Armagh win Ulster Championship

There is only one big sports story in the North and it is Armagh’s victory against Fermanagh in the Ulster Championship. Peter McDonnell and his players can be rightly proud of a very good victory and a very entertaining championship with – Armagh hopes – even better to come. The GAA can also take pride from providing such wonderful entertainment – whatever about the football in the first half – for so many people. Sure, what else would you be doing on a Sunday afternoon?

Better analysts than me can offer reasons as to why Armagh won. Fermanagh did have their chances in the first half and there was a lot of relief (and a lot of surprise) amongst the Armagh support where I was sitting, that Fermanagh missed a fistful of ‘easy’ points. Gradually, the Armagh players won their individual battles and once the Armagh anaconda threw its coils round the Fermanagh team, there was no escape for the men in green.

Not surprisingly, the Armagh supporters greeted victory with much noise. I never cease to be amazed by the sheer joy with which county supporters greet a win. It is truly primeval. That said, the silence which accompanies losing is as equally profound. While waiting for my lift home from the match, thousands of Fermanagh fans passed me and the lack of chat was noticeable. They certainly suffered a hard gonc. Hopefully, the team will be able to lift their spirits with a win against Kildare – and I don’t see why they shouldn’t win that one.

With Monaghan, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Down still in the qualifiers, I would not be in the least surprised to see two of the four in the quarter finals – and all of Ulster will be hoping that Monaghan beat Kerry.