BLOOMING ORCHARD ARE TOP OF THE TREE

ARMAGH skated to the top of Division Two and now look certain promotion favourites after inflicting a 13-point defeat on Fermanagh on a stormy night in Brewster Park.

Goals by Jamie Clarke, Aidan Nugent and Aidan Forker (above) helped Kieran Mcgeeney’s side move ahead of Roscommon on scoring difference at the top of the table.

And it wasn’t just the result but the performance that will have them purring.

Fermanagh were missing some established frontliners from their starting 15 and they couldn’t plug the gaps.

They were sliced open with alarming ease time after time and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table in serious relegation trouble.

The Erne players didn’t lose heart but nothing they tried came off and Armagh were vastly superior all over the field, playing with a pace and power which they couldn’t contain.

The only good news was the return of Tomas Corrigan from injury for the first time this season but there were very few positive takeaway notes for the shellshocked home side.

Missing Eoin Donnelly, Conall Jones, Che Cullen and Declan Mccusker from the starting team, didn’t have the depth in their squad to cope with a rampaging Armagh side.

The visitors had a dream start after just three minutes, Jamie Clarke showing all his silky skills on a muddy pitch, accepting a pass from Paddy Burns into his chest and turning, side-footing the ball past Erne keeper James Mcgrath.

Armagh led 1-4 to no score after 24 minutes. Three of those points came from placed balls, Rory Grugan and Clarke scoring frees and Rian O’neill who made converting a 45 off the ground in dreadful conditions look easy.

Stephen Mcgullion got Fermanagh’s first score in the 25th minute when a half-decent goal chance was rebounded and fell to him.

James Mcmahon came up from the half-back line to point a lovely score with his left foot to reduce the deficit to five points, 1-4 to 0-2.

That was as good as it got for Fermanagh as Armagh pulled away again, scoring four of the remaining five points before half-time.

Aidan Nugent scored two first half points from play, the second of which came in a lovely flurry of activity for Armagh. Jarly Og Burns floated over a lovely curling point from the wing and Nugent followed within a minute, scoring off his left.

Armagh led 1-8 to 0-3 at half time, the same eight-point lead that they held at the break against Westmeath in Mullingar a fortnight earlier, a game that subsequently ended in a draw after a brilliant Westmeath comeback.

Could Fermanagh stage something similar? Home hopes were dashed however after 42 minutes when Aidan Forker scored a second Armagh goal.

Jarly Og with a fisted pass took out several defenders before Forker found a gap to the keeper’s right and clipped it inside the post.

Oisin O’neill scored a point and then had a hand in Armagh’s third goal. His attempt at a point dropped short and, with Fermanagh slow to react, Mark Shields batted down the high ball to Nugent who tapped home.

Nugent nearly nipped in for his second when sub Jason Duffy slipped him through but he couldn’t keep the shot down and it smacked off the crossbar.