How the Armagh players rated against Donegal * Top Scores * Key Battle * Ref Watch

Ethan Rafferty: Stood tall to save Doherty’s piledriver. Armagh were out-manoeuvred in midfield and he struggled to find a team-mate but was accurate from short kick-outs. Safe hands under high ball. 7

James Morgan: Alternated with McKay on McBrearty and kept him bottled up. Tigerish in the tackle and he used the ball well. 7

Aidan Forker: As usual he picked up Michael Murphy and as usual he had a good duel with him. Murphy did give him the slip for a first half point but Forker came out on top. Kick-passing was brilliant at times. 7.5

Conor O’Neill: Strong and confident, he has nailed down his place in the starting line-up. Picked up Aaron Doherty who got an early point but rarely threatened after it. 7

Cahair O’Kane: Paddy Tally appointment can settle things down for Derry

As it happened: Clann Eireann pip Newbridge in an end-to-end battle and Errigal Ciarán prove too much for Erin’s Own, Cargin

Aaron McKay: Clobbered by Murphy early in second half after he’d caught a great ball. A mature and composed performance from the Dromintee clubman who was solid in defence. 7.5

Greg McCabe: Continues to impress at the heart of the Armagh rearguard. Picked up Peadar Mogan and kept him scoreless. Stood tall in the second half as Donegal battered at the Orchard door. 7.5

Jarly Og Burns: Joined the attack in the first half to clip over a point. He grew in stature after half-time and got on a lot of ball as Armagh soaked up pressure and counterattacked and kicked two more excellent points. 8

Stephen Sheridan: Covered a lot of ground in the Orchard cause and walked the ball into the Donegal net to put Armagh out of sight. 7

Ben Crealey: Up against Jason McGee in the midfield battle and acquitted himself well. Played in Sheridan for the goal that sealed the game. 7

Rory Grugan: He had the ball in the Donegal net after just eight seconds – unofficially the second-fasted Championship goal in history. Added two points before half-time and another in the second half. 7.5

Stefan Campbell: Didn’t hit the heights of the Tyrone game but worked hard. Two wides in the first half and missed a gilt-edged goal chance. Did find the target in the second half. 7

Andrew Murnin: Caolan Ward kept him quiet in front of goal but the St Paul’s clubman worked hard in the Armagh attack. 6.5

Aidan Nugent: Won Armagh’s first half penalty when he was dragged down by Patton. Came within a whisker of playing Rian O’Neill in for a second half goal. 6.5

Rian O’Neill: See Star Man

Jason Duffy: Had a stormer, particularly in the first half. An outlet for kick-outs, he worked tirelessly up front too and Donegal struggled to contain him. He scored a point himself and was involved in Burns’ score. 8

Substitutes:

Conor Turbitt: Replaced Murnin midway through second half and chipped in with two points.

Jemar Hall: In for his Forkhill clubmate Sheridan for the closing stages. Not on long enough to be rated.

Mark Shields: Not on long enough to be rated.

Ciaran Higgins: Not on long enough to be rated.

Justin Kieran: Not on long enough to be rated.

Star Man

Rian O’Neill (Armagh)

Sent Armagh on the way to victory when he caught the throw-in and sent the ball straight to Grugan who smashed it past Patton. And he kept them on it, by adding 1-4 by half-time including two points from play, a 45 and a penalty. Jinked through half-a-dozen in gold and green to add another early in the second half and finished the game with 1-7. 8.5

Top score

WE had to wait all of nine seconds for it. Rian O’Neill leapt to grab Brendan Crawley’s throw-in, took a quick look forward and then smashed an accurate long ball approximately 70 metres into Rory Grugan’s midriff. Grugan turned his marker and blasted a brilliant finish into the top corner of the Donegal net. Practiced on the training ground, perfected yesterday.

Ref Watch

Brendan Crawley (Kildare)

DONEGAL were aggrieved with his decision to show a black card Shaun Patton and award Armagh a penalty. Crawley got both calls right. Flashed a few yellow cards to keep a lid on the game. Michael Murphy got one and he could have got another.

Key Battle

Jarly Og Burns (Armagh) v Michael Langan (Donegal)

LANGAN can be a match-winner for Donegal but Silverbridge clubman Burns kept him on the periphery of the game yesterday. Meanwhile, Burns grew in confidence and added two points after the break to the score he’d posted in the first half.