Donegal beat Armagh 0-21:1-10 at MacCumhaill Park in what was, for the neutrals and Donegal fans a great game of football. Whilst for Armagh fans it was a disappointing performance from the squad following their fantastic performance against Tyrone in the Athletic Grounds.
From the start it was an even game with both teams kicking wides and delivering poor passes in the early exchanges. In the 9th minute at 2 points each, Madden’s Darragh McMullen scored a well-executed goal in the penalty box to make it 0-2:1-2.
As play continue, Donegal stepped up the gear and battered Armagh throughout the rest of the first half playing liquid football and scoring 10 points in a row.
Following a change just before half time for Armagh, Stefan Campbell came on for Jemar Hall. Armagh gathered some momentum with Ben Crealey and Andrew Murnin scoring 2 pointers within five minutes.
The momentum for Armagh ended when Donegal legend Michael Murphy came on to a hero’s welcome from the crowd of Donegal fans at Ballybofey. Murphy came on and immediately went for Aidan Forker who was on a yellow card. Whilst Michael and Aiden were pushing and shoving, Aiden recreated Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt at the 2006 World Cup on Murphy, this time Michael didn’t even flinch instead of dramatically falling down onto the pitch.
Unsurprisingly, referee Sean Hurson gave Forker his marching orders and gave him a straight red card. After the red card, Donegal would dominate Armagh for the rest of the match with Murphy scoring an easy point following a poor kick out by Ethan Rafferty. Other players such as Patrick McBrearty and Odhran Doherty scored points to kill off the game. ending any hope of Armagh claiming any points. With the hooter sounded once the clock reached 70 minutes, the match ended 0-21:1-10.
Overall Donegal looked a completely different side to what they were two years ago before Jim McGuiness arrived back to Donegal. They played with confidence, man marking the Armagh players forcing them to pass back and Michael Murphy in general making an impact bringing the experience he has to the squad as an All Ireland winning captain and could play a key role with the new rules over the course of the season. The statement they made on the pitch was evident that they want to win all of the trophies that they could and with a performance like that, they are capable of winning trophies again this year.
For Armagh it was a really poor performance and at times it felt like watching Armagh from two years ago. The set up was defensive, there was barely any attack and willing to score anything bar the goal from Darragh McMullen and the kickouts from Rafferty were abysmal throughout the game.
With Jemar Hall being taken off just before half time and goalkeeper Rafferty putting in a poor performance, questions have to be asked if those two players should be in the starting 15 ahead of Blaine Hughes who was the best goalkeeper in the country last year and players in attack such as the O’neill brothers, Rian and Oisin who still hasn’t returned yet from their breaks. The Orchard County now sit sixth in Division One, with their maiden victory coming against Tyrone on the opening weekend
The GAA Pulse 
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