Kieran McGeeney rues missed chances

It’s two weeks since Kieran McGeeney suggested that Donegal were not as physical a side as Dublin or Kerry and, though it seemed like an odd observation at the time, it was one that bore more than a grain of truth yesterday.

Donegal didn’t hammer Armagh — who on the day, lacked intensity and a willingness to embrace the physical side of things. Rory Gallagher’s side outthought and outplayed Armagh instead. McGeeney admitted as much afterwards.

“There were no real physical hits out there today,” he pointed out. “They are just good at those one-twos through the 65s, getting support runners off the shoulder, stretching you out. They open up the game and they are very good at it.” Dublin scored more in their opening dismissal of Longford, but this was the first real standout statement by one of the candidates for Sam against a side of more meaningful merit — even if Armagh had spent the spring in the third tier.