All Ireland SFC Round 2 Qualifier

ARMAGH 1-19 SLIGO 1-13

Armagh produced a confident second half display to secure another All Ireland SFC Qualifier win at Markievicz Park.

A year ago Kieran McGeeney's charges chalked up four victories in the back door system as they advanced to an All Ireland Quarter-Final.

Having overcome Westmeath at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar, Armagh did enough to earn another encouraging result against Sligo.

Cathal Corey's team were comprehensively defeated by Galway in Connacht, but they were much improved in the first half of this encounter.

Just after the half hour mark, with Liam Gaughan prominent, Sligo had egded 0-7 to 0-5 in front.

Armagh, though, finished the opening period strongly with Andrew Murnin, Niall Grimley, and Ryan McShane firing over points.

That burst guided Armagh one point clear at the turnaround, but they added to the advantage after the restart.

Rory Grugan punished a Sligo lapse in concentration to blast a 39th minute goal and the home team were in severe bother.

In the closing stages Sligo's Adrian Marren and Charlie Harrison were sent off, while Cian Breheny bagged a consolation goal, but Armagh advanced to Round Three.

Scorers for Armagh: Rory Grugan 1-5 (1f), Niall Grimley 0-6 (4fs), Ryan McShane 0-2, Connaire Mackin, Jemar Hall, Stephen Sheridan, Joe McElroy, Andrew Murnin, Blaine Hughes (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Sligo: Liam Gaughan 0-7 (5fs), Niall Murphy 0-3 (1f), Cian Breheny 1-0, Adrian Marren 0-2 (2fs), Sean Carrabine 0-1.

ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Patrick Burns, Aaron McKay, Gregory McCabe; Mark Shields, Brendan Donaghy, Aidan Forker; Charlie Vernon, Connaire Mackin; Rory Grugan, Jemar Hall, Ciaran Higgins; Ryan McShane, Andrew Murnin, Oisin Mac Iomhair

Subs: Niall Grimley for Aidan Forker (30, BC) Stephen Sheridan for C Hughes (35) Niall Rowland for McCabe (57, BC) Joe McElroy for Mac Iomhair (60), Anthony Duffy for McShane (67) Oisin Lappin for Aaron McKay (68).

SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Charlie Harrison, Luke Nicholson, Mikey Gordon; Neil Ewing, Adrian McIntyre, Cian Breheny; Kevin McDonnell, Niall Murphy; Seán Carrabine, Liam Gaughan, Patrick O’Connor; Kyle Cawley, Pat Hughes, Adrian Marren.

Subs: Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch for Nicholson, (48), Cathal Henry forGordon (56), Finian Cawley for Carrabine (65), James Clarke for O’Connor (68) Nathan Rooney for Hughes (69), Kevin Henry for Gaughan (70).

REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).