By Jerome Quinn BBC Sport

The funniest thing at Croke Park on Sunday was the sight of stewards around the perimeter of the pitch unfolding rolls of orange mesh fencing just before the final whistle.

It was obviously part of a new policy to prevent a repeat of the Armagh pitch invasion last September, but how on earth this fencing was supposed to stop anyone beats me!

On the pitch, there was certainly no stopping Armagh as they demolished the Dubs.

Even if Tommy Lyons had asked the stewards to put the fencing between the Dublin posts, Armagh's trio of super 'Macs' would have found a way through.

Holiday mode

Oisin McConville, Stephen McDonnell and Paul McGrane regularly found the target, the latter scoring two great points from midfield.

Marsden was also on fire, while Barry Duffy's goal killed off the home side.

Armagh started the game in holiday mode but soon clicked into gear and strolled towards the final whistle with the swagger of champions, intent on proving that Sam 2002 was no fluke.

Armagh were dominant against Dublin at Croke

Joe Kernan has been stung by the suggestion that Armagh were lucky to win the All Ireland, and he loves nothing better than to prove people wrong.

So much is written and said about Kieran McGeeney's single-minded drive and determination, but Kernan is the same.

Perhaps that is why they work so well together.

There's a story going round that when Armagh were holidaying in Mauritius at the start of January, McGeeney got bored on the second day and asked for a training session.

It may not be true, but it wouldn't surprise me.

These Armagh lads are not going to throw away a crown they worked so hard to win.

Most of the squad has been together for years and that experience told against Dublin. The ease of their win has sent out a clear message to the rest of the country.

It may only be the start of February but, with Kerry blinded by the Cork lights and Tyrone crashing in Roscommon, Armagh look like being the team to beat. Their tactics have not changed from last year.

Tony McEntee wore 14 but tracked back and was seen tackling for the ball on his own 21-yard line.

Route one

And, when the ball was won, it was of course delivered quickly and diagonally to twin 'strikers' Duffy and McDonnell.

There was however one important change - Paul Hearty showing that his shot-stopping and long kick-outs will add a new dimension to Armagh's game in 2003.

In contrast, Dublin have too many inexperienced names and they played a na�ve game, trying to run through Armagh in the first-half and then trying route one when the game was up.

They were made to look like a minor team.

One last point - if Armagh had scored one more point, the winning margin would have been exactly the same as it was in the 1977 All Ireland final (12 points, 5-12 to 3-6).

Now what was that about a Croke Park hoodoo?

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