Armagh Club football & hurling

[charlie stubbs]

Armagh Division 2 Sunday 13 September 2009
Wolfe Tones 0-13 Maghery 1-10
Wolfe Tones produced a much improved performance on Sunday afternoon against title chasing Maghery and gained a vital point in the teams battle to avoid the drop to the third tier of Armagh football.  The Tones playing towards the clubhouse in the 1st half began with a John Toal wide in the 2nd minute.  John was quick to redeem himself, when after Michael Carson, who was arguably the best player on display, was fouled in the 4th minute and John converted the free from the right hand side. 
With their 1st meaningful attack, the Loughshore side found the back of Kieran Murray's net when their no.13 finished powerfully past Kieran Murray after 7 minutes.  The same player appeared to be on a roll and a minute later was able to escape the attentions of Chris Megoran to score from 21 yards. 
The next five minutes saw the Tones shoot 3 wides through Michael Carson, John Toal after winning his own free and Declan Lavery.  After 16 minutes Finnian Moriarty showed how it should be done after being found by a Ryan McQuillan pass was able to split the posts from 25 yards. 
After a Maghery wide, the away side where able to extend their lead after 18 minutes when their full forward was fouled and their no.10 had the simple task of converting the free from 21 yards. 
In the 22nd minute Brendan Coleman, who won countless breakball during the hour, was left unattended 30 yards from goal and reduced the lead to two points.  Chris Megoran then did well to pressure his man, and force him to kick wide before county player Stefan Forker converted a free for Maghery on 25 minutes. 
Shaun Smith then had the last say of the first half when he converted a free from 30 yards in stoppage time at the end of the half.  Despite playing well, the home side trailed to the goalscored in the 7th minute. 
Half time Wolfe Tones 0-04 Maghery 1-04
The 2nd half began with the two sides exchanging wides, Ryan McQuillan doing well to pressurise his man, then Shaun Smith was unlucky with an effort following a fine break from defence by Chris McCarron.
Five minutes into the 2nd half Maghery got the opening score of the second period after a well worked short free and their full forward punished the Tones from 14 yards.  The Tones response to this was immediate.  Niall Lennon, on his return, was a surging run forward and was pulled to the ground.  Shaun Smith from the left hand side converted the free from 35 yards. 
After 40 minutes the Maghery midfielder made a fine break through the Tones rearguard and extended their lead again to 4 points again.  Again the Tones showed good character to immediately respond to the Maghery score.  Johnny McCarron and Michael Carson combined to find Declan Lavery, who though of goal for split second before tapping over his first point of the day. 

At the mid point of the 2nd half after a fine Maghery move Stefan Forker raised a white flag from 25 yards. 
With 13 minutes remaining David Heaney done well to win possession and feed the on rushing Declan Lavery and Declan kicked a fine score with his left foot.  A minute later, after a Finnian Moriarty "45 " fell short Shaun Smith gathered possession who found Michael Crealey who calmly slotted the ball over the bar with his first touch of the ball. 
Kieran Murray then kept the Tones in the game when he made a fine reflex save which resulted in a Maghery "45" which came to nothing.  Niall Geoghegan then enjoyed a productive few minutes, firstly after making a surging run from corner back he kicked a fine score after a solo from 30 yards.  Two minutes later after Brendan Coleman was fouled , Niall took a quick free kick which resulted in Declan Lavery's 3rd point in the 2nd half to draw the sides level. 
With 7 minutes remained Maghery edged themselves infront again then their no.8 landed a point from 30 yards.  From the resulting kickout, Michael Carson won possession and found Shaun Smith 30 yards from goal and the sides where level again. 
In the 55 minute the Maghery no.13 converted a 14 yard free and two minutes later they appeared to get the insurance score whenever their no.5 came forward to score a great free from around 40 yards. 
The never say die attitude that the Tones players showed throughout the game came to fruition in the dying minutes of this game.   After a Maghery player had lifted the ball off the ground, with 2 minutes remaining Declan Lavery tapped over a 14 yard free.  Then in the last minute, after Michael Crealey had flicked the ball on, Niall Geoghegan drove through the Maghery defence and found David Heaney who fired over the equalising point. 
Great credit must go to the Tones team for never giving up during the game and showing terrific effort and commitment to bounce back from the previous week's terrible performance against Whitecross.  The same commitment will be required in the club's three remaining games against Maghery(A), Armagh Harps (H) and championship conquerors St.Michael's(A).
Wolfe Tones 0-13 Maghery 1-10
Tones Team:Kieran Murray, Niall Geoghegan(0-01), Ryan McQuillan, Chris Megoran, Michael Carson, Connor McCarron, Chris McCarron, Finnian Moriarty(0-01), Jonathan McCarron, Declan Lavery (0-04, 1f), Brendan Coleman, John McKeever, John Toal(0-02,1f), David Heaney(0-01)Shaun Smith(0-03,2f)Subs:Niall Lennon for Chris Megoran, Michael Crealey(0-01) for John Toal

