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Dublin 1-13 Armagh 2-15
The changing times continue. Hitting the firm winter ground suitably running, Armagh handed Dublin a rare league defeat at Croke Park, their second loss here in succession and it’s a long time since that happened, isn’t it?
The joint-title defenders were expected to make something of a statement in their opening game of the Allianz Football League, instead it was Armagh who did most of the talking in terms of the performance. Dublin lost by five knowing full well it might have been a whole lot more.
First half goals by full forward and man of the match Rian O’Neill and Jason Duffy, both deftly designed and finished, built the strong foundation, and dig as they did Dublin couldn’t shift it in the second half.
There were more errors and misplaced balls that Dublin will care to remember, and it took a relative fortuitous goal in the 59th minute from replacement Lorcan O’Dell to keep them in the contest going into the endgame. A goalmouth scramble resulted in O’Dell’s close range shot deflected into the net off the knee of Ciaran Mackin, who’d made a timely block just moments before; back to 2-13 to 1-10, Dublin were still sniffing for more.
It didn’t come as Armagh held on deservedly and impressively, the game played out before a crowd 22,707 - a little short of pre-game expectations, the Dublin hurlers also out earlier with a 10-point win over Wexford, in the Walsh Cup final.
Dublin manager Dessie Farrell, with four wins in the O’Byrne Cup already, spoke in advance of intensity rising sharply from the outset of this league campaign, only his team didn’t exactly rise to it.
Farrell’s former Na Fianna club mate and ally, Kieran McGeeney, presented his team perfectly conditioned for January, as would be expected, and they put that up to Dublin from the throw-in.
O’Neill improved as the game went on, finishing with 1-4, one free, Duffy scoring 1-1. With eight different scorers, including replacements Stephen Campbell, Niall Grimley and Greg McCabe, Armagh had depth in their quality too, certainly superior to what Dublin presented on the night. Rory Grugan helped himself to 0-4, Connaire Mackin also scoring from the half back line.
A minor rally at the start of the second half, Dean Rock finding his scoring boots, was short lived, as Armagh extended their lead out to 2-13 to 0-10 on 54 minutes, by then Dublin looking short of ideas and energy. A couple of late scores from Sean Buglar did little to relieve their overall look of lethargy.
The opening half was cagey for a short while, Brian Howard first to hit the target for Dublin, from some distance, after nine minutes, and two minutes later Cormac Costello, who hit 2-7 in the O’Byrne Cup, added another sweet point close goal.
Armagh opening up shop with a free from Rory Grugan, who then began orchestrating a series of impressive attacking moves from centre forward, combining his pace and accuracy to good effect.
O’Neill then showed up for his first, and once Armagh drew level on 19 minutes after Aidan Nugent fired over a neat ball delivered by Tiernan Kelly, Dublin were well warned they had a proper contest on their hands. Another neat Grugan pass to Duffy, and Armagh were in front, on 21 minutes.

Dublin’s Lorcan O’Dell scores his side’s first goal in their defeat to Armagh. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho


Armagh’s first goal came shortly after, Nugent’s long ball from close to right sideline falling just out of reach of Davy Byrne and into the hands of O’Neill, who promptly turned towards the goal and slotted the ball magnificently to the right side of Evan Comerford. Suddenly 1-4 to 0-3 to Armagh, Dublin looking suddenly short of options in front of goal.
Another O’Neill point, initially waved wide, was replied by Ciarán Kilkenny, then Armagh struck at goal again: O’Neill turned provider this time, picking out Duffy to his right, who brilliantly chipped - at least it looked that way - over Comerford.
On 27 minutes, Armagh were up 2-5 to 0-5, and helped themselves to three more points without reply before the break; it’s been a long time too since Dublin were down 2-8 to 0-5 at half time.
In truth Dublin’s first half effort was also marked by several wrong shots, from several wrong positions, Dean Rock’s introduction late on in the half, for the injured Cormac Costello, also marked by two frees dropping well short of his target. Practice short for sure it appeared. Sean Bulgar and Ryan Basquel had yet to make their presence felt at all, Brian Fenton probably wanted more at midfield from Emmett Ó Conghaile.
Armagh also had two clear-cut goal chances in the first half, both deftly in the last instant by Cormac Costello and Davy Byrne - without which Dublin might well conceded four goals in the first half. Armagh had another goal chance at the death, this won saved, but Dublin defensive issues are now clear for all to see. They also finished with 13 wides, and five shots dropped short.
Next Saturday, Dublin head to The Kingdom, their joint-league champions, knowing exactly what to expect there, the likes of Con O’Callaghan and James McCarthy still yet to return, while Armagh host All-Ireland champions Tyrone. No time to lose.
Dublin: E Comerford; Lee Gannon, D Byrne, E Murchan; T Lahiff, B Howard (0-1), J Small; B Fenton, E Ó Conghaile; S Bugler (0-2), C Kilkenny (0-1), N Scully (0-1); A Byrne, C Costello (0-3, one free), R Basquel. Subs: R McGarry for A Byrne (16 mins, inj); D Rock (0-3) for Costello (30 mins, inj), C McCormack (0-1) for Ó Conghaile (half time), L O’Dell (1-1) for Basquel (50 mins), S McMahon for Murchan (68 mins).
Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, A Forker, A McKay; C Mackin, N Rowland, J Og Burns; C Mackin (0-1), B Crealey; J Hall, R Grugan (0-4, three frees), T Kelly (0-1); J Duffy (1-1), R O’Neill (1-4, one free), A Nugent (0-1). Subs: N Grimley (0-1) for Crearly (38 mins, first half), S Campbell (0-1) for Hall (half time), G McCabe (0-1) for Rowland (51 mins), R McQuillan for Duffy (58 mins), M Shields for McQuillan (63 mins, inj).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).