Murnin on mark as Armagh strike a psychological blow
ANDREW MURNIN fired the crucial goal and walked away with the man-of-the-match award as Armagh triumphed in this Ulster derby.
The big full-forward finished with 1-3 at Croke Park and struck his goal in the 54th minute to give Kieran McGeeney’s men a five-point cushion.
They required every bit of it as a spirited Fermanagh, who host Armagh in the Ulster Championship on May 19, pushed them all the way.
The Erne men scored the last three points of the game through sub Tomas Corrigan, Conall Jones and Barry Mulrone to get the gap down to two.
But time ran out on their bid for a first piece of silverware under Rory Gallagher as Armagh held on.
It’s the second time in four seasons that Armagh have beaten Fermanagh in the Division 3 decider and they will have played each other three times in four competitive games by midMay.
Experienced Seán Quigley was a late addition to the Fermanagh attack, wearing number 28, but lasted just five minutes after being shown a black card and was a big loss to his side’s attack.
Séamus Quigley picked up the scoring slack in his brother’s absence, hitting nine points. He gave an exhibition of first-half free-taking, converting six placed balls out of six.
One of those frees was won by Declan McCusker who was named in defence but started in attack and asked plenty of questions of Armagh.
McCusker also got on the score sheet himself as did Conall Jones who pointed in the 22nd minute to put Fermanagh into a brief 0-5 to 0-4 lead.
Fermanagh also led at 0-8 to 0-7 late in the half after Quigley’s sixth free though Murnin tied it up at 0-8 apiece at the break.
That meant both sides had already scored a point apiece more than when they met in Round 6 of the league and drew 0-7 to 0-7.
Former Tyrone star Ryan McMenamin was a vocal figure on the Fermanagh sideline as selector and roared out words of encouragement.
Armagh fired seven firsthalf wides though defender Patrick Burns scored one beauty and repeated the feat in the second half.
Armagh opened up with some fine football in the third quarter and had a number of point scorers. Sub Ryan McShane, Murnin, Niall Grimley, Burns and Aidan Forker were all on the mark as they moved three clear.
Murnin’s goal on 54 minutes put them 1-13 to 0-11 up, though there was a touch of fortune to it. He capitalised when Gregory McCabe challenged keeper Patrick Cadden for a high ball which broke kindly in front of an empty net.
Armagh couldn’t quite put the game to bed from there and it was Fermanagh who finished stronger, but they just couldn’t reel in the deficit.