[charlie stubbs]

madden beat newtown by point

[illdecide]

So how do you guys see the replay going tomorrow nite? Will the Clans have the momentum? will the Harps lift it to another level?...

[BerfArmagh]

I fancy the harps to finish the job, nut i reckon it will be tight, 2 points

[fitzroyalty]

I fancy the harps to finish the job, nut i reckon it will be tight, 2 points

That seems to be the general consensus in the county, though IMO if Clans can contain some of the Harps forwards I see no reason why we can't nick it. We saw last week how Clan's reacted to being 9 pts down, how would Harps cope?

[davo]

i think the harps will finish the job tomorrow night. i expect them to win by about 4 or 5. however if clans can man mark peadar toal, which is easier said than done, they could sneak it.

it should be a good game.

[lurganblue]

So how do you guys see the replay going tomorrow nite? Will the Clans have the momentum? will the Harps lift it to another level?...

it'll be close again.  the clans showed character which i didnt think they had TBH.  I still feel the clans wasted too many opportunities at the start of the game last week which wouldnt have allowed the harps to run up such a large lead.

also, the harps will more than likely improve around the middle than they did last week. will wee joe be fit?

again, goals will have a huge influence on this game and i have to say i expect the clans to win by 2 points.

[nashville]

I thought Harps were extremely lucky last week only for Clans poor first half (and second to an extent) shooting, Clans dominated the start of the game completely!

[winsamsoon]

I think one could make arguments for both teams being unlucky and lucky by the way the game went.

Heard that a few Harps lads walked out of the changing room at the end of the game because Toal was selected to start the game, doesn't make for good moral in a team when this sort of thing happens.

Oh and lets harps the Harps aren't as lucky tommorrow night 

[fcuksake]

I think one could make arguments for both teams being unlucky and lucky by the way the game went.

Heard that a few Harps lads walked out of the changing room at the end of the game because Toal was selected to start the game, doesn't make for good moral in a team when this sort of thing happens.

Oh and lets harps the Harps aren't as lucky tommorrow night 

thats utter nonsense WS.......

Good luck to the lads tonight. Harps by 7

[illdecide]

Fcuksake i heard that too...Apparently there were 4 Harps players in the changing rooms after the match either kicked up stink or quit because of Toal playing...i'm not trying to stir things up or anything ahead of tonights game i was genuinly told that last night...

Anyway that aside i hope it's a good game of football tonight and may the best team win

[winsamsoon]

Just stating what i was told fcuksake glad you could clarify it for me you must be a player

[BerfArmagh]

Harps will do their talking on the pitch tonight...
lol Now thats big talk 

[winsamsoon]

One shall see Berf saan

[rootthemout]

looking forward to tonights game,think it will be close with harps by 1-2pts,provided we move the ball bit quicker to our forward line,heard clanns went on one of skeltons trips the other day,when they got therethey had no tickets