February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Armagh 3-11, St. Barnabas 0-9
Armagh and St. Barnabas were afforded the opportunity to display their footballing skills at Gaelic Park, as opposed to being restricted to the confines of Van Cortlandt Park, due to the hiatus currently in effect because of the senior players’ involvement in the Connaught Championship in Mayo.
Armagh continue to look good in this junior football "B" division, having already accounted for St. Raymond’s a couple of weeks back. They have now made it two wins from three games in defeating the St. Barnabas side by a healthy 11-point margin.
In a blisteringly hot day at Gaelic Park, Armagh took full advantage of their large squad and throughout the game made numerous substitutions, changing their style of play and, at times, bewildering their opponents.
The game began on something of an even keel, with Armagh hitting a couple of points thanks to Mark McGuigan and Ronnie Clarke, and Barnabas replying through efforts from Jonathan Daly and his namesake David.
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Moving toward the interval, however, Armagh, using their substitutions to full advantage, began to surge ahead, and registered points from Collie Fearon, Ollie Crummie and Clarke again. Barnabas were clearly on the ropes and goals from Norman Coyle and Ronnie Clarke began to hammer the nails into Barnabas’ coffin.
The Barnabas side did attempt to fight back, but they were clearly tiring in the unbearable heat. Approaching the mid-80s, the weather conditions were evidently affecting the players on the pitch, and Armagh’s continuing use of fresh legs benefited them enormously.
Recent additions to Armagh’s side, Collie Fearon and Ollie Crummie, made enormous contributions to their side’s victory, and if this performance from Armagh is a typical one of their caliber, there’s a good chance that the Northern men will be up there challenging for honors come the end of the season.
Armagh: Paddy Ward, Mark Duffy, Stephen O’Donnell, Terry Divney, Peter McCormack, Louis Breslin, Dermot Toye, Collie Fearon (0-1), Aidan Jordan, Sean Convie (0-2), Oliver Crummie (0-2), David Muckian (1-0), Ronan Quinn, Shane Haughey, Mark McGuigan (0-1). Subs: David Mulholland (0-1), Ronnie Clarke (1-4), Norman Coyle (1-0), Collin Cannison.
St. Barnabas: David Hannon, Shane Larkin, Patrick Keefe, Brendan O’Sullivan, Adrian Clarke, Brian Montgomery, Patrick Flynn, Sean Maher, Denis Ward, Jason Clarke (0-3), David Daly (0-2), Jonathan Daly (0-3), Anthony Gill (0-1), Peter Hannon, Kevin Keegan. Subs: Jimmy Burns, Brian Maher, Danny Hannon.