Armagh beat Down to claim best of the Southerners


SOUTH Armagh’s Under-14 team claimed a worthy victory over rivals and neighbours South Down in this Inter-divisional game.

Its experimental time for both sets of managers with this game being only their second match thus far this year.

Armagh had more a settled team than their counterparts as the Mourne men had a squad of 33 players and they made more or less a total team switch at half time.

It was an interesting battle with both sides showing various degrees of ability. Although both teams had their respective county jerseys it was disappointing that the youngsters were not provided with the full kit of shorts and socks.

Armagh edged ahead by half time but they had built that lead up to nine points the difference by the latter stages.

For the Orchard County, Neil Paul Lennon sent over a beautiful array of points as well as a cheeky goal and his consistent radar-like vision for the posts was a significant factor in Armagh’s win. Also on form was the centre half back Thomas Hughes. His catching and reading of the game was impressive and he looks very solid at the back but has a noteworthy sense of when to go forward.

On the oppositions side, Down’s Conor Poland is great fielder of the ball. In midfield he cancelled out much of Armagh’s supposed delivery and he drove his team on from the middle of the park. His partner Michael Cunningham was also sprang several attacks from central positions and he also found the range on numerous occasions.

South Armagh took the lead through a point each from Lennon and Paul Toner, but two converted frees from Poland and a good point from play from Darren Doyle gave the Mourne youngsters the lead for the first time.

Conor Harrison popped the ball between the posts from close range before Lennon carried the Armagh cause on his young shoulders and delivered four points over the crossbar and Toner then added another.

Despite the scoring, it was both defensive units that really dominated proceedings. Larkin Daly was immense for Down; he made numerous timely tackles, as did Michael Butterfield. Armagh closed Down down in numbers with Joey Lavelle and Danny Cinnamond quick to react.

Hughes pointed from a 45, no mean achievement at under-14 and Cormac O’Neill scored a great long-range point to extend South Armagh’s lead at the interval.

Half Time Score: South Armagh 0-09 South Down 0-06

With Down making sweeping changes to the personnel, it was asking a bit much for the Down players to get into the pace of game, considering Armagh had already reached a high-tempo standard.

Lennon got the first point of the second half after great twisting and turning from Toner.

Steven Sheridan, Declan Monaghan, and Paudi Carherty came on the field for the Orchard side.

Due to impressive play, Armagh pulled away on the scoreboard and Down concentrated on defending against a rampant Orchard side, although when they went on attack Down looked for goal when points may have helped their case that little better.

And they almost found the net when the ball bounced awkwardly in front of Nathan Moley, but the youngster got an important hand to the ball, preventing the goal Down desired.

Armagh were the first side to find the net, when on 52 minutes, Lennon cleverly chipped the ball beyond Wayne Bowlers from 14 yards out.

Michael Cunningham and Conlith O’Hare put Down back on the scoring front before Niall Trainor blasted the ball to back of the Armagh net with the last kick of the ball to give the final score that bit more of a competitive glisten.

South Armagh: Nathan Moley, Joey Lavelle, Danny Cinnamond, David Markey, Micael McKeown, Thomas Hughes, David Crozier, Sean Egan, Karl McVerry, Patrick Cullough, Neil Paul Lennon, Cormac O’Neill, Paul Toner, Sean Murtagh and Niall Watters.

South Down: Wayne Bowlers, Cathal Killen, Danny Trimble, Larkin Daly, Michael Butterfield, Padraig O’Rourke, John Paul O’Hare, Conor Poland, Michael Cunningham, Antoin McArdle, Conor Harrison, Paul Faloon, Darren Doyle, Michael Higgan’s and Ryan Brady.