Orchard perseverance bears fruit

Armagh 1-21 Wexford 1-14

Clearly, after this impressive display of power football deservedly earned Armagh a first National League, players and management will relish the prospect of taking on Fermanagh in two weeks' time.

In Croke Park yesterday, Wexford were not exactly out of their depth in their first Allianz final since 1946, but the plain truth is that they were never serious contenders.

Twenty-two years after he played in the county's first final, Kernan could take special satisfaction from a milestone victory adorned with sparkling football, to which his son Aaron made a notable contribution and Steven McDonnell was awesome.

As a contest, it paled by comparison with the excellence and the melodramatic finish of the Division Two decider, but it suited Armagh's real intentions of using it in preparation for their Ulster opener.

The mere fact that team captain Kieran McGeeney handed over the trophy to County Secretary Patrick Óg Nugent before he came down from the Hogan Stand served to emphasise the degree to which this overdue success rates in the greater scheme of things. The count-down to the championship had already begun.

In advance of the game, delayed by almost half an hour by the celebrations following Monaghan's sensational victory, serious questions were asked of Wexford's real ability even after their dismissal of Tyrone in the semi-final.

The answers were being provided by the start of the second half, when they began to struggle.

But, to their credit, they still produced a respectable challenge and a scoreline which more than vindicated their appearance in the final.

Three times in the opening 20 minutes the scores were level, with team captain John Hudson having kicked Wexford into the lead straight from the throw-in and Matty Forde restoring it after a quick reply from Oisin McConville.

However, after Brian Mallon had Armagh's second score in the ninth minute, they were never to lead again.

Their defence coped well under pressure, with full-back Philip Wallace covering well against Ronan Clarke and Niall Murphy in the left corner making a promising start against Steven McDonnell.

But, by the end of the quarter McDonnell was looking dangerous and he was to increase his threat substantially as the game aged.

Around midfield Wexford were fairly competitive, with David Fogarty switched out from wing-forward at an early stage to confront Paul McGrane and designated right corner-forward Redmond Barry picking up some useful possession when he roamed outfield.

However, while Matty Forde did cause problems for the Armagh backline and Hudson linked up well with him at times, Wexford's attack still lacked a real cutting edge.

Forde didn't get enough clean possession and his kicking wasn't what his team needed.

Though there was never more than two points in it up to the 26th minute, Armagh stepped up a gear by doubling that margin within three minutes.

In reality, it was a gear to which Wexford could only aspire. Aaron Kernan was doing some tremendous work at wing-back, Kieran McGeeney was always comfortable without really having to assert himself, and behind him Francie Bellew held his line in typically stubborn fashion.

Further forward, Armagh were winning key battles, with John Toal to the forefront at midfield and John McEntee performing a very useful role at centre-forward.

Inside, they posed a potent threat, with Brian Mallon impressing with his high work-rate and good finishing.

McDonnell was central to most of the attacking moves, contributing four of a 10 points total which was to underscore his invaluable role. At the break, Armagh were ahead by double scores, 0-12 to 0-6 and nine minutes into the second half they had stretched their lead to nine points.

Clearly recognising that they were in trouble, Wexford brought in one replacement at midfield and another at wing-forward.

Forde, seeing little ball inside, came out to the centre on McGeeney and had some limited success in winning ball. But it was more as a provider and his finishing inside was missed.

At the other end, McDonnell tormented Wexford with his remarkable accuracy from a variety of positions and Armagh were at their most threatening when they instigated movements from their half-back line.

They were coasting to victory when Wexford's determined play best exemplified by Philip Wallace's spirited resistance at full-back, Nicky Lambert at midfield, Redmond Barry, and of course, Forde brought them a goal at the three-quarters stage.

The scorer was Diarmaid Kinsella and it reduced the deficit to a more respectable five points.

But, any hopes were dashed when Armagh produced a goal in the 58th minute, finished off by substitute Paddy McKeever.

Kernan introduced four substitutes seven minutes from time and if he could turn back the clock, he might have been tempted to come on himself and win that medal denied him by Down back in 1983 and again two years later against Monaghan.

Scorers for Armagh: S McDonnell 0-10 (0-3 frees); P McKeever 1-0; B Mallon 0-4; O McConville and R Clarke 0-2 each; A Kernan, J Toal and P McCormack 0-1 each.

Wexford: M Forde 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 '45); D Kinsella 1-1; J Hudson 0-2; R Barry, D Fogarty, P Wallace and D Foran 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, P McCormack; A Kernan, K McGeeney (capt.), C McKeever; J Toal, P McGrane; M O'Rourke, J McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon.

Subs: P McKeever for O'Rourke (53rd minute); J McNulty for Bellew, A McCann for Kernan, A O'Rourke for McKeever and P Loughran for McGrane (all 63rd minute).

WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, S Cullen; D Kinsella, N Lambert; D Fogarty, P Colfer, J Hegarty; R Barry, J Hudson (capt.), M Forde.

Subs: J Darcy for Colfer and P Forde for Hegarty (second half); D Foran for Darcy (injured, 53rd); P Curtis for R Mageean (65th).

Yellow-card replacement: R Mageean for N Murphy (37th).

Referee: G Kinneavy (Galway).

Attendance: 46,445.