By Shaun Casey

Dublin 0-19 Armagh 0-24

ALL-IRELAND champions Armagh are the first team through to the quarter-finals after their convincing win over Dublin at Croke Park. With Derry and Galway finishing all square, Armagh can’t be caught at the top of the table.

It’s the third time in their history that the Orchard County have beaten the Dubs. On the other two occasions, 2002 and 2003, Armagh finished the season in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day. Their hopes of continuing that record are now just two wins away.

Dublin were at their devastating best in the opening quarter, led by Cormac Costello, who kicked five first half points. By the time he’d clipped his third, the Dubs held a double score lead, 0-6 to 0-3.

But that’s when Armagh just found their feet with Rory Grugan nailing a score from outside the arc. Jarly Og Burns fisted Armagh level while Kieran McGeeney’s men could have had two goals, but Oisin Conaty and Andrew Murnin were both denied by Stephe Cluxton.

Instead, it was Dublin who hit the front again with a brace from Lorcan O’Dell and Costello (free) but momentum switched entirely towards the All-Ireland champions and seven on the bounce, including two-points from Grugan and Rian O’Neill, put them 13-9 up at half time.

O’Neill fired over a two-pointer at the start of the second half while Rory Grugan popped over three frees, all three coming from Dublin breeching the 3v3 structure rule. Lee Gannon and Brian Howard did score to keep the hosts in touch.

Costello carried the fight almost singlehandedly at times but Sean Bugler did chip in with a two-pointer to cancel out converted efforts from Ethan Rafferty and Darragh McMullan before Stefan Campbell crowned his introduction with a customary score.

O’Neill (free) and Paddy Small raised orange flags at either end while Gannon and Joe McElory exchanged single efforts. Costello tagged on the final score of the game from a free, but it was Armagh who celebrated at full time.

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty 0-1, Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane, Ross McQuillan 0-1, Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Og Burns 0-2, Jason Duffy, Ben Crealey, Darragh McMullan 0-1, Rory Grugan 0-8 (1tp, 1tpf, 4f), Oisin Conaty 0-2, Rian O’Neill 0-5 (2tp, 1tpf), Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt 0-1. Subs: Stefan Campbell 0-1 for C. Turbitt, Joe McElroy 0-1 for J. Duffy, Tomas McCormack for R. Grugan, Niall Grimley for R. O’Neill.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton, David Byrne, Theo Claney, Sean McMahon, Alex Galvin, Brian Howard 0-1, Niall Scully, Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Killian McGinnis, Ciaran Kilkenny, Lorcan O’Dell 0-1, Sean Bugler 0-3 (1tp), Paddy Small 0-4 (1tp), Cormac Costello 0-8 (1tp, 3f), Colm Basquel. Subs: Lee Gannon 0-2 for C. Basquel, Luke Breathnach for L. O’Dell Tom Lahiff for K. McGinnis, Eoghan O’Donnell for N. Scully.