But the Swansea front three of Richards, Murphy and James Thomas, who passed a late fitness test, were superb, causing the visitors no end of problems.
Perhaps if he gets bored of farming and his other alleged activities, Thomas "Slab" Murphy could consider a new career, donning a pair of bicycle clips and becoming South Armagh's new bobby on the beat.
Tommy Bowe scored an early second-half try but David Wallace and Johne Murphy touched down before O'Connell saw red for a swinging arm on Jonathan Thomas.