O'Rourke reign gets off to losing start

Armagh 1-12 UUJ 0-16

New Armagh manager Paddy O’Rourke made a losing start with a Dr McKenna Cup defeat to UUJ at Crossmaglen.

After getting off to a flying start, the Orchard men were unable to match the fitness of Adrian McGuckin’s students, who picked off some wonderful scores.

But there was some comfort in the fact that two of UUJ’s most potent attackers, Stefan Forker and Jamie Clarke, are Armagh men.

The new rules scarcely made an impact, with the only mark of the game claimed by Charlie Vernon in the 64th minute, although Brian McCone’s first half goal could well have been deemed a square ball in normal circumstances.

Former Down boss O’Rourke must have been delighted with the movement and sharpness of his attack in the opening quarter.

With James Lavery and Malachy Mackin laying s solid platform at midfield, they knocked over a series of neat scores.

Tony Kernan, with three, until forced to retire injured, and two from Joe Feeney had they ahead by 0-5 to 0-2 when McCone stole in for a 16th minute goal, fisting Ronan Austin’s right wing cross to the net.

But the game changed dramatically thereafter, with the students suddenly springing to life in a dominant second quarter, during which they outscored the hosts by seven points to one.

Forker steered over a handful of scores, with Caolan O’Boyle, Darren Hughes and Clarke also on target to tie it up at 1`-6 to 0-9 by the turnaround.

Jason McAnulla gave the students the lead for the first time two minutes into the second half, and not even the introduction of big games Stevie McDonnell, Aaron Kernan and Charlie Vernon could re-ignite the Orchard challenge.

Caolan O’Boyle brought his tally to four from play, and Clarke continued to strike accurately from frees, while Shane Mulligan and Conor Bayne were in terrific form at the back for the students.

Ryan Henderson, Shane O’Neill, Kernan and McDonnell all chipped in with points, and the latter had a chance to earn a draw with a difficult stoppage time free, but his effort drifted wide.

Armagh: P Hearty, A Mallon, V Martin, B Shannon, S O’Neill (0-1), B Donaghy, F Moriarity, J Lavery, M Mackin, R Austin (0-1), C Watters, J Feeney (0-2), T Kernan (0-3, 1f), R Henderson (0-3, 1f), B McCone (1-0).

Subs: M McNamee for T Kernan, C Vernon for Mackin, A Kernan (0-1) for Watters, A O’Neill for Feeney, S McDonnell (0-1, 1f) for McCone.

UUJ: S O’Kane, A Girvan, S Mulligan, G McCartan, C Bayne (0-1), E Kenny, G McCartan, D Hughes (0-1), C O’Boyle (0-4), P Hughes (0-1), M Gottche, J Clarke (0-4, 4f), J McAnulla (0-1), S Forker (0-4, 3f), D McNulty.

Subs: D Mulholland for McCartan, T McCann for McNulty, C Nolan for Clarke.

Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh).