By Shaun Casey

Armagh posted their highest ever return in championship football on Sunday in their 3-33 to 0-14 victory over Down, breaking their one-week old record after hitting 2-32 against Fermanagh.

Of their 42 shots at Clones, Armagh missed just nine and rattled off three goals to earn their largest ever win over the Mourne County. Tomas McCormack raised the game’s first green flag while Conor Turbitt netted in both halves.

But Kieran McGeeney won’t be getting carried away. He was happy with how his side performed but with a fourth Ulster final in a row coming down the tracks, the All-Ireland winning player and manager won’t be taking his eye off the ball.

“It was today, but so was Down’s last week,” McGeeney said of Armagh’s conversation rate in front of the posts. “These things can come and go. You look at Donegal’s efficiency in the All-Ireland final as well, it’s one of those things.

“Some days, things can run far. I think we were 5-2 behind and Down, the ball bobbled in front of our goal and (Aaron) McKay got his body behind it and knocked it out.

“Cian (McConville) picked up the break but if that had went in, the game could take a different trajectory altogether. Those are the things that can change games.

“Our efficiency was good. We knew at half-time, we’ve seen from the last 10 days, not just this weekend, that 12-14 point leads aren’t what they were before, especially with teams that can hit two-pointers.

“We said we had to go out and play another half, like we did in the last 20 minutes of the first half and in fairness, the boys did. They were good in front of goals, but they moved the ball well.”

McGeeney did feel that last week’s heroic performance over reigning provincial champions Donegal zapped the energy out of Conor Laverty’s side and they failed to display their true potential at St Tiernach’s Park.

“Listen, eaten bread is soon forgotten though and it’s back to the grindstone tomorrow,” he added. “Down were in favour of the week last week, and rightly so, but they’ve done a job and that’s the level that Down didn’t play at.

“They were just lacking a wee bit of energy today, probably, on the back of it. You just have to be careful you’re not in the same position in two weeks’ time.”