National Football League Division 1A: Armagh 3-9 Galway 1-11
AGAINST all the odds Armagh produced an invigorating display to lower the colours of the All-Ireland champions at St Jarlath’s Stadium, Tuam, yesterday.
It was the perfect Christmas box for the Orchard county, who were much more superior than this four-point winning margin.
They ruled midfield from start to finish, with Paul McGrane in outstanding form.
His superlative goal at the start of the second half inspired Armagh to perform heroics.
John Rafferty hammered home the first of their three goals after a shot from James Byrne was parried by the Galway keeper Pat Comer.
In the 41st minute a long ball from Cathal O’Rourke was broken and fell invitingly to Diarmaid Marsden, who rattled the net from close range.
The Galway goal was totally against the run of play and most of their points were from frees.
Armagh could have had a few more goals.
Armagh: Mark Campbell, Enda McNulty, Gerard Reid, Mark McNeill, Kieran Hughes, Kieran McGeeney, Justin McNulty, Jarlath Burns (0-1), Paul McGrane (1-1), John Rafferty (1- 1), Cathal O-Rourke, Paddy McKeever (0-1), James Byrne (0-1), Diarmuid Marsden (1-4), Des Mackin.
Subs: Ger Houlahan for McKeever 45 mins, David Wilson for Rafferty (injured) 56 mins.
Galway: Pat Comer, Robin Doyle, Gary Fahy, Richie Fahy, Kevin Fallon, Ray Silke, Sean Og de Paor, Fergal Gavin, Sean O Donaill, Paul Clancy, Jarlath Fallon, Michael Donnellan (0-1), Derek Savage (1-1), Padraig Joyce (0-3), Niall Finnegan (0-5).
Subs: Kevin Walsh for O Donaill 45 mins, Shay Walsh for Clancy 50 mins, Tommy Joyce (0-1) for Jarlath Fallon 55 mins.
Referee: Kevin Walsh (Clare)
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ARMAGH’S stunning win over All-Ireland champions Galway apart, Ulster sides only managed victories over provincial rivals in yesterday’s third round of NFL games.
Fermanagh trounced Cavan 3-13 to 0-8 in Enniskillen gaining revenge for Championship defeats in the last two seasons, while Monaghan edged out Down by 0-14 to 0-13 in Scotstown, but otherwise it was a tale of woe for Ulster sides.
The tone was set in Division 1A where Cork overcame Donegal 1-8 to 0-10 in Ballybofey and Tyrone recorded a miserable 2-6 to 1-9 draw away to Leitrim.
Derry at least had the excuse of missing a number of key players as they succumbed 1-6 to 0-6 in a low-scoring battle with Clare in Division 1B.
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CONFIDENCE sky-high, Belfast light welterweight Eamonn Magee tonight seeks to end long months of title frustration by taking the Commonwealth crown back to his Ardoyne heartland.
Battle plans complete, the 27-yearold southpaw was at the Ulster Hall ringside on Saturday as the first of three Commonwealth title bouts involving Belfast boxers finished prematurely and in heartbreak for courageous cruiserweight Darren Corbett.
Tonight it's Magee’s turn to go into the lion’s den with a 12-round away from home clash against Preston’s Paul Burke for the vacant light welterweight champion’s spot at Bowlers niteclub in Manchester.
Despite the Corbett shock, the former World junior silver medallist remains undaunted and convinced he can put the ageing Burke away in the later rounds to set up the prospect of a WBU World title showdown with Liverpool's 'Shamrock Express' Shay Neary.
