Depending on who you speak to it was either a point gained or a point lost – either way, Armagh’s return to Division One remains on course thanks to a hard-fought draw with Donegal at the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Sunday afternoon.
The dying embers of the game in front of a crowd of just over 11,000 will be remembered for the heroics of Orchard stopper Blaine Hughes who denied Oisin Gallen from the spot with minutes of normal time remaining.
An outrageous long-range point from the returning Rian O’Neill looked to have seen Armagh over the line only for Shane O’Donnell to draw the sides level; an issue – conceding straight after the game looks to have been won – which has plagued Armagh in recent seasons.
And on a weekend where Silverbridge native, Jarlath Burns was installed as the 41st President of the GAA, his son, Jarly Og, could have written himself into the headlines as his weaving run at the death – and fisted effort – fell just short.
Both managers will have gone away without much complaints but as the temperatures begin to rise ahead of the latter half of the league campaign, and indeed into the summer months, there will be a lot to ponder.
Up next for Armagh is an away trip to Fermanagh this Saturday evening.
Check out our gallery from Sunday’s game below. Photos courtesy of Vincent Loughran.
