McGrath goal kickstarts Derry

FOR 20 minutes it looked like Armagh were capable of getting an unlikely result to get their campaign off the mark at the Athletic Grounds.

Six points ahead and hurling with confidence, the Orchard men had Derry, also seeking their first win in the series, worried.

However, once the Oak Leafers got their defensive structure sorted and their trusted finishers into the game, there was only going to be one outcome.

Stephen Renaghan danced past three defenders to slot home a brilliant solo goal on 10 minutes and scores from David McCreesh, Dylan McKenna and Caolan Rice had Armagh 1-5 to 0-2 ahead.

Meehaul McGrath rifled home a 17th-minute goal for Derry and they were soon reeling off the points to lead 1-12 to 1-8 at the interval.

They added seven more points in the opening six minutes of the second-half and when Sé McGuigan sent Naoise Waldron in for a brilliant 46th-minute goal, the Oak Leafers were well on their way.

SCORERS – Derry: A Grant 0-7 (4f, 1 ‘65); B Cassidy 0-6 (3f),M McGrath 1-3; N Waldron 1-1, S McGuigan 0-4; D Cartin, M McGuigan, G Bradley, C Waldron 0-2 each; P Cleary 0-1

Armagh: D McCreesh 0-5, S Renaghan 1-1,C Rice 0-2, E McGuinness, D McKenna, J Corvan, N Curry (f), D Gaffney, S Toal 0-1 each

DERRY – M Kirkpatrick 6; D McCloskey 6, S Cassidy 5, N Farren 6; E McGill 6, C McKenna 7, P Cleary 7; M McGuigan 8, G Bradley 8; A Grant 8, M McGrath 7, C Waldron 6; N Waldron 6, S McGuigan 7, B Cassidy 8 Subs: J Phelan 6 for McGill, L Murphy 5 for S McGuigan, D Cartin 7 for McCloskey, C McCrystal 5 for Kirkpatrick, T Rankin 4 for N Waldron

ARMAGH – S Doherty 5; O Curry 6, P Gaffney

5, A Fox 6; C Lavery 6, C Clifford 7, J Corvan 7; N Curry 6, P McGrane 5; D McKenna 5, C Rice 6, D McCreesh 7; S Renaghan 7, E McGuinness 6, D Gaffney 5 Subs: S Toal 6 for Lavery, B Shortt 5 for Rice, D Magee 5 for McKenna, C McAnallen 5 for McCreesh, D Grant 5for McGrane

REF— L Gordon (Galway)