Division 1A – Madden 0-7 Clann Eireann 3-13
County champions Clann Eireann got their Division 1A campaign to a flying start with a 15-point win over Madden.
The Raparees defeated Clann Eireann twice in the league last year on their win to winning Division 1B.
But it was all one-way traffic during Sunday’s second half. Three goals after the turnaround guaranteed maximum points for the visitors.
The first half was evenly contested, with Jack Conlon and Conor Grimley traded three scores each.
McCarthy and McConville fired Clann Eireann ahead before Grimley pulled one back. Grimley, Madden’s only scorer in the first half, replied after another Clann Eireann brace.
The 2021 championship winners led by two points as the half time whistle sounded. 0-7 to 0-5.
Clann Eireann shot into an uncatchable lead with three goals in the first quarter of the second half through McCarthy, McConville and Aodhan McConville.
Patrick Carr and Niall Smith exchanged scores with Conlon and Adam Kelly before Ryan Henderson got his name on the scoresheet.
Ruairi Lavery’s men ended the game with two points and now sit top of the table after the opening weekend.
Maghery 0-5 Armagh Harps 1-13
Minus a host of regular, Maghery were well off the pace at home to the Harps on Sunday. They were without their county contingent as well as David and James Lavery and Stephen Cusack.
Benny O’Kane’s Harps, who celebrate their senior presentation night this weekend, weren’t full out either. They played without sharpshooter Tom O’Kane and Rory McGrath.
But they had a few more household names and were full value for their 11-point victory. The Harps will feel that they could and should have won by more.
Ryan McShane opened the scoring, followed by a point by Joe McElroy, who was superb throughout.
Declan McKenna was a real driving force from the back, and he nailed a long-range effort to put his side up by three.
Oisin Cushnahan and Stefan Forker closed the gap. But scores from Oisin Hughes and McShane sent the Harps 5-2 up at the break.
The visitors got off to a great start after the turnaround. McElroy’s long ball to Charlie Vernon was swatted away, but fell to James McCoy, who netted with an easy finish.
That kickstarted a scoring spree for the Harps. McElroy, Caolan McQuaid, Karol Loughran and McCoy all splitting the posts.
Brian McIlmurray’s move to full forward provided Maghery with a different outlet and it almost paid off, but for a super save from John Daly.
Forker swapped scores with Hughes and Ryan McKeown while Tommy Turley cancelled out a Niall McAlinden effort.
McCoy had the final say, bringing his tally to 1-2 as the Harps began the season in the best possible way.
Crossmaglen 1-11 Granemore 1-9
Crossmaglen got their season up and running with a two-point home win over Granemore.
The hosts made a dream start, with Odhran Kieran netting during the opening 60 seconds of the game.
Seanie McConville swapped scores with the opposition while Granemore hit a goal of their own to close the gap.
Five unanswered points from the Rangers saw them six points ahead at the short whistle. 1-8 to 1-2.
The second half was fairly even, with both sides raising two white flags each during the opening quarter.
Granemore made a terrific comeback midway through the half and eventually narrowed the gap to a single point.
Cian McConville chipped in with his fifth point of the day and secured maximum points for Cross.
Dromintee 0-9 Killeavy 0-9
The 2021 Division 1A league champions hosted Killeavy on the opening Sunday of the new season.
Both sides were missing a few regulars, and neither could claim to be at full strength.
A share of the spoils was a fair result and both teams will be out to earn their first win of the year next weekend.
Division 1B
Grange 5-12 Carrickcruppen 0-5
It was a brutal first day of Senior football for Carrickcruppen as Grange dominated from start to finish.
The home side restricted Cruppen to just one point in the opening half, while hitting two goals of their own.
Ben Toal began the scoring and the Camlough men levelled early on. Daire Mallon raised a white flag before Cathal McKenna rattled off 1-2.
Toal grabbed their second goal, followed up by converted frees from Toal and McKenna. Grange led 2-8 to 0-1 at the break.
Carrickcruppen opened their account at the start of the second half, which was cancelled out by Miceal McKenna.
David O’Hagan pulled off a fine save before Cruppen got a third point. Toal nabbed another goal while Diarmuid Rafferty got his name on the score sheet.
Toal and Miceal McKenna tagged on further points, either side of a Colm Rafferty goal, the final one of the day.
Sarsfields 2-11 Silverbridge 1-11
A personal haul of 2-4 from Tomas McAlinden saw Sarsfields make a winning return to Senior football.
Last year’s Division 2A winners got off to a perfect start with a three-point home win over Silverbridge.
McAlinden’s first three-pointer put the High Moss men 1-8 to 0-6 in front at the half time break.
Silverbridge hit back with a late goal, but the damage had been done and Sarsfields gained the two points on offer.
