Gaelic Games

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist at The Athletic Grounds

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke says he had "more to do with his time" than listen to the pre-match criticism of his team going into Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie against Armagh.

The Red Hands had a disappointing league campaign and went to the Athletic Grounds as underdogs on Sunday, but forced extra-time before being edged out by one point.

O'Rourke said outside opinions did not register prior to the game and he had no doubts as to the quality Tyrone possessed, but was nonetheless delighted his players delivered a performance.

"We knew the performances during the year weren't good enough and we weren't happy with it, but it was different factors at play," O'Rourke said.

"We were determined to come here today and put in a big performance as we knew we had to, coming to such a difficult place to play championship football.

"We are pleased with how the boys battled for each other right to the end despite a number of setbacks. I'm just delighted the boys had that response in that as it shows the character of the lads is there.

"It wasn't sitting well with them with some of the criticism. We just have to take it [defeat] on the chin and obviously we're disappointed we didn't get the victory."

Trailing by five midway through the opening half and then losing Darragh Canavan and team captain Brian Kennedy to injury may have rocked Tyrone confidence.

However, they steadied and led in the second period, only for an Oisin O'Neill-inspired Armagh to break for home before Tyrone's Ben McDonnell forced extra-time with a well-taken goal.

O'Rourke's side again battled back when Armagh netted early in the additional period and had their chances to at leas force penalties with Eoin McElholm flashing a shot at goal past the post.

"In hindsight, if he puts it over the bar it makes a difference but if he gets it, then it's a great score so we won't blame him for that," O'Rourke countered.

"[I'm] Disappointed but we couldn't fault the effort of the boys from first whistle to the last.

"Early on when we lost our captain (Brian Kennedy) and vice-captain (Darragh Canavan), it would have been easy fold up the tents and forget about it, but the boys battled through, showed great hunger and great defensive work.

"We did a lot of things right but going forward we missed a lot of chances. Overall, we're disappointed but I've nothing but pride in the boys."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist at The Athletic Grounds

Image source, Getty Images

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney feels there is "much more" in his team but "I'm all for playing badly and winning" after their one-point extra-time victory over Tyrone.

Heavy favourites going into Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh looked set to kick on when leading midway through the opening half.

However, Tyrone stayed in it and grew into the match, taking the lead in the second period before Armagh rallied with Oisin O'Neill taking the game by the scruff of the net, yet a late goal from Ben McDonnell forced extra-time.

Despite playing the additional period with 14 men following Darragh McMullen's second yellow card, Armagh managed to find a way to edge home by 1-17 to 1-16 to face Fermanagh in 13 days' time.

"For the fellas to be able to dig deep and Gareth Murphy winning that type of ball at the end there…I wouldn't say it's your life but when the whole game rests on it, it shows a lot of character," McGeeney said afterwards.

"I believe there's much more in them. We didn't use our pace today, the game was slowed down and we let that happen. A win is a win. I'd rather win them than lose them."

McGeeney was not playing into the pre-match narrative that Tyrone's chances were slim following an underwhelming Division Two campaign.

"I've been watching football for almost 40 years now and I've yet to see Tyrone put out a bad team," he stressed.

"A bit like Kerry [All-Ireland quarter-final defeat] last year, you always have to be careful who's writing the stories. Not that I'm holding anything against you boys (media), heaven forbid."

If it wasn't a classic game of the highest quality, it certainly made up for it with gripping drama to the last as Armagh found a way.

Early on, his side looked set to take a firm grip, but Tyrone asked them questions they could ultimately answer.

"I thought we were in control a lot of the time and we gave the ball away," McGeeney reflected.

"Even for the [Tyrone] goal, we gave the ball away three times along the sideline there. It was just silly things.

"In fairness to the fellas, it couldn't be easy down a man in the modern game, it's very difficult to play against. To do that for the last 10 minutes of the game and the whole of extra time and to come out winners, it says a lot for them."

