Oisin McConville: Kick outs hurt Armagh but they were convincingly beaten

Armagh now fall into the qualifiers and there won’t be as much pressure on. Any of the hype will have disappeared and there will be negativity for a spell

24 April 2022; Donegal players, from left, Jason McGee, and Michael Langan compete for possession with Rian O'Neill of Armagh during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Donegal and Armagh at Páirc MacCumhaill in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Armagh had been built up - by some of us I suppose - when you looked at the wins over Dublin and Tyrone. I know it was only the League but they won those matches in different ways. You’re going to have to do that if you want to succeed in Ulster.

When Armagh went to Ballybofey, the decision to push up on kick-outs or to sit back on them proved to be the death-knell. Like every manager, you just make a decision and hope it works for you. It didn’t really work for Kieran McGeeney and Armagh, who lost eight of their own 13 at one stage.