Armagh 1-17 Roscommon 0-11
Trips to Killarney, Dublin and Castlebar are on the horizon for Armagh next season as they capped out an encouraging National League campaign with a superb performance.
They thoroughly deserved their win on Sunday as they dominated Roscommon, once they got going of course.
The momentum swing after the first half water break was huge as the Orchard County trailed by three at the end of the first quarter.
They looked out of sorts at that stage, but things changed after Armagh produced a full-court press on the Roscommon kick out after the sixty-second break.
Niall Grimley leaped to the sky and captured possession to start a move that ended with Rian O’Neill swinging over his second of five.
Jemar Hall fisted another before the Forkhill forward pointed from a mark after catching a fantastic crossfield ball from Rory Grugan.
Rian O’Neill also used the advantage of the inside mark to swing over his third of the half and more importantly put Armagh in front for the first time.
The older of the two O’Neill maestros got his name on the scoresheet, following a timely interception by Grugan in the Armagh attack.
A quick one-two with Hall and the ball was transferred to an unmarked Oisin O’Neill who coolly slotted the ball into the net.
Conor Cox halted Armagh’s scoring spree, which saw them register 1-5 to no score and ultimately won Kieran McGeeney’s side the game.
Armagh continued where they left off in the second period with Andrew Murnin and Oisin O’Neill stretching the lead to five right after the turnaround.
The unstoppable Rian O’Neill traded scores with Ciaran Murtagh while two Conor Cox efforts cancelled out a Stefan Campbell score.
While Roscommon threatened, they never looked like grabbing that goal that would bring them back into the game and put pressure on the home side.
The Armagh defence was immense with the likes of Greg McCabe, Aaron McKay and Connaire Mackin constantly putting their bodies on the line.
Niall Grimley worked extremely hard at centre-field and deservingly slotted over the final score of the game.
Full focus will now turn to Antrim with the Saffron’s coming to the Athletic Grounds three weeks from now for the Ulster Championship.
Armagh Team: Blaine Hughes, Ross Finn, Aidan Forker, Greg McCabe (0-1), Connaire Mackin, Aaron McKay, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Niall Grimley (0-1), Andrew Murnin (0-2), Jemar Hall (0-3), Rian O’Neill (0-5), Tiernan Kelly, Rory Grugan (0-3), Oisin O’Neill (1-1), Stefan Campbell (0-1). Subs: Conor Turbitt for A. Murnin, Jarly Og Burns for T. Kelly, Conor O’Neill for J. Hall, Ryan Kennedy for A. Forker, Brendan Donaghy for C. O’Hanlon, James Morgan for A. McKay.
