McKenna Cup 2024

[RMDrive]

these new rules seem to be favoring forwards -how will armagh do in the league now? it would seem the best attacking team are better off??

It would be interesting to compare the McKenna cup scoring (total/frees) from this year with previous years.

[Shortso79]

unbel finish

Martin McHugh unbiased opionion

Decent performance from Armagh - roll on Wexford...

[Shortso79]

Fair play to Highland FM for covering the match

[downgirl]

Why was the penalty refused??

Does that mean the final will be in Omagh?

[Shortso79]

prob omagh or enniskillen

[Mourne Rover]

What was the final score ?

[RMDrive]

D 1.14 A 2.09

[corn02]

How was McEvoy's kick-outs, I heard he made a great save and had not much chance with the goal... right or wrong?

[redcard]

Why was the penalty refused??

Does that mean the final will be in Omagh?

looks like it

[J70]

Any of the newer Donegal lads look promising AFS?

[J70]

From the Belfast Telegraph...

Donegal 1-14 Armagh 2-9

Thursday, 22 January 2009


Donegal have qualified for the final of the McKenna Cup after with a spirited display against Armagh in Healy Park last night.

Donegal were on top in the first half but had just three points to spare at the break, 0-10 to 0-7, thanks mainly to indiscipline which saw two easy points for Armagh for frees moved on.

Donegal were 0-4 to 0-1 up after eight minutes through Stephen Griffin, who got two, Brendan Boyle and David Walsh.

Joe Feeney had the opening Armagh point and the same player had the third while Peadar Toal pointed a free.

Kevin McMenamin and Feeney traded points before Donegal took a four-point lead with three points in as many minutes from David Walsh, with a couple of scores, and Charlie Byrne with 24 minutes gone.

In the final ten minutes Donegal had two further points from Stephen Griffin, while Peadar Toal with two frees and another from Ronan Clarke kept the Armagh men in touch.

Donegal's total in the opening half all came from play apart from the final pointed free from Griffin.

But both sides found scores much harder to come by in the second half and by the 40th minute Donegal were four clear with Walsh and McMenamin to a Ronan Clarke free.

Armagh, though, got themselves right back in the game when Kevin O'Rourke chipped Paul Durcan for a goal on 50 minutes.

David Walsh then had a great goal chance for Donegal a couple of minutes later but Brendan Boyle restored the two-point advantage with a well-taken score of his own.

There were then two goals in four minutes. David Walsh availed of a slip in the Armagh defence to put Donegal four clear but then

Ronan Clarke won a penalty and even though his kick was saved, Paddy McKeever followed up to score.

Michael Doherty then landed a '45' and Donegal held on to just about deserve the win.

Donegal have not had McKenna Cup success since 1991 when the Armagh-born Charlie Mulgrew was captain.

Scorers: Donegal - David Walsh 1-4; Stephen Griffin 0-4,1f; Brendan Boyle 0-2; Kevin McMenamin 0-2; Charlie Byrne, Michael Doherty 45 0-1each.

Armagh; Kevin O'Rourke 1-1; Joe Feeney 0-3; Paddy McKeever 1-0; Peadar Toal 0-3,3f; Ronan Clarke 0-2,2f.

Donegal: P Durcan; J Gallagher, R Sweeney, P McDaid; C Byrne, BMonaghan, E McGee; N Gallagher, B Boyle; C Bonner, C Dunne, R Kavanagh; K McMenamin, S Byrne, D Walsh. Subs. M Doherty for C Bonner; L Thompson for Walsh

(S. Byrne is presumably Stephen Griffin!)

Armagh: P McEvoy; G Smyth, V Martin, B Shannon; C Rafferty, T McClelland, B McDonald; J Lavery, S O'Neill; M O'Rourke, B Mallon, P Toal; J Feeney, R Clarke, K O'Rourke. Subs.M Mackin for Martin; N O'Rourke for Smyth; P McKeever for J Feeney; B Toner for B McDonald; C Clarke for M O'Rourke (yellow)

Referee: A McAlynn (Derry)

Don't know many of the Armagh lads, so it looks like maybe Donegal had a bit more experience out there, although that is very, very far from a first choice side and many of the familiar names have only been fringe players. Hopefully lads like Paddy McDaid, Stephen Griffin, Johnny Gallagher and David Walsh (all of whom got a taste last year in the championship under McIvor) will have good leagues and be pushing for a championship place. Don't know about the likes of Conal Dunne, Kevin McMenamin and Michael Doherty - they've been given chances before but haven't been good enough to nail down places, except the 2006 season in the case of Dunne and Doherty, when McFadden and Devenney opted out. If Griffin could take a bit of pressure off McFadden and Murphy, with Walsh also capable of taking scores, along with Rory Kavanagh, from the half-forward line, we might be in a bit better shape this year. Hopefully Brendan Boyle will make the midfield vacancy his, but he's been out injured for a few years, so who knows.

[J70]

The Donegal county board must be a bit hard up after all the managerial shenanigans. The team has reverted back to their old gear for the McKenna Cup matches.

[Goats Do Shave]

That's a fair assessment AFS. I'd agree with most of that.

[Off The Fence]

2 Questions for Armagh Posters-

Why has Henderson not featured since the Queens game?

Is Ronan Austin injured and could he be a "solution" to Armagh's midfield problems?

[Goats Do Shave]

2 Questions for Armagh Posters-

Why has Henderson not featured since the Queens game?

Is Ronan Austin injured and could he be a "solution" to Armagh's midfield problems?

Armagh squad is carrying a lot of injuries... Henderson, Toner, McKeever, Donaghy, Finn Mo, Andy Mallon...

Austie isn't the answer in my opinion. It'll be Paul McGrane again, with either Lavery, Toner or McKenna, with Charlie Vernon as a 3rd i would reckon.