Ulster SFC: Armagh cruise to victory

Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Armagh 2-32 Fermanagh 1-24

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Armagh eased into the Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-finals with a comfortable victory over Fermanagh in a high scoring encounter at Brewster Park.

Kieran McGeeney’s side had the hard work done in the first half as they produced a clinical display to go in at the break with a 1-17 to 0-4 advantage over an Erne team that were very wasteful in front of the posts in the opening 35 minutes.

Armagh continued to tag on scores after the interval although Fermanagh did improve their shooting, hitting 1-20 in the second half, with the outstanding Darragh McGurn clipping 1-12 from play, that included five two-pointers.

Fermanagh registered the first score of the contest through Jonathan Cassidy, but it was followed by two wides for the home side. That was the story of the half for Declan Bonner’s side, who hit nine wides in all in the half as well as dropping another four efforts short.

At the other end, Armagh, who only had the one wide in the half, punished Fermanagh at every opportunity as Darragh McMullen got them up and running with a two-pointer before Jarly Og Burns, the impressive Conor Turbitt and Oisin Conaty all landed points to put them into a 0-9 to 0-2 lead by the 19th minute.

Garvan Jones and Sean Cassidy hit back with points for Bonner’s charges, but Armagh piled on the scores as the half drew to a close as Ethan Rafferty boomed over a two point free while Tiernan Kelly, Burns, Turbitt and Conaty added points.

Jason Duffy then palmed to the net following a flowing move from the Orchard men before Ross McQuillan fired over a two pointer to leave Armagh with a commanding 1-17 to 0-4 half time lead.

Armagh were quickly back into their stride in the second half Cian McConville, Duffy and Turbitt notched scores to make it 1-20 to 0-4 by the 38th minute.

McGurn replied with his first two-point effort, but Armagh swept down the other end of the pitch for Turbitt to net as McGeeney’s side stretched their lead to 20 points.

McGurn was Fermanagh’s main threat as he rattled over some wonderful efforts while Armagh were able to introduce Oisin O’Neill, who clipped over four points from play inside five minutes of entering the fray.

Conor O’Hanlon (2) and Brandon Horan also rifled over two-pointers for the Ernemen while Darragh McGurn produced a fine finish to the top corner of the net, but Armagh were never in danger and Kelly, Burns kept the scoreboard ticking over before the lively Conaty knocked over with the last kick of the game.

Scorers for Armagh: C Turbitt 1-6 (1 tpf, 1 f), Jason Duffy 1-2, Oisin Conaty 0-5, Jarly Og Burns 0-4, Oisin O’Neil 0-4, Tiernan Kelly 0-3, Ethan Rafferty 0-2 (tpf), Ross McQuillan 0-2, Darragh McMullen 0-2 (tp), Cian McConville 0-2 (1f)

Scorers for Fermanagh: Darragh McGurn 1-12 (5 tp), Conor O’Hanlon 0-4 (2 tp), Brandon Horan 0-2 (tp), Jonathan Cassidy 0-1, Garvan Jones 0-1 (f), Sean Cassidy 0-1, Conor Love 0-1, Josh Largo Elis 0-1, Mattie McDermott 0-1

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay; Peter McGrane; Ross McQuillan, Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Óg Burns; Jason Duffy, Andrew Murnin; Tomás McCormack, Darragh McMullen, Daniel Magee; Oisin Conaty, Conor Turbitt, Cian McConville.

Subs: Ciaran Mackin for Murnin (43), Oisin O’Neill for Turbitt (47), Barry McCambridge for McCormack (51), Ryan Duffy for Jason Duffy (60).

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Oisin Smyth, Shane McGullion; Jonathan Cassidy, Ronan McCaffrey, Declan McCusker; Stephen McGullion, Conor McGee; Joe McDade, Ciaran Corrigan, Josh Largo Elis; Sean Cassidy, Darragh McGurn, Garvan Jones

Subs: Conor Love for Sean Cassidy (27 mins), Ciaran O’Hanlon for Jones (HT), Brandon Horan for McCusker (h/t), Mattie McDermott for Corrigan (45), Aogan Kelm for McGee (54).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).