Image source, Sportsfile

Donegal turned on the style in the second half to beat Cavan 2-7 to 0-8 in the Division Two final at St Tiernach's Park in Clones.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Cavan started well and racked up a four-point advantage by 22 minutes.

Donegal responded through Katie Dowds, who registered two points to cut the gap to 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time.

Cavan scored an early free to stretch their advantage but, with the wind behind them, Donegal got into their stride and were soon level courtesy of two converted frees from Susanne White and a point from Ciara McGarvey after a fine move.

They then went ahead when Mia Bennett palmed the ball into the net at the second attempt after an initial effort fell short.

Donegal soon opened up a four-point cushion before Dowds fired in a second goal to end Cavan's hopes of a fightback.

In the Division Three final, Louth edged past Antrim 1-10 to 1-9 with the last kick of the game in Crossmaglen.

Louth went ahead early in blustery conditions but were then punished for a slack restart by Antrim's Aoibheann Monaghan who battled past two defenders before slotting in a goal.

Antrim, who had the wind in the first half, failed to build on the goal with eight first-half wides ultimately proving costly.

The Saffrons led 1-4 to 0-6 at half-time but their slender advantage was soon wiped out by Louth.

Grace Hoey scored a looping goal in the second period before Laura Agnew was shown a black card.

Two points from Cliodhna Logan gave Antrim a brief lead but Louth hit back and extra time was on the cards before substitute Laura Lynch scored the winner for the Wee County with a last-gasp free.

Image source, Getty Images

Niall Morgan is back between the posts for Tyrone's Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round title against Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday [16:15BST, live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and website].

Morgan didn't play in the Red Hands' final three league games with Oisin O'Kane taking his place, but the Edendork man reclaims the number one jersey.

Michael McKernan has returned to the starting line-up and is named at wing-back with Ben Cullen dropping out, while Frank Burns has also been named in defence as Seanie O'Donnell moves into the attack.

That means there is no place in the starting line-up for Ethan Jordan who must content himself with a place on the bench.

Kieran McGeary, who spent time travelling earlier this year, has also been named amongst the subs, but All-Ireland winning captain Padraig Hampsey remains out as he works his way back from injury.

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has opted to stick with the same 15 that began their draw against Kerry in the final round of the National League.

There is good news for the Orchard with Joe McElroy, Andrew Murnin and Barry McCambridge all fit for a place on the bench this week, but there is no room in the match day squad for their All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker who has been working his way back from ankle surgery.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Paddy Burns; Ross McQuillan, Gareth Murphy, Jarlath Og Burns; Tiernan Kelly, Ben Crealey; Greg McCabe, Darragh McMullen, Tomas McCormack; Cian McConville, Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Barry McCambridge, Joe McElroy, Ryan Duffy, Callum O'Neill, Daniel Magee, Conor Turbitt, Oisin O'Neill, Fergal O'Brien, Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin; Frank Burns, Joey Clarke, Michael McKernan; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O'Donnell, Ronan Cassidy, Ben McDonnell; Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly, Darragh Canavan.

Subs: Oisin O'Kane, Michael Rafferty, Aidan Clarke, Ben Cullen, Kieran McGeary, Dalaigh Jones, Aodhan Donaghy, Ciaran Daly, Lorcan McGarrity, Eoin McElholm, Ethan Jordan.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone coach Colm McCullagh feels dominating possession is key to silencing the Armagh support when the teams meet at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

The Red Hands enter the Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie against their neighbours as underdogs after an underwhelming league campaign in Division Two.

Attendances at their home fixtures early in the season dropped off and while a local derby in the championship may encourage more to travel to Armagh on Sunday, home supporters are expected to be in the majority with the game heading towards a sell-out.

That cauldron-like atmosphere will make life a little more difficult for Tyrone, but McCullagh feels there is only one way to reduce the decibel level.

"We played Armagh in the McKenna Cup and there were over 7,000 at it on a Friday night - you are talking about 2,000 at a Tyrone [National] League game," said McCullagh, who won two All-Ireland medals during his own playing days with Tyrone.

