Last-gasp Clarke rescues it for Armagh

JAMIE Clarke’s goal in the last minute of normal time rescued a point in a game in which Armagh were both leading and trailing by five points.

It was the proverbial game of two halves as, despite being in complete control in the opening half, the Orchard looked lost at sea for much of the second period as a rampant Westmeath rattled three second-half goals past keeper Blaine Hughes.

Armagh should have won the game and they were lining up to shoot when referee Barry Cassidy blew the full-time whistle after five minutes and four seconds of additional time.

Played at TEG Cusack Park, both teams made a number of changes from the sides that were announced during the week. Armagh’s Aidan Nugent and Jarly Og Burns, making his first start of the campaign, came in for Brendan Donaghy and Jason Duffy, while Westmeath switched their keeper with Jason Daly replacing Eoin Carberry and Killian Daly, Sam Duncan and Luke Loughlin starting ahead of Jack Smith, Paddy Halloway and Lorcan Dolan respectively.

Armagh enjoyed a stunning start with 1-4 in the opening 10 minutes. Rory Grugan bagged the goal as early as the fourth minute after Conor Turbitt’s delightful measured pass.

That goal gave the Orchard a 1-2 to no score lead as Rian O’Neill had converted two frees.

It was vintage Armagh as they moved the ball at pace, although Westmeath left themselves open with a risky strategy of taking short kick-outs and the Orchard pressed high and overturned them time after time.

Points from Turbitt, Aidan Forker and Burns stretched Armagh’s lead and they were 1-6 ahead before John Heslin opened Westmeath’s account with a converted free on 13 minutes.

The Lakesiders hit back with Heslin and Luke Loughlin both bagging a brace of points and although Oisin O’Neill and Grugan added to Armagh’s tally, Westmeath were finding joy at the other end as Ray Connellan and Ronan O’Toole found the target.

But Armagh came strong again with Oisin O’Neill converting a forward mark, Mark Shields slotting over and Grugan converting a 40m free for a 1-12 to 0-07 lead at the break.

As expected, Westmeath responded — what came as a surprise, though, was how they completely turned the game around.

First Heslin picked off a point and then on 40 minutes the same man converted from the penalty spot after Grugan was judged to have made a foot-block and two minutes later Denis Corroon rattle the Armagh net to level.

Grugan pulled a point back for the Orchard but there was no stopping Westmeath as Loughlin rammed in Westmeath’s third goal with 52 minutes played.

The Lakesiders were on top and Boidu Sayeh, O’Toole and

Heslin kept the scoreboard ticking over.

After a rocky spell, Armagh got back into the game with Rian O’Neill’s fourth converted free and a fisted point from substitute Jason Duffy.

Clarke’s palmed goal had the Westmeath fans questioning a square ball after Ethan Rafferty’s pass but it levelled the score and Armagh travel to Brewster Park next week knowing promotion is still an objective but they can’t afford any more slip ups. Westmeath scorers: JHeslin1-5,1-0pen, 0-4 frees, L Loughlin 1-3, D Corroon 1-0, R O’Toole 0-2, B Sayeh 0-1, R Connellan 0-1. Armagh scorers: R Grugan 1-4, 0-2 frees, R O’Neill 0-4, all frees, J Clarke 1-0, O O’Neill 0-2, A Forker 0-1, M Shields 0-1, C Turbitt 0-1, J Duffy 0-1, J Og Burns 0-1.