February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Pierce O’Reilly
Scoreline:
Kerry 0-13
Armagh 1-9
This was a disastrous game for Armagh. The Orchard County were dumped out of the championship in the cruelest of ways Sunday at Gaelic Park. Only 18 seconds remained on the clock when Pat Toner misplaced his kick out. Kerry corner forward Alan McNamara made no mistake and kicked the victory point from close range.
It was a sucker punch for the Ulster men, who had competed in every department from the off and deserved at least share of the spoils. Football can be cruel and the Ulster men will rue their silly slip-up.
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Leading by a point at the interval, the Kingdom had a hero at full forward in Pat Lynch. The Limerick student kicked eight points over the hour to push his side over the finish line in front, but just barely.
At the other end, Noel McPartland played his part in the Armagh attack. McPartland rifled over points at will when in possession and lacked no confidence when on the ball. Around him, Noel Farrelly and substitute Kevin Trimble put their shoulder to the wheel when it mattered most.
The second half was full of excitement. McPartland opened the scoring, but Lynch hit back with three great points from play. Lee Grant and two great scores from Jerry Cullen kept the Ulster men in the hunt. Mick O’Connell landed a massive score for Kerry before the orange men took the lead with Noel Farrelly latching onto a great pass to strike past John Fogarty in the Kerry goal.
Kerry kept the faith and hit back to level matters with time running out. Lynch, Alan McNamara and Barry Clifford leveled the game 1-9 to 0-12. Then Toner turned the tide with is miscued kick from the small square. Kerry raided the Orchard and escaped with fruit. Alan McNamara was the hero.
Kerry: John Fogarty, Jason O’Connor, Aidan Riney, Pat Driscoll, Andy O’Connor, Peter Riney, Ian Galvin, Liam Hartnett, John Maher, Paudi Mulvihill, Mick O’Connell 0-1, Kieran Cull 0-1, Barry Clifford 0-1, Pat Lynch 0-8, Alan McNamara 0-2.
Armagh: Pat Toner, Peter McKeown, Lee Kelly, Gareth Burke, Shane Haughey, Gerry Cullen 0-2, Louis Breslin, Collie Fearon, Noel Farrelly 1-1, James Cushanahan, Mark Duffy, Danny McCann, Noel McPartland 0-4, Lee Grant 0-1, Owen McPartland.