Kerry vs Armagh

Allianz Football League Division One Kerry 0-12 Armagh 0-11 By Paul Brennan at Austin Stack Park A resurgent Kerry team got their League title defence back ...

Kerry were first off the mark with a Clifford free in the fifth minute and they were 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes, with Armagh seemingly happy to choke up the Kerry forwards with that packed defence and then look to hit the home side on the counter-attack. Those two Kerry frees were converted by David Clifford and Sean O’Shea, though it was some source of frustration that neither man – both making their first start of the season – could raise a flag from play, though Clifford still finished Kerry’s top scorer with four pointed frees on a night Kerry had nine scorers, including two late points from substitutes Tony Brosnan and Donal O’Sullivan that secured the win. It was a determined Kerry team that took to the field, bringing all the energy and intensity that they were missing against Mayo the previous Saturday, but they met an Armagh side that matched those qualities every bit and took the home side to the wire in front of a 11,603 crowd.

Armagh 0-11. A CRUCIAL Division One success for All-Ireland champions Kerry that had 'hard-earned' franked all over it. For the greater part of the clash, ...

Rian O’Neill had his moment to repeat the equaliser against Galway in Croke Park last year but went short instead and the opportunity evaporated. The sense that Armagh were increasingly purposeful was strong as they kicked a pair of early second-half points from McCabe and sub Turbitt and began to control the tempo in the third quarter. In the 48th minute Clifford found his range to equalise with a free. At the other end, Jason Foley had an imperious first quarter, at his John O’Keeffe best in getting a first hand to Armagh deliveries. As Armagh released the handbrake and poured forward for a leveller, Kerry broke and O’Sullivan fisted the insurance point. They didn’t offer as much as they might at the top end of the pitch, but their time in Kerry’s half was invariably well spent.

Kerry's response was telling, David Clifford popping over a free to level it after a night where Barry McCambridge diligently followed him everywhere and held ...

Jason Duffy (Cullyhanna), 11. Aidan Forker (Maghery), 7.Aaron McKay (Dromintee) Callum Cumiskey (Crossmaglen Rangers), 9. Ciaran Mackin (Shane O’Neill’s), 14. Paddy Burns (Burren), 6. Barry McCambridge (Clann Éireann), 4. Paudie Clifford (Fossa), 14. Dara Moynihan (Spa), 11. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil), 9. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe), 2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore), 6. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 21, Stefan Okunbor (Na Gaeil)