Blaine Hughes comes to the rescue as Armagh and Donegal battle to a draw

Armagh goalkeeper Blaine Hughes pulled off a superb penalty save five minutes from the end of time, as Armagh and Donegal played to a draw in the Allianz Football League.

The result leaves the Division 2 table as it was, with Armagh ahead of the Tír Chonaill men on score difference, with both sides sitting on seven points through four games.

The opening minutes were cagey, as Armagh didn’t score until the thirteenth minute – through Conor O’Neill.

Donegal were a point ahead when the game burst into life on 19 minutes, as Ciaran Mackin showed tremendous vision to pick out Andrew Murnin with a 50-yard pass which sailed over the Donegal defence and into Murnin’s waiting arms. He did the rest, burying his shot past Shaun Patton in a one on one.

Further points from Aidan Forker, Rory Grugan and Oisin Conaty had Armagh in the ascendancy, but Donegal flipped momentum, and a six-point scoring run had them ahead 0-10 to 1-5 midway through the second half.

Up stepped Joe McElroy, Grugan and Murnin to put Armagh ahead, whilst Shane O’Donnell hit the crossbar at the other end.

An Oisin Gallen free left just one in it on 66 minutes when Donegal were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Gallen to put his side ahead by three, but his shot was kept out by Hughes at full stretch.

In injury time, second half substitute Rian O’Neill looked to have won the game with an outstanding curled score, but Donegal had enough time on the clock to leave with a draw, following a score from O’Donnell.

Up next for Armagh is a trip to Brewster Park to face Fermanagh next Saturday evening.

For full match report and reaction see this week’s Newry Reporter – in shops Wednesday February 28!