Three goals from Man of the Match Steven McDonnell and a fourth from Oisin McConville earned reigning champions Armagh a place in the quarter-finals of the Bank of Ireland SFC following their 4-10 to 0-11 victory over Limerick at Roscommon this afternoon. McDonnell was in inspired form for Joe Kernan's men who were matched for most of an entertaining encounter by a spirited Limerick side who lacked nothing in determination and skill. However, despite Muiris Gavin's nine point haul, they lacked the cutting edge in the final third and ruthless Armagh punished them at the other with two goals in either half to book their place in the last eight, to the delight of their large travelling Armagh support.
Limerick, comprehensively beaten by Kerry in last week's Munster final, started brightest, taking a two point lead inside three minutes to silence the large Armagh support at Hyde Park, where conditions remained fine for the duration despite heavy rain before throw-in. However, Joe Kernan's men found their feet and slowly edged their way back into the game with two frees from McDonnell's accurate boot giving them the initiative.
Gavin proved Limerick's most prolific player with two points during the early stages, but McDonnell struck for the game's opening goal on 19 minutes after capitalising on a long ball over the Limerick back-line to put them 1-03 to 0-03 in front. Dual player Conor Fitzgerald and Gavin responded with excellent scores, but again McDonnell ensured Armagh kept their advantage when he added his second goal on the half-hour, rifling the ball to the net. Gavin and McConville, with his first score of the game, exchanged points just before the break to give Armagh a flattering six-point advantage (2-06 to 0-06) at the break.
The second-half began in similar nip-and-tuck fashion with Gavin (2) and McDonnell swapping scores, but McDonnell claimed a hat-trick of goals soon after to take the wind out of any Limerick comeback. McConville drove the final nail in Limerick's coffin with a fourth goal in the closing stages, but brave Limerick can take a lot of heart from a committed performance that deserve more applause than the eventual 11-point defeat may suggest. Armagh, however, advance to the quarter-finals and on this showing have the firepower necessary to repeat last year's heroic maiden success come September.
Filed by Shane Murray