"Armagh have got serious support. It can be an intimidating place to go to. It's a close ground and there is a serious atmosphere about it.

"In terms of keeping the crowd quiet, it is just trying to get your hands on as much ball as possible and trying to do as much damage or harm as you can when you are in possession of the ball. When you are not, trying to limit it, I would say.

"The crowd in Armagh is hard to quiet any day."

Padraig Hampsey and Kieran McGeary are expected to be available this week, which will boost the Red Hands after a disappointing league campaign.

One positive from the early part of the year was the breakthrough of Ethan Jordan who has turned his attentions to Gaelic football after a spell with local soccer club Armagh City.

An All-Ireland winner at minor level alongside Darragh Canavan and Joe Oguz, Jordan hit 1-9 in both the draw against Kildare and defeat by Meath, accurate from play, frees and from deep.

"Ethan has been a good help and in terms of those two-pointers, if he gets an opportunity he is accurate," said McCullagh who also played both codes.

"He is new to inter-county. His body is getting used to all that as well in terms of the load of training.

"He has picked up a few knocks and injuries. He was in a game and then missed a game so he hasn't had a clean run of games. His body is probably getting used to it as well, the demands of training."

Niall Keenan
BBC Sport NI contributor

Image source, Getty Images

Donegal midfielder Hugh McFadden feels recent kick-out tendencies under the new rules have contributed to greater aggression around the middle of the field.

In the first half of Sunday's Division One league final, McFadden's team-mate Michael Murphy was shown a yellow card after coming together with Kerry's Dylan Casey with referee David Gough seeming to indicate a striking motion.

Replays showed Murphy making contact with Casey, with many post-game opinions suggesting the Donegal attacker was lucky to avoid red.

Long kick-outs have become a feature of the game since the inception of the new rules and McFadden feels that is leading to an increse of heavy challenges as players scrap for possession.

"I was asked a question there about how the box kick-out has affected the game -around the middle of the field now is so attritional," he said at Monday's Ulster Championship launch.

"The increase in breaking ball compared to the old game has gone through the roof too.

"There's so many aggressive, fit, strong, athletic, fast players running around breaking ball - the collisions now are just rising all the time."

Murphy came out of retirement last season after two years and excelled in Sunday's showdown, putting up 1-5.

Despite being 36, the Glenswilly native is showing no signs of slowing down, and McFadden was glowing in his praise of the 2009 Young Footballer of Year hailing Murphy's ability, longevity and mentality.

"He always makes the right decisions, he's a great team player.

"His passes sets up players that go in a certain direction - the way he plays encourages the team to make the right decisions as well in terms of his delivery and how he plays the game.

"That might sound very simple - he just plays football very well. He just makes the right decision so many times and is just an excellent footballer.

"I can't put a short summary together now to eulogise his strengths and his dedication to the Donegal jersey but just the top form and the credit he deserves for being in the physical capabilities, giving his time out of the game, and he's playing fantastic football and it's exciting for all of us so fingers crossed that it lasts for the summer."

Image source, BBC Sport

This week, the GAA Social sits down with former Wexford footballer Matty Forde.

The towering Ballyfad man is regarded as one of the greats of the game, winning an All-Star in 2008 as the Slaneysiders confounded expectations to reach that year's All-Ireland semi-final.

However, they were far from a flash in the pan, having reached the 2005 league final, beaten by an Armagh side that included none other than Oisin McConville.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Forde talks football and family, discussing the modern game, the glory days in the purple and gold, while opening up on the recent loss of his father, Paddy.

Listen to The GAA Social's interview with Matty Forde on BBC Sounds

Image source, Inpho

Meath rescued a 0-11 to 1-8 draw against Armagh which saved their top flight status and relegated Dublin from Division One.

Armagh were not assured of their own survival prior to the final round of games, but were in a relatively healthy position with a number of results required to go against them if they were to face the exit door.

As it was, the point was more than enough for them as they remain in Division One and led for most of Sunday's game in Summerhill before Marion Farrelly score a vital equaliser for the Royals.

