Monday, December 23, 2024

Derry 0-15 Armagh 3-17: Orchard men inflict third loss in-a-row on Oak Leafers

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Ross McQuillan and Niall Grimley were star performers having hardly featured so far this year while Conor Turbitt was again prolific hitting 1-4 on a day when 3-14 of the team’s total of 3-17 came from play.

Armagh scored two first-half goals but they could easily have had two more before half time with Oisin Conaty hitting the crossbar early on and Barry McCambridge opting for a fisted point on yet another occasion Derry were caught out.

Derry did take an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes with Emmet Bradley’s point their only score from play at that stage.

However Armagh streamed forward in numbers, punishing every turnover as Derry started to doubt themselves.

The first goal in the 13th minute came from McQuillan, who had only come on three minutes earlier as a blood sub for Peter McGrane.

Armagh turned the ball over and streaked clear and McQuillan kept the shot low to beat Lynch for the first time.

Six minutes later Armagh struck a second goal, this time Brendan Rogers guilty of a slack fist pass across the field which was intercepted.

Conor Turbitt won the foot race, showing good composure to outfox Lynch and after a lung-bursting run still managed a deft finish to put Armagh ahead 2-3 to 0-4 after 19 minutes.

Armagh won the second quarter 0-5 to 0-2 with Tiernan Kelly and Aidan Forker tagging on points while at the other end Diarmuid Baker popped up with rare and valuable point from play for ponderous Derry, who trailed 2-8 to 0-6 at half time.

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