Murnin revives Armagh’s high hopes

ARMAGH took another step towards promotion to Division 2 when they turned in a power-packed second-half performance to see off Derry at the Athletic Grounds last night.

By the 13th minute they had lost Ethan Rafferty and Joe McElroy to injuries and had begun to look vulnerable as Derry launched a series of counter-attacks but an Andrew Murnin goal revived their spirits before a points salvo from James Kielt and Mark Lynch helped to propel Derry into a 0-8 to 1-4 interval lead.

Armagh, though, engaged a higher gear right from the start of the second half.

Their sweeping firsttime deliveries forced Derry onto the back foot, with skipper Rory Grugan and the irrepressible Murnin acting as the vanguard of their onslaught.

The Orchard County side they racked up five scores between the 44th and 57th minutes as Derry were knocked out of their rhythm.

This defeat adds considerably to Derry’s relegation worries now that they have only gained one win from five outings.

Armagh’s injury concerns are unrelenting, though, and manager Kieran McGeeney is keeping his fingers crossed that he will not be shorn of key personnel for the run-in to possible promotion.

ArmAgh: B Hughes; P Burns (J Cosgrove 73), O Lappin, P Hughes (N Rowland h-t); E English (O MacIomhair 44), G McCabe, J McElroy (R Kennedy 13); S Sheridan, C Vernon; B Crealey, A Forker, N Grimley; R Grugan, A Murnin (R Lappin 67), E Rafferty (C Watters 8).

scorers: A Murnin 1-2, R Grugan 0-6, (4f), R Grugan 0-2 (1f), N Grimley (1f), C Watters, A Forker, N Rowland, O MacIomhair 0-1.

Derry: B McKinless; R Mooney (B Rogers 40, P McNeill 56), K Johnston, C McCluskey (K McKaigue 27); M McEvoy, C McWilliams, C Doherty (P Cassidy 53); C McAtamney, E Bradley; E Lynn (P Hagan 60), B Herron, T O’Brien (N Toner h-t); P McGrogan, M Lynch, J Kielt.

scorers: E Bradley (2f), M Lynch (2f) 0-4, J Kielt 0-2, B Heron, C McAtamney, C McWilliams, McKaigue 0-1.

referee: D O’Mahony (Tipperary).