Stunned Banner wilt in face of Orchard onslaught
“A self-inflicted wound” is how Gary Brennan felt about Clare’s game management in a frantic finish at the Athletic Grounds after their four-point lead ended up in a four-point defeat.
Instead of closing the game out after David Tubridy’s 67th-minute goal, they wilted and folded in the face of the growing, irresistible force that was Armagh, who found some late inspiration with an unanswered 1-5 and book a place in this morning’s draw for the All-Ireland SFC fourth round qualifiers.
There was nothing particularly special about the previous 69 minutes to suggest something remarkable was about to happen.
But from the second substitute Joe McElroy found the net, Armagh saw a chink of light and bolted towards it, landing four points from play during six minutes of injury-time to turn the game on its head.
“I’m delighted with the character they showed because that sort of stuff is very hard to put in to people,” said Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney.
“It’s either there or it isn’t. To be short the amount of players we’re short and still produce it, I think is a fantastic statement by that group of players.
“We had one bad game this year [against Fermanagh] and that was when they went down to 14 men and we’re still getting shit.
I have nothing but admiration for these boys. They never give up and they are started to show that.
Armagh undoubtedly are a team on the up but they dug themselves into a very large hole kicking 18 wides and for very long spells, Clare played with more purpose and end product.
But they were all at sea once Armagh level in sweltering heat and with the home crowd really getting into it, the sweat was on as the home side swarmed all over them.
Clare lost the kickout from McElroy’s goal and that was that. Points from Orchard captain Rory Grugan – the undisputed heartbeat of this team - and subs Gavin McParland and Ross McQuillan helped put the gloss on an incredible afternoon for Armagh.
McGeeney’s side is now one game away from matching last year’s achievement in reaching the last eight of the All-Ireland series and this time, with the inaugural Super 8s in store, the rewards are even greater.
When he looks around at some of the provincial runners-up who stand in their way, McGeeney must be licking his lips.
I don’t lick my lips at anybody. Clare should have gone up to Division One. They’d give anybody outside of the top six a game, if not beat them, and for us to get a result here with things going against us the way they were, is a good day for Armagh.
“It’s a new group of players and I do think if the supporters give them time, with the new fellas coming in from the U20s as well, I do think there’s definitely hope for them going up and competing with the top teams.
“We have that potential. We have a lot of pace in our team.
“It might be a wee bit away at the minute, but I think they’re showing great character and great desire for it.”
Armagh made the start they wanted in a lively opening half and raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes.
They moved the ball forward quickly and tried to hit the men inside but at times the final pass and shooting accuracy let them down and that was a growing feature of the opening half.
After a ropey first 10 minutes or so, Clare found their feet and scored five unanswered points to gain a real foothold in the game.
Armagh were wide open through the middle of their defence and allowed Clare to sail through unopposed with most of their scores coming directly in front of the posts, and they held a 0-9 to 0-7 interval lead.
There were loads of twists and turns in the second half with Clare dominant in the third quarter and opening up a 0-13 to 0-8 lead heading into the final quarter.
That’s when things got really interesting with Andrew Murnin’s smart turn and low finish, from Aidan Forker’s threaded pass, starting the first Armagh revival in the 56th minute.
Still, Clare thought they’d closed it out when Turbidy hit the net with three minutes to go.
A high challenge by Armagh sub Ryan Owens on Courtney gave Clare a penalty and while Blaine Hughes saved the shot, Tubridy followed up the rebound and tapped it into the net.
And there was still time for one more twist, with McElroy’s goal igniting Armagh’s furious finish.
Clare midfielder Gary Brennan was heroic at times, but was at a loss to explain how they let this one get away from them so quickly at the end.
“Everyone was trying to get on the ball and get us up the field, but we were probably rushing it a bit and giving them more opportunities to go ahead, and all of a sudden we go from three up to three down very quickly.
“You’d have to credit Armagh too, they took their chances when it really mattered. But there’s a real feeling it was a self-inflicted defeat from us, you know.”
R Grugan (0-6, 2 frees), A Murnin (1-1), N Grimley (0-4, frees), J McElroy (1-0), R McShane, A Murnin, A Forker, R McQuillan, G McParland (0-1 each)
D Tubridy (1-3), E Cleary (0-3, 1 free), J Malone (0-3), E Courtney (0-2), P Lillis (0-2), K Sexton, C O’Connor (0-1 each)
N Rowland for Mackin (HT), R Owens for McKay (42), R McQuillan for Hall (50), J McElroy for Sheridan (55), G McParland for McShane (65), J Duffy for Shields (70, BC)
K Harnett for Collins (HT), K Roche for Eyres (50), C O hAinifein for O’Dea (57, BC), G O’Brien for Fitzgerald (63), G Cooney for Sexton (65)
Fergal Kelly (Longford)
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