Armagh overcome 14-man Roscommon to reach first semi-final in 19 years
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Armagh’s Conor Turbitt celebrates scoring his sides second goal. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie
It wasn’t supposed to be this easy. In the end, Armagh’s struggle gave way for the ultimate comfort. They cruised past a severely hindered Roscommon challenge to secure a long-awaited All-Ireland semi-final spot.
Roscommon’s travelled in search of their first championship win in Croke Park since 1980 and started dreadfully. After 16 minutes, Conor Cox put an end to six inaccurate efforts to land their opening point of the quarter-final.
Armagh’s opening was the opposite. From the throw-in, Rian O’Neill soared and sent a long ball towards Conor Turbitt. A curling effort produced the first score after ten seconds.
Niall Grimley drove forward to deliver their second before Barry McCambridge linked up with Rory Grugan and smashed a shot high past Conor Carroll for a terrific goal. That initial quarter was a nightmare for Davy Burke’s side. David Murray departed early on due to injury and Ultan Harney collapsed with apparent back pain soon after. Ruaidhrí Fallon picked up a yellow card for a late shoulder on Tiernan Kelly during a breakaway move.
The number nine was sent off before half-time for a second attempted shoulder, this time on Grugan. All of the Connacht outfit’s big hitters fired blanks in the first half. Diarmuid Murtagh dropped two short. Daire Cregg did the same and was also blocked down. Murtagh did finally generate a white flag with his sixth shot late on.
Donie Smith put two wide including a fisted effort. Enda Smith missed from range. It was defender Niall Higgins who landed their only other point from play before the turnaround. Armagh led 1-3 to 0-4 at the break.
Then came a spirited fightback. Eoin McCormack and Dylan Ruane advanced down the left wing for successive scores that left them level. Oisin Conaty did similar into the Hill 16 end as he curled over a right-footed point in front of the Cusack Stand. From that kickout, Armagh pressed a 14-man opponent. They won the restart long and the clever Grugan was creator again for half-time substitute Stefan Campbell.
That source would prove fruitful again on the 51st minute mark. For the second game in a row, Armagh would capitalise on a short kickout malfunction. Turbitt laid on the tackle as Carroll tried to tap to his corner-back Higgins, Tiernan Kelly mopped up the break, Turbitt took off. A quick bounce settled him to slide low past a scrambling goalkeeper.
Suddenly they were at ease. Roscommon resorted to desperate floaters to the square for the final few minutes. Conaty cut through again and again. His final point was met by a visceral orange roar. A run of six consecutive quarter-final defeats is at an end.
: B. McCambridge (1-2, 1 mark); C. Turbitt (1-2, 1 free); O. Conaty 0-4; S. Campbell 0-2; N. Grimley, A. Forker (0-1 each).
: C. Cox (0-5, 4 frees); D. Ruane 0-2; N. Higgins, E. McCormack, B. Stack, A. McDermott, D. Murtagh (0-1 each).
: B. Hughes; P. Burns, A. McKay, P. McGrane; B. McCambridge, T. Kelly, A. Forker; R O’Neill, B. Crealey; O. Conaty, N. Grimley, J. McElroy; R. Grugan, A. Murnin, C. Turbitt.
S. Campbell for McGrane (half-time); O. O’Neill for O’Neill (50); R. McQuillan for Forker (Temp, 51–58); A. Nugent for Grugan (55); C. Mackin for Crealey (64), J. Duffy for Forker (70).
: C. Carroll; N. Higgins, R. Fallon, R. Dolan; D. Murray, B. Stack, E. McCormack; E. Smith, S. Cunnane; U. Harney, D. Murtagh, R. Daly; D. Cregg, C. Cox, D. Smith.
: D. Ruane for Murray (7 - Inj); C. Lennon for Harney (15 - Inj); A. McDermott for D. Smith (55); C. Heneghan for Daly (61); A Glennon for Cunnane (67).
M. McNally (Monaghan).
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