Ruthless Armagh blitz through hapless Derry in rip-roaring win at Celtic Park

Armagh were ruthless in front of goal at Celtic Park this afternoon, as they hit the net three times en route to a superb 11-point win.

The first two goals came from Derry mistakes, and they left the door wide open for Armagh to punish them.

Armagh overturned Derry in midfield by Tiernan Kelly which led to a 3v2, and Oisin Conaty laid ball off for Ross McQuillan – who came on for the injured Peter McGrane just 10 minutes into the game - who smashed the ball emphatically past Odhran Lynch and into the net.

On 20 minutes, Armagh were gifted another goal by Derry, and this time it was Rogers who lost possession to Aaron McKay. He supplied Conor Turbitt, who had nothing but 80 metres of grass between him and Lynch, and the Clann Eireann man carried the ball in and coolly slotted home in the one on one.

Armagh remained hot and led 2-8 to 0-6 at the break. Derry came back into the game however, and reduced the deficit to five points before Rian O’Neill put the game to bed on 53 minutes. Blaine Hughes picked out McQuillan, who fed O’Neill and once again he had acres of space in the Derry defence to carry the ball in before drilling low and hard into the far corner.

It was game over from that point on, and a confident Armagh side closed out a 3-17 to 0-15 win.

It was a difficult week for Armagh, with Ciaran Mackin tearing his cruciate ligament in training, whilst Andrew Murnin also missed out. However, players like McQuillan and Niall Grimley, who haven’t played too many minutes this season, were superb and McGeeney was full of praise for the duo.

“It was a tough week,” conceded McGeeney.

“But the boys that came in, I thought Ross McQuillan was outstanding, in the last two weeks he has been flying at training now and he's really pushed on and he came in today and I thought he was fantastic.

“And Niall Grimley. He's had a tough year himself personally, and he's been always close (to featuring more) and to put in a performance like he did today, I'm delighted for him and his family.”

For full match report and more reaction see this week’s Newry Reporter – in shops Wednesday June 5!

MATCH STATS

Derry: O Lynch; C McCluskey, C McKaigue, D Baker (0-1); C Doherty, D Gilmore, E Bradley (0-1); C Glass (0-3, 1m), B Rogers; E Doherty (0-1), E Mulholland, P Cassidy (0-1); N Toner, S McGuigan (0-7, 4f), L Murray (0-1).

Subs: C McFaul for Bradley (42), D Cassidy for Toner (48).

Armagh: B Hughes; B McCambridge (0-1), A McKay, P McGrane; J McElroy, Connaire Mackin, A Forker (0-1); R O’Neill (1-1), B Crealey (0-1, 1m); S Campbell, R Grugan (0-1), T Kelly (0-2); O Conaty (0-2), N Grimley (0-1), C Turbitt (1-4, 1m, 1f).

Subs: R McQuillan (1-0) for McGrane (10), J Duffy for Campbell (51), O O’Neill (0-1) for R O’Neill (55), G McCabe for Forker (55), P McGrane for McQuillan (62), S McPartlan(0-1) for Crealey (65), A Nugent (0-1, 1f) for Turbitt (66), D McMullen for Mackin (70+2).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).