Armagh too strong for Kildare
Winners well worth five point win
In the end there were five points separating Armagh and Kildare in The Athletic Grounds this evening and in fairness the visitors can have no complaints.
On a miserable night weather-wise and despite Kildare puteeting up a might effort in the opening half, when they trailed by one at th break 1-4 to 0-6.
Armagh dictated in the second half, Kilare failing to them under any real pressure despite cutting a 4 point lead bqck to two but the home side had the ammunition to tack on the vital points winning 1-12 to 0-10.
Scorers: Armagh, Andrew Murnin 1-0, Rian O'Neill 0-5 (3 frees, 45, mark), Stefan Campbell 0-2, Jemar Hall 0-1, Tiernan Kelly 0-1, Aidan Forker 0-1, Jarlath Og Burns 0-1, Rory Grugan 0-1.]
Kildare, Paddy Woodgate 0-3 (1 free), Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (3 frees), Daniel Flynn 0-1 (mark), Ben McCormack 0-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-1.
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt, Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan; Jack Sargent, James Murray, Daragh Ryan; Aaron Masterson, Kevin Flynn; Fergal Conway, Ben McCormack, Paul Cribbin; Paddy Woodgate, Daniel Flynn, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Darragh Kirwan for Paddy Woodgate (46 minutes); Kevin O'Callaghan for Fergal Conway (51 minutes); Kevin Feely for Aaron Masterson (51 minutes); Tony Archbold for Jack Sargent (61 minutes); Alex Beirne for James Murray (61 minutes).
ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty; Greg McCabe, Aidan Forker, Aaron McKay; James Morgan, Niall Rowland, Jarlath Óg Burns; Ciaran Mackin, Ben Crealey; Jemar Hall, Rory Grugan, Tiernan Kelly; Andrew Murnin, Rian O'Neill, Ciaran O'Hanlon. Subs: Stefan Campbell for Jemar Hall (45 minutes); Jason Duffy for Andrew Murnin (51 minutes); Connaire Mackin for Niall Rowland (53 minutes); Conor O'Neill for Ciaran O'Hanlon (64 minutes); Niall Grimley for Ben Crealey (69 minutes).
REFEREE: Joe McQuillan.