McGuinness powers Orchard

ARMAGH 2-18 DERRY 1-15

ARMAGH took the spoils and a sure-footed step away from the Division 3A trap door at a sun-soaked Celtic Park.

Eoin McGuinness drew first blood for Armagh taking advantage of some poor Derry defending to strike home for the opening goal.

Derry responded with a goal of their own after they were awarded a penalty. ’Keeper Michael Kirk saw his efforts saved by opposite number Simon Doherty before captain Oisin McCloskey tapped in the rebound. The Orchard men then hit another late half goal through David McCreesh to leave it 2-9 to 1-5 at the break.

In a feisty second half Derry’s Cormac McKenna and then Armagh’s Nathan Green sent off for what the referee described as striking. SCORERS – Armagh: D Carvill 0-8 (7fs), E McGuinness 1-1, D McCreesh 1-0, N Cury (2fs), J Corvan, S Renaghan 0-2 each, C McAnallen, N Green, B Short 0-1 each Derry: A Grant 0-5 (4fs), O McCloskey 1-1, L Murphy, D Cartin 0-2 (1f) each, J Mullan, M McGuigan, G Bradley (1f), J Phelan, C Murphy 0-1 each

ARMAGH – S Doherty 9, C Clifford 8, A McGuinness 8, D Bridges 8, P Gaffney 8, N Curry 9, T Nevin 8, J Corvan 8, D McKenna 7, N Green 8, S Renaghan 8, D Carvill 9, C Carville 7, E McGuinness 7, D McCreesh 8 Subs: C McAnallen 7 for D McKenna (15), B Short 7 for N Green (66)

DERRY – M Kirkpatrick 7, E Gilmore 6, S Higgins 6, D McCloskey 7, N Waldron 6, C McKenna 6, C Steele 7, J Phelan 6, P Cleary 6, A Grant 8, M McGuigan 6, J Mullan 6, G Bradley 6, O McCloskey 6, L Murphy 7 Subs: N Farren 6 for C McKenna (25), D Cartin 7 for S Higgins (HT), C McKenna 6 for N Waldron (HT), N Waldron 6 for J Mullan (48), C Murphy 6 for M McGuigan (60)

REF – J Connors (Donegal)