Kernan lets rip at ‘schoolboys’
Kernan said that his players hadn't proved themselves, adding that their discipline had let them down. He also said that some of Armagh's play had been "schoolboy stuff." Galway manager John O'Mahony may have been as upbeat as many of the team's supporters who went home contentedly after enjoying some copy-book play in the first 25 minutes especially, but admitted to being gratified by the improvement achieved in a week. It was evident from the early stages that the influence of players like Kieran McGeeney and Paul McGrane (both recovering from injuries) was badly missed by Armagh. It was to be seen in the way Galway gained an early psychological advantage by controlling midfield, making steady headway at half-forward and, in general, by having a near-commanding presence on the field. After 20 minutes, the home side led 0-5 to 0-1 after kicking some excellent scores (all but one from play).
The problem for Armagh was that, as a result of being undermined in defence, they found it quite difficult to build up attacking movements from the half-back line. Allied to the weakness at midfield, this limited the effectiveness of Steven McDonnell and Diarmaid Marsden, who operated on their own inside with Ronan Clarke roaming away out the field. Apart from that, the covering of Kieran Fitzgerald (on Marsden) and Michael Comer was very effective.
During the early phases, Joe Bergin was quickest to make an impact around the middle of the field (before team captain Kevin Walsh settled), Michael Donnellan looked like his old self and 21-year-old Nicky Joyce was very economical with the ball he won at full-forward. Armagh were much more involved for the last 10 minutes of the first half, when midfielder Malachy Mackin missed a possible goal chance when he failed to make a clean catch at the edge of the square. By now, Ronan Clarke was starting to win ball and Martin O'Rourke, earlier well-beaten by an in-form Seán Óg de Paor, was making headway, too, at wing-forward. Nevertheless, progress was minimal for the reason that McDonnell in particular wasn't getting clean possession, and at the break
Galway had a six-point advantage, 0-9 to 0-3.
Notably, Armagh had a goal disallowed for no apparent reason in injury-time, when the referee had signalled a free-out before substitute Oisín McConville blew the ball into the net after it broke from keeper Brian O'Donoghue.
Undoubtedly, that was a huge disappointment for Armagh facing into the second half, yet it didn't deter them from making a bold bid at recovering. Without actually slackening off their effort, Galway lost ground under increasing pressure and the margin was down to four points (0-10 to 0-6) when Galway corner-back Michael Comer was sent off after a second yellow card offence. The fact that the next two scores came from Galway, from de Paor, when he missed an open goal after rounding the keeper and a Nicky Joyce free, effectively decided the issues. Shortly afterwards McDonnell was sent off, to be followed by Paddy McKeever in the last minute.
Michael Collins' refereeing was well up to his usual high standard.
Galway: N. Joyce 0-5 (0-1 free); P. Joyce and M. Clancy 0-3 each; M. Donnellan 0-2 (0-1 free); D. Savage, J. Bergin and S. Óg de Paor 0-1 each. Armagh: S. McDonnell 0-4 frees; P. McCormack, D. Marsden, O. McConville (free) and P. McKeever (free) 0-1 each.
B. O'Donoghue; B. Dooney, K. Fitzgerald, M. Comer; D. Burke, D. Mullahy, S. Og de Paor; K. Walsh (capt.), J. Bergin; M. Clancy, P. Joyce, M. Donnellan; D. Savage, N. Hickey, T. Joyce.
Subs: C. Monaghan for Mullahy (injured, 14th minute); D. Meehan for Savage (52nd); D. O'Brien for Dooney (62nd); D. Blake for Burke (70th).
P. Hearty; E. McNulty, J. McNulty, P. McCormack; A. O'Rourke, T. McEntee, J.P. Donnelly; J. Toal, M. Mackin; M. O'Rourke, A. McCann, S. Kernan; S. McDonnell (capt.), R. Clarke, D. Marsden.
Subs: O. McConville for Mackin (29th minute); P. McKeever for Kernan (41st); B. Mallon for M. O'Rourke (60th); A. Kernan for A. O'Rourke (66th).
M. Collins (Cork).
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