Ulster SFC: Armagh beat Tyrone after extra-time 

Ulster SFC preliminary first round

Armagh 1-17 Tyrone 1-16 After Extra-Time

By Steve Malone at the Box-IT Athletic Grounds

Conor Turbitt’s extra-time point sent Armagh into the next round of the Ulster Championship after a chaotic clash against rivals Tyrone.

Played in the Box-IT Athletic Grounds, the Red Hands pushed Armagh all the way and will feel this was a victory they left behind.

The Orchard side played to the script of racing into what seemed a comfortable 0-07 to 0-01 lead but from then it was Tyrone that dictated the tempo, but Armagh showed character, especially after being reduced 14 men for the entire of extra-time to get over the line.

Mattie Donnelly, Con Kilpatrick and Micheal McKernan starred for Tyrone, while Jarly Og Burns, Aaron McKay and Oisin O’Neill excelled for Armagh.

Callum O’Neill, keeper Blaine Hughes and Cian McConville registered early scores to put Armagh in the driving seat but after the 20 minute mark and the introduction of Donnelly that Tyrone started to make headway. Tyrone also lost midfielder Brian Kennedy to injury.

Mattie Donnelly, who replaced Canavan, steered over with his first touch and Ciaran Daly followed up with a fine effort but there was only one point scored within the last 13 minutes, which came from Armagh’s Darragh McMullen.

Half-time: Armagh 0-08 Tyrone 0-04

Tyrone were quick reel their opponents in as Mattie Donnelly and then Ethan Jordan (twice) fired over the bar and it took 16 minutes before super-sub Conor Turbitt registered Armagh’s opening point of the second half.

With 20 minutes to go it was anyone’s game and Kilpatrick’s confidently kicked over before full-back Peter Teague levelled and then McKernan sent Tyrone into the lead for the first time with 56 minutes on the clock.

However, Oisin O’Neill’s spectacular two-pointer free raised the decibels from the home, support of the 16, 091, as it put the Orchard back in front as the game entered the fun zone of the last ten minutes.

Oisin O’Neill’s converted free made it a two-point game and the Crossmaglen man squeezed over another point, which seemed to putting Armagh into the next round against Fermanagh but Tyrone had different ideas and it was slick passing and then a stunning finish from Ben McDonnell who blasted into the net to send the game into extra-time.

Armagh had to start extra-time down a man after McMullen picked up a second card.

Before a minute had elapsed Armagh had bagged 1-01, as Ross McQuillan took 12 seconds to float over from the kick-out and it was 59 seconds on the clock when McCormack palmed pass Niall Morgan.

But Tyrone hit back immediately with McKernan steering over a two-pointer and it was level again when Kilpatrick launched over another before Mattie Donnelly put Tyrone back in front. The Red Hands’ tails were up but Oisin O’Neill’s struck two converted frees to swing advantage Armagh’s way before the half-time whistle.

Eoin McElholm’s equaliser was a touch of class and Armagh fluffed several chances to regain the lead before Turbitt fisted over and McElhom had a great chance to level but he drove low across goal and wide.

It was frantic and tense and Niall Morgan had a chance to level from a 45’ with 59 seconds remaining but his effort veered inches wide and it was scrap to the finish-line, young Gareth Murphy got his hands on Hughes kickout and Armagh survived to live for another day.

Scorers for Armagh: Oisin O’Neill 0-6 (3f, 1tp), Tomas McCormack 1-1, Callum O’Neill 0-3 (1f), Conor Turbitt, Ross McQuillan 0-2 each, Blaine Hughes (‘45), Darragh McMullen, C McConville 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tyrone: Conn Kilpatrick 0-4 (1tp), Ben McDonnell 1-0, Mattie Donnelly, Michael McKernan 0-3 (1tp) each, Ethan Jordan 0-2 (1f), Peter Teague, Sean O’Donnell, Ciaran Daly, Eoin McElholm 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Callum O’Neill; Ross McQuillan, Gareth Murphy, Jarly Og Burns; Tiernan Kelly, Ben Crealey; Greg McCabe, Darragh McMullan, Tomas McCormack, Cian McConville, Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty. Subs: Conor Turbitt on for McCormick (42’), Oisin O’Neill for McConville (50’), Joe McElroy for McQuillan, Rory Grugan for J Burns (650|, Grugan for C O’Neill (65’), Paddy Burns for Ben Crealy (70’), Jarly Og Burns for Grugan (70’), Ross McQuillan for McElroy (70’), Cian McConville (Duffy 70’), Jason Duffy for McCabe (86’),

TYRONE: Niall Morgan, Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin, Ciaran Daly, Joey Clarke, Michael McKernan, Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick, Seanie O’Donnell, Ronan Cassidy, Ben McDonnell, Darren McCurry, Ethan Jordan, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Mattie Donnelly for D Canavan (19’), Kieran McGeary for Kennedy (26’), Eoin McEholm for McCurry (48’), Lorcan McGarrity for Jordan (55’), Ben Cullen for McGeary (77’)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).