The hosts opened with scores from Rachel Casserly and Marion Farrelly, but wind-assisted Armagh took charge with two from Kelly Mallon followed by points from Aimee and Blaithin Mackin.

Meath's Ciara Smyth went close to a goal, but Armagh's Mallon made no mistake at the other end and while the hosts hit back with two scores, Armagh were five up at the break with the Mackin sisters on target.

With their Division One future in real trouble, Meath reponded well in the second half as Casserly pointed either side of one from Farrelly.

Meadhbh Byrne made it a one-point game, but Armagh rallied through Mallon and Aimee Mackin as it seemed the Orchard were on course for victory, yet a late Meath rally saw them pick off scores through Smyth and Duggan before Farrelly found the vital equaliser.

Donegal sealed their promotion from Division Two with a 0-11 to 0-3 win over Wexford and will join Cavan in the top flight next year.

The Breffni side had already sealed their place in Division One entering the weekend, so their 1-15 to 2-9 defeat by Westmeath was not fatal to the prospects of a place in the division's final.

Tyrone missed out on promotion despite a 5-10 to 5-5 win over Tipperary, but Antrim are on the up as they sealed their place in Division Two thanks to a 2-8 to 1-9 victory over Down in a winner-takes-all clash in Newry.

Fermanagh closed out their Division Three campaign with a six-point win over Limerick.

LGFA National League results

Division One

Dublin 2-8 Cork 1-6

Kerry 2-10 Kildare 2-9

Meath 0-11 Armagh 1-8

Waterford 2-12 Galway 0-10

Division Two

Westmeath 1-15 Cavan 2-9

Donegal 0-11 Wexford 0-3

Mayo 2-14 Monaghan 0-9

Tyrone 5-10 Tipperary 5-5

Division Three

Antrim 2-8 Down 1-9

Clare 2-9 Roscommon 2-9

Laois 0-9 Louth 0-8

Fermanagh 2-10 Limerick 1-7

Division Four semi-finals

Carlow 4-11 Offaly 2-8

Leitrim 2-10 Sligo 1-11 (aet)

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI contributor

Image source, Inpho

Down secured the Division Three title as they saw off Wexford 0-21 to 0-18 after extra time at Croke Park in a final that carried significant All-Ireland implications.

The Mournemen started brightly, with Odhran Murdock claiming the throw-in and helping to set up Miceal Rooney for the opening score inside a minute.

Wexford responded immediately through Niall Hughes and the sides traded early points, with Division Three top scorer Pat Havern and Sean Nolan prominent.

The first half was finely balanced, with neither side able to pull clear. Pairic Hughes edged Wexford ahead with the game's first two-pointer, but Down responded through Havern and Ceilum Doherty.

A key moment then arrived when Eoin Porter was black-carded for hauling down John McGeough, but Murdock's resulting penalty was saved by Darragh Brooks.

Despite that setback, Down finished the half strongly. A two-pointer from Murdock and further scores from Havern and Doherty helped them into a 0-13 to 0-10 interval lead.

Daniel Guinness extended the advantage after the restart, but Wexford seized control of the second half. Mark Rossiter proved influential, landing consecutive two-pointers as the Model County outscored Down for a prolonged period and moved three points clear.

Down endured a 20-minute scoring drought before Doherty ended it, and late points from Liam Kerr and Ryan McEvoy hauled them level at 0-17 apiece.

Tom Close had a chance to win it at the death, but his effort drifted wide, sending the game to extra time.

Down regained control in the additional period. Guinness opened the scoring before substitute Ruairi McCormack and Adam Crimmins pushed them three clear, with Wexford failing to register in the first half of extra time.

Murdock extended the lead further in the closing stages, and although Robbie Brooks pulled one back and Wexford threatened with a series of late goal chances, they could not breach a resolute Down defence.

The victory keeps Conor Laverty's side's hopes of competing in the All-Ireland series as opposed to the Tailteann Cup alive.

The Mournemen must now hope that no county below them in the league rankings qualifies for their provincial final to ensure their place in the Sam Maguire.