PÁIRC ESLER BREAKDOWN

MAN OF MATCH

DARRAGH O’HANLON (DOWN): Pushed hard by rookie Shay Millar and Caolan Mooney’s strongrunning counter-attacking game, but O’Hanlon’s influence was a constant throughout the game. The Mourne man worked hard off the ball and kicked four points, including two sublime efforts from play.

TURNING POINT

DOWN held the upper hand in the first half but still trailed by a point coming up to half-time when Jamie Clarke skipped through their defence to set up a move that ended with Andrew Murnin’s deflected shot coming back off the post. Had they conceded a third goal against the run of play, there may have been no coming back.

SIDELINE BATTLE

WON with some conviction by Eamonn Burns, not least for the defensive organisation which diluted Jamie Clarke’s second-half impact. Armagh were lacking in rhyme and reason, summed up by the mystifying decision to introduce Ciaran McKeever — scorer of three goals in the League — in the 76th minute.

REFEREE WATCH

CONOR LANE from Cork was busy handing out 11 cards — nine yellows and two blacks — but that should not be confused for him fronting up as the strong arm of the law in a game that all-too frequently spiralled out of control. The CCCC may well take added action after Lane failed to show a red card as a result of a mass brawl late on.