donegal. Connaire Mackin and Andrew Murnin come in to the Armagh starting side for Conor O'Neill and Jemar Hall.

  • Donegal knocked Armagh out of the Ulster SFC after a 1-16 to 0-12 win over the Saffrons, before losing out in the final to Derry.

  • Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for a massive game here in Clones. With a place in the quarter finals of the All Ireland at stake, both Donegal and Armagh will have to be on top of their game.

Ground

St. Tiernachs Park, Clones
St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones, County Monaghan, H23 FK29, Ireland

Luke is a final year Journalism student in DCU. He is a Sports Reporter for Wicklow People Sport and FinalWhistle.ie.