Armagh got their division one campaign up and running with a convincing seven-point win over rivals Tyrone in a thriller in the Cathedral City.
It was fantastic game of football, played in front of 14,366 fans, the first time Armagh have played at home since lifting the Sam Maguire Cup and with Kieran McGeeney's men building up a big enough lead in the first-half to be able to manage the second, despite a gallant fightback from the Red Hands.
Armagh raced into a 14-point lead by half-time with three two pointers helping the margin and they would have had four had Niall Morgan not tapped over Andrew Murnin’s effort.
It was a blistering first of action with both goalkeepers pulling of stunning saves and several top notch scores.
Played in the Box-It Athletic Grounds, Armagh made five late changes before throw-up with Ethan Rafferty replacing Blaine Hughes and Jason Duffy, Ross McQuillan, Jemar Hall and Conor Turbitt replacing Paddy Burns, Jarly Og Burns, Cian McConville and Stefan Campbell respectively, while Tyrone brought Aodhan Donaghy on for Ciaran Daly.
It was Rafferty who bagged the first two-pointer of the evening on 20-minutes to give the Orchard a 1-07 to 0-01 lead.
Andrew Murnin had finished into Tyrone’s net a minute earlier after Oisin Conaty threaded a lovely, measured pass to Rory Grugan who forced keeper Morgan off his line before fist-passing across for Murnin to gratefully tap in. It was a stunning move and in keeping with the spirit of the play that had preceded it.
Armagh win another Tyrone kickout, with Oisín Conaty's superb pass culminating in a goal for Andrew Murnin.
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Conor Turbitt opened the scoring on the third minute and moments later Tyrone’s Niall Morgan denied Greg McCabe from close-range. Oisin Conaty extended Armagh’s lead before Rafferty denied Tryone’s Micheal McKernan at the near-post.
It was frantic, free-flowing football and Ross McQuillan edged Armagh further ahead before Shea O’Hare opened Tyrone’s account on 16 minutes. Turbit then bagged his second, which was followed up by the aforementioned two-pointer and the goal and another attempted two-pointer from Murnin, which keeper Morgan got a hand to.
Referee Joe McQuillan was consistent in letting play flow and if anyone got bottled up, it was a free the other way. Darren Curry (free) and Seanie O’Donnell completed Tyrone’s second half scoring as Armagh dominated.
Two-pointers came from McQuillan, Murnin and another from Rafferty and Grugan missed a goal-chance from close range. Tyrone looked to have penalty claim denied at the death of the first half.
Half-time: Armagh 1-14 Tyrone 0-03
Armagh extended their lead to 15-points by the first quarter with Tomas McCormack, Darragh McMullen, Conor Turbitt and Murnin on target, although Tyrone hit back with a McCurry two-pointer from play and another from dead-ball, while Liam Gray, Brian Kennedy, O’Hare and O’Donnell made some headway on the scoreboard to reduce the gap to ten points with 15 minutes remaining.
Ethan Rafferty and Eoin McElhom traded points before Jemar Hall became the tenth scorer for Armagh but when Michael McKernan floated over a two-pointer and Rory Brennan tagged on another, Tyrone were back in the game, but the clock was against them.
Andrew Murnin capped off a fine performance with his fourth point, but McKernan’s second two-pointer left only seven points between the sides.
However, the Orchard managed the final few minutes, with Turbit on target again.
ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty (0-05, 2tp,) Tomas McCormack (0-01), Barry McCambridge, Jason Duffy, Connaire Mackin, Aidan Forker (0-02, 2tp), Greg McCabe, Ben Crealey, Ross McQuillan (0-3,1tp), Oisin Conaty (0-01), Rory Grugan (0-01,1f), Darragh McMullan (0-01), Jemar Hall (0-01), Andrew Murnin (1-04), Conor Turbitt (0-04,1f).
Subs: Stefan Campbell for McQuillan (54'), Cian McConville for Grugan (65’), Jarly Og Burns (66’) for Mackin.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan, Aidan Clarke, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin, Frank Burns, Micheal McKernan (0-5, 2tp), Shea O’Hare (0-02), Brian Kennedy (0-01), Liam Gray (0-01), Seanie O’Donnell (0-01), Ciaran McGeary (0-01), Aodhan Donaghy, Darren McCurry (0-06, 2tpf), Mattie Donnelly, Ronan Cassidy.
Subs: Con Fitz for Donaghy and E McElhom (0-01) for Cassidy (ht’), Rory Brennan (0-01) for F Burns (46’), Ciaran Daly for Gray (46’), Cathal McShane for M Donnelly (66’)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).
