McKinney points the way for Donegal in Nickey Rackard victory in Armagh

A five-star display by Liam McKinney helped Donegal see off a resolute 14-man Armagh team in blustery conditions at the Box It Athletic Grounds.

It was only in the final seven minutes that Mickey McCann’s men asserted their superiority with the athletic McKinney - who scored six from play in all = landing some fine scores in the Nickey Rackard Cup opener.

Armagh were buoyed by a fifth-minute goal from Alex O’Boyle and that score kept them in touch. Former Armagh player Declan Coulter played his first game for Donegal this season and he clipped a fine point as well as setting up Sean Ward for a crucial score midway through the second half.

Gritty Armagh produced a spirited display and cut their opponent's lead to a mere two points on four occasions but they lacked the necessary scoring power up front. And while Donegal were deserving winners, they will not be happy with a final tally of 12 wides.

Team captain Conor Gartland got his side off to a good start with a point after two minutes.
Armagh, who has the dubious advantage of a swirling wind, hit back with a point from full-back Paul Gaffney.

Gartland’s fellow Burt man McKinney extended Donegal’s lead with a fine point before Armagh struck for a crucial score in the fifth minute. A long high ball deep into the Donegal defence was not dealt with and O’Boyle pounced to first time the ball to the net.

Fifteen seconds later, Gaffney struck for his second point to put the home side into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead. Gilmore and the elegant O’Boyle swapped a brace of points as the impressive Ruairi Campbell left the score at 1-4 to 0-5 by the 13th minute.

But Armagh could only tack on two more scores in the run-up to the break as a fit-looking Donegal side took over. The rangy McKinney made it 1-4 to 0-6 before another O’Boyle free increased the home side’s to 1-5 to 0-6.

Gilmore then landed a sublime sideline cut as McKinney and Campbell were finding space in the Orchard defence and landed points, along with Gilmore, to put Donegal into a 0-11 to 1-5 lead five minutes from the break.

Both sides exchanged braces of points in the run-up to half time with Gartland and Gilmore on target for Donegal and Joe O’Connor responding for Armagh.

Donegal could have had a goal in the 25th minute but Kieran McKernan threw his body at a point-blank effort from Josh Cronolly McGee as the visitors led by 0-13 to 1-7 at the break.
Coulter announced his arrival with a fine point on the resumption. Aaron Fox replied for Armagh who were struck a blow when sub Connor Renaghan, who was barely on the pitch, got a red card from referee Ciaran McCloskey for tugging on Conor Gartland’s helmet in a brief but unsavoury incident.

Armagh had chances but Alex O’Boyle hit three wides on the spin while points from McKinney and Gilmore pushed the winners to a 0-18 to 1-12 by the 60th minute. Armagh hung in but late points from Donegal substitutes Sean Ward and Peter Kelly, as well as McKinney, helped to carve out a deserved win, with Mayo to come to Letterkenny next.

Armagh scorers: Alex O’Boyle 1-6,4f; Paul Gaffney 0-2; Aaron Fox 0-2; Ciaran Duffy 0-1; Joe O’Connor 0-1.
Donegal scorers: Gerry Gilmore 0-7,4f; Liam McKinney 0-6; Ruairí Campbell and Conor Gartland 0-3; Declan Coulter 0-1; Peter Kelly 0-1; Sean Ward 0-1.

Armagh: Fintan Woods; David Ryan, Paul Gaffney Niall Lennon; Kieran McKernan, Oisin O’Hare, Tiarnan Nevin; Barry Shortt, Aaron Fox; Dillon Fox, Stephen Renaghan, Alex O’Boyle;) Joe O’Connor Sean Og McGuinness, Tiarnan O’Hare. Subs; Conor Renaghan for Tiarnan O’Hare (45), Ciaran Duffy for Sean Og McGuinness (55), Kane Laverty for David Ryan (57), Tom McCavanagh for Joe O’Connor (63)
Donegal: Luke White; Ciaran Curran, Stephen McBride, Gavin Browne; Stephen Gillespie, Sean McVeigh, Jack O’Loughlin; Gerry Gilmore Conor O’Grady; Oisin Grant, Brian MacIntyre, Ruairi Campbell; Josh Cronolly McGee Liam McKinney Conor Gartland Subs; Declan Coulter, for Gavin Browne (h-time), Oisin Kelly for Stephen Gillespie (39), Sean Ward for Oisin Grant (54), Peter Kelly for Brian MacIntyre ( 62), Ryan Hilferty for Josh Cronolly McGee (66).
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Antrim)