Yesterday was a really clinical performance. I said in the week that our focus and mindset on this game was going to be so crucial, as the temptation would be there to take the eye off the ball. So to win so well was very impressive. We were ruthless and in all honesty, we never really moved out of 3rd gear. We got a bit of luck with the first goal, as there was a dropped ball and a couple of deflections that all went our way. The second goal came after Kildare had a point waved wide when it looked over. Those goals gave us a buffer to control the tempo and pick off scores at will.
At the start of the game as the teams were lining out, their midfielders were giving a few pushes and shoves and I was thinking these guys are going to be up for this after the comments during the week from the county chairman and their under par performances so far this season. But that's as good as it got for them, because from there on out we totally dominated them. I always think back to that qualifier game against Kildare in 2017 at Croke Park. Kildare were raging hot favourites that day. They were one of the most physically imposing teams I've ever seen. They were absolutely massive across the park and Armagh had to stand up to it. We saw that titanic battle between James Morgan and Daniel Flynn and Jamie Clarke tore Ollie Lyons apart. Clarke's performance was so devastating that Cian O'Neill retired Lyons from Kildare after that game. That Kildare side had so much going for it in terms of size, pace, quality players, but were just lacking that out and out scorer. It's been on of Armagh's best performances under McGeeney. So to see them play like that yesterday was quite shocking.
I'd echo the comments about Blaine Hughes. He's done all that's been asked from him so far. I'd caveat that by saying that he hasn't been overly tested yet and the Donegal game will be the first big test. There were a couple of worrying signs with our kick outs against Meath, but overall he's looked very comfortable. I thought Joe McElroy played very well, getting around the pitch, sweeping up dirty ball. I was critical of seeing him and Conor O'Neill named in the half forward line earlier in the league as it seemed overly defensive. If one plays in the half back line and one in the half forward line, then it seems to be a better balance. We have a couple of players who can do that role like Jemar Hall and Jason Duffy, so he's doing well to keep his place. Oisin Conaty continues to impress with his pace and score taking. Conor Turbitt also seems to play better when Rian O'Neill isn't in the side. If we can get those two playing well together, with Conaty, Campbell and Grugan playing off them, then that's some firepower.
The Donegal game is going to be box-office and will be a true test. We haven't done well against them for the last few years between league and championship, so we will have to up our game considerably. We've got progressively better as the games have gone on. We were awful against Louth, better against Meath and impressive yesterday. But those were all games we should be winning. Donegal will bring a level of intensity and physicality that we won't have experienced this season, so will be very revealing as to where we are as a team this season.