Dublin Senior Footballers Suffer Defeat In League Opener

Sun, 30th January 2022

Dublin 1-13

Armagh 2-15

The Dublin Senior Footballers’ Allianz League campaign opened with defeat on Saturday evening against Armagh at Croke Park.

Scores from Brian Howard and Cormac Costello helped Dublin to a 0-03 to 0-01 lead early on.

But Armagh fought back and two first half goals ensured the Orchard County led by 9 points at the break.

Rian O’Neill scored Armagh’s first goal after 21 minutes- finishing a well worked move by the Ulstermen.

The visitor’s second goal came five minutes later- Jason Duffy chipping Evan Comerford in the Dublin goal.

Those two strikes saw Dublin go in 2-08 to 0-05 down at half time.

Dessie Farrell’s side improved in the second half- and scores from substitutes Dean Rock and Cameron McCormack reduced the gap.

Lorcan O’Dell also came off the bench for his League debut- shooting 1-01 in an impressive cameo. His goal on 59 minutes reduced the deficit to six points.

But Armagh weren’t to be caught- and won out in the end by 2-15 to 1-13.

Dublin are back in action next Saturday evening, as they face Kerry in Tralee.

Dublin scorers: Lorcan O’Dell 1-01, Cormac Costello (0-01f), Dean Rock (0-03f) 0-03 each, Seán Bugler 0-02, Brian Howard, Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall Scully & Cameron McCormack 0-01 each.

Armagh scorers: Rian O’Neill 1-04 (0-01f), Jason Duffy 1-01, Rory Grugan 0-04 (0-03f), Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly, Aidan Nugent, Greg McCabe, Stefan Campbell & Niall Grimley 0-01 each.

Dublin: Evan Comerford, Lee Gannon, David Byrne, Eoin Murchan, Tom Lahiff, Brian Howard, John Small, Brian Fenton, Emmet Ó Conghaile, Sean Bugler, Ciaran Kilkenny, Niall Scully, Aaron Byrne, Cormac Costello, Ryan Basquel.

Subs: Ross McGarry for Aaron Byrne (16 mins), Dean Rock for Costello (30 mins), Cameron McCormack for Ó Conghaile (HT), Lorcan O’Dell for Basquel (51 mins), Sean MacMahon for Murchan (68 mins).

Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Paddy Burns, Aidan Forker, Aaron McKay, Connaire Mackin, Niall Rowland, Jarly Óg Burns, Ciaran Mackin, Ben Crealey, Jemar Hall, Rory Grugan, Tiernan Kelly, Jason Duffy, Rian O’Neill, Aidan Nugent.

Subs: Niall Grimley for Crealey (38 mins), Stefan Campbell for Hall (HT), Greg McCabe for Rowland (52 mins), Ross McQuillan for Duffy (59 mins), Mark Shields for McQuillan (62 mins), Stephen Sheridan for O’Neill (70 mins).