MATCH REPORT
Classy Armagh man helps kill off brave Lilywhites in ‘helter skelter’ affair
JAMIE CLARKE’S wanderlust has been well documented. However, his decision to come home and rededicate himself to the cause is arguably the biggest reason why Armagh supporters can look forward to the quarter-final draw this afternoon.
They go into the hat along with Monaghan to see which team takes on either Tyrone at 4pm next Saturday, or Dublin at 6pm in a glamour double-header at Croke Park.
If it lives up to the excitement of last night’s double-header, it will be doing just fine.
Whatever word Kieran McGeeney had in Clarke’s ear paid off in spades as the Crossmaglen player stamped his class all over the endgame of a pulsating, end-to-end affair. Three vital second half points were crucial to Armagh’s effort and the match, fittingly, ended with the number 13 playing keep ball near the Cusack Stand sideline as a brave Kildare effort ran out of time.
Both sides were happy to leave just two in an inside line and use pretty much everyone else to hit on the counter when the opposition was in position, Armagh in particular happy to crowd their own half and leave gaps to exploit up front around Jamie Clarke and Andrew Murnin.
It said much about Armagh’s defensive shape that it took Kildare until the 20th minute before one of the starting six forwards made it on the scoresheet.
By that stage Armagh had taken a double scores lead, 0-6 to 0-3, after looking that bit slicker in the opening period.
A sign of Armagh’s confidence? Stephen Sheridan eclipsed Kevin Feely from a Kildare kick-out to take a mark, not something that has happened too often in this year’s championship.
Kildare’s lack of composure in front of the posts has been a recurring failing. This time Daniel Flynn was the guilty party early on, HawkEye proving that yes, he did miss from nearly in front of the posts with a snap shot after working his way into a good position. Andrew Murnin, Gavin McParland and Jamie Clarke all contributed with quality points as Kildare had to rely on the deadball skills of Kevin Feely and an early score from Keith Cribbin after a galloping run to show them the way.
Midway through the half, Mark Donnellan jogged up the field to take a 45 only to drift it wide. That wasn’t the end of his involvement though, shouldering Andrew Murnin as he made his way back to goal, earning a yellow card for his troubles.
Quite why the Armagh forward felt the need to hold his face as he hit the ground is another matter entirely.
Aidan Forker’s point felt like he wanted to make the post-match highlights, cutting the ball classily over the bar with the outside of his left boot. That point left Armagh in the comfortable position of double scores before Niall Kelly ended the scoring drought by Kildare’s forward line, curling the ball over from the right.
That prompted Kildare’s best period in the game, hitting four points without reply to surge into the lead.
And Kildare were left to rue a few other missed chances. Ben McCormack’s shot came out off a post; Fergal Conway was also unlucky enough to be called back previously for barging when he bulldozed a path through the middle and was in on goal; Niall Kelly also hit the post with a left-foot effort.
Then came Armagh’s goal on 31 minutes, created by Rory Grugan with lovely feint running down the left channel to slip his man. He played it inside to Murnin whose goal attempt was halfblocked by Mick O’Grady at full stretch. Unfortunately for the Kildare defender, his brave attempt only served to deflect the ball into the goal area where Murnin poked it to the net just to be sure.
After Gavin McParland stretched the lead out to four, Niall Kelly’s point was an important one for Kildare going in at the break.
Jamie Clarke kept Armagh on the front foot almost immediately after the restart only for Kildare again to respond in the best way.
Feely’s place-kicking skills cancelled out that point, and another by Joe McElroy, only on the field as a substitute. Paddy Brophy then split the posts from the tightest angle on the right before Keith Cribbin created an ocean of space by dummying a pass. Instead, he swivelled and took the score cleverly himself.
Kildare had rediscovered their mojo and Daniel Flynn levelled the match at 1-10 to 0-13 with a hardearned individual score, shaking off the attention of tight-marking James Morgan to fire over.
Armagh needed a response. And they got it via a reliable source: Jamie Clarke.
His jinking run was followed by an important score that at least halted Kildare’s momentum as Kieran McGeeney emptied his bench.
As the excitement levels ratcheted up a level, it was turning into a helter-skelter affair with the crowd getting swept up in it.
Fergal Conway made two big plays.
First the ball was turned over and he popped the equaliser and then he made a vital interception before tearing forward to put his team in front again.
It was end-to-end at this stage, that man Jamie Clarke again finding the appropriate response, once more showing his thoroughbred pedigree with an effortless score. And when Rory Grugan added a close range free – Keith Cribbin was black carded for hauling down Joe McElroy – Armagh sensed the winning line in sight.
Especially when number six Brendan Donaghy popped up to kick an inspirational score.
A Kevin Feely free cut it back to the minimum before arguably the turning point of the game.
Ironically, it was Kildare’s best performer all season, the towering midfielder who missed with a kickable free from roughly 30 metres.
The player’s own reaction said it all.
Just to compound that miss, Armagh swept up the field and substitute Ethan Rafferty made a name for himself with a monster point under pressure.
Another foul on Jamie Clarke allowed Niall Grimley to push Armagh 1-17 to 0-17 ahead with four minutes of added time to come.
Kildare couldn’t manufacture that equalising goal though, the game ending with Clarke, typically, playing keep ball in front of the Cusack Stand. ArmAgh: B Hughes; J Morgan, C Vernon, P Hughes; M Shields, B Donaghy, A Forker (C O’Hanlon 45); S Sheridan, N Grimley; A McKay (J McElroy 38), S Campbell (O O’Neill 49), R Grugan (A Duffy 64); J Clarke, A Murnin (E Rafferty 48), G McParland. Scorers: A Murnin 1-1, J Clarke 0-4, G McParland 0-3, R Grugan 0-2 (1f), N Grimley 0-2 (f), S Campbell, A Forker, E Rafferty, J McElroy, B Donaghy 0-1 each. Yellow card: A Forker 18, J Morgan 37, E Rafferty 52. KildAre: M Donnellan; P Kelly (M Hyland 56), D Hyland, O Lyons; M O’Grady, J Byrne, K Cribbin (C O’Donoghue 59); K Feely, P Cribbin; F Conway, P Brophy, D Slattery (F Dowling 51); N Kelly (E O’Callaghan 65), D Flynn (T Moolick 68), B McCormack (C McNally 45). Scorers: K Feely 0-5 (5fs), P Brophy 0-3, N Kelly 0-2, F Conway 0-2, K Cribbin 0-2, B McCormack, D Flynn, M Donnellan 0-1 (f) each .Yellow card: M Donnellan 17, D Flynn 36, O Lyons 56. Black card: K Cribbin 59. referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary) Attendance: 38,900