Sport

Video: Armagh and Cavan coast into U21 semis with wins over Down and Fermanagh

Armagh's Edward Mallon tangles with Down duo James Guinness and Cormack McCartan Picture by Declan Roughan
Armagh's Edward Mallon tangles with Down duo James Guinness and Cormack McCartan Picture by Declan Roughan Armagh's Edward Mallon tangles with Down duo James Guinness and Cormack McCartan Picture by Declan Roughan

Eirgrid Ulster U21 Football Championship quarter-finals

Armagh 2-13 Down 0-12

ARMAGH finished with a smash and grab win over rivals Down to meet Derry in the semi-final of the Ulster U21 Championship.

Two goals in the final five minutes from Mullaghbawn’s Shea Loye earned Armagh what looked an unlikely victory.

Down looked assured in the second half and struck four points in-a-row to take the lead but they also kicked four poor wides and that came back to haunt them.

Shea Hoey’s introduction in the final few minutes was pivitol as he was involved in both goals.

It is a harsh result on the Mournemen but it was obvious on the pitch that Conor Deegan had built an impressive gameplan.

It was a timid enough opening quarter given the rivalry between the two teams. Before the ball was thrown in, much was made that tonight’s game was must-win for Down. As if an U21 victory would somehow vindicate a youth policy only in its infancy.

It was also a heart-breaking game for Armagh’s young Paul Quinn, as he played despite the tragic death of his brother on Monday for which a minutes silence and then applause was held.

It took eight minutes of huffing, puffing and general needling before Ballyholland’s Tiaran Rushe added excitement when he weaved through three orange shirts before slotting his shot between the posts.

A converted free from Down captain Ronan Millar extended Down’s lead before two converted frees in as many minutes from Shea Loye levelled the score.

And the sides were level for a second time after Rushe and Caolan McConville traded points and then Armagh enjoyed a purple patch with senior player Ben Crealey and Silverbridge’s Jarly Og Burns making an impact.

Loye fired over his third point after great play from Cathal Boylan and then the Mullaghbawn sharpshooter tapped over two more points before Crealey found the target to give the Orchard men a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with 25 minutes gone.

Armagh looked in control, but Ryan Trainor only needed a sniff of a chance and he clipped over Down’s fifth point before Rushe closed the gap with his score giving Armagh a 0-7 to 0-5 half-time lead.

Armagh substitutes Tom O’Kane, Stephen Morris and Hoey all scored in the second half, but Down had regained the lead after two super long range points from Pearse Og McCrickard, another fine strike from Trainor and another brace of points from Millar.

With 50 minutes gone, Down led 0-11 to 0-9, but they couldn’t add to their tally despite having chances and then came the late, late Loye ambush.

Substitute Hoey cut inside before squaring to Loye to fist home the opening goal and, after Hoey and Loye tagged on points, there was enough time for Loye to drill in his second goal.

It was game over for Down, but while Armagh looked ragged at times, they displayed huge conviction and character – and of course that touch of class in the final few minutes made all the difference.

Armagh: R Kearney; P McArdle, A Rushe, K Mallon; C McConville (0-1), B McCambridge, C O’Neill; B Crealy (0-1), J Rafferty; P Quinn, J Og Burns, C Boylan; E Mallon, J Duffy, S Loye (2-7, 0-4 frees).

Subs: T O’Kane (0-2) for Duffy (h-t), S Morris (0-1) for Burns (38), J McAlinden for Mallon (44), M McNamee for E Mallon (44), S Hoey (0-1) for Quinn (53).

Down: M Reid; C Fitzpatrick, P Murdock, S Gallagher; C Francis, McCartan, J McGuinness; R Trainor (0-2), O McConvey; R Millar (0-5, 0-4 frees), S McConville, C Doherty; T Rushe (0-3,0-2 frees), P Kane, P Og Crickard (0-2).

Subs: R Campbell for McCartan (43), S Fitzpatrick for Convey (57).

Yellow cards: J Rafferty (30)

Referee: N McKenna (Monaghan)

Fermanagh 0-4 Cavan 2-19

CAVAN breezed into the semi-final of the Ulster U21 Championship after a dominant display against Fermanagh at Brewster Park. 

The Breffnimen were so much more polished in every position and, in truth, the game was over after 13 minutes as Cavan raced into a 0-7 to 0-0 lead.

That seventh point was supplied by the fist of full-forward Bryan Magee, who had he so desired could have blasted to the net when one on one with the goalkeeper. 

It was as if Magee was aware of the gulf in class between the sides and didn’t want to add insult to the impending misery.

Magee was part of a full-forward line that contributed 13 points over the hour with Caoimhin O’Reilly the best player on show shooting seven points with five coming from open play. 

Ryan Connolly in the other corner fired over three points as Cavan were just too good. 

O’Reilly had three of his points from play inside eight minutes of the game’s start as the Erne rearguard chased shadows.

At midfield Tomas Galligan and Cormac Daly were able to secure the bulk of possession for the winners and anything that broke was invariably hoovered up by a blue jersey.

Fermanagh had three points on board by the break with Connor McCauley hitting two points from centre half-forward and Keelan Kelly raising the other white flag. 

Cavan were in double digits by the time the whistle shrilled for the break as Matthew McKenna also got in on the scoring act.

Connolly too had a chance of a goal when a neat interchange of passes ripped the Fermanagh defence asunder but his driven effort was always rising over the crossbar.

The second half was even more one-sided for Cavan as they sauntered to victory. The home side were only able to muster a solitary score in reply to 2-8 fired in at the other end. 

David Teague was the point scorer for Fermanagh with a free as Cavan had points from O’Reilly, Magee and Connolly. The Breffni goals arrived from two second half substitutes with Conor Smith supplying the first. 

Racing through on to the end of flowing move, he fired low to the corner giving Jack Kelly no chance in the home goal. The second arrived as the game entered injury-time, Peter Corrigan rising highest to punch the ball to the net.

It is difficult to know if this game will have helped Cavan such was the of the meagre nature Fermanagh challenge. They face a much sterner test in the semi-final and they will have left Brewster Park learning very little about themselves.

For Fermanagh, senior panellist Cian McManus tried manfully at wing half-back, but it would be difficult for even the most optimistic of Erne fans to find many positives in this display. 

For Cavan there were competent displays all over the pitch with Eoin Sommerville strong and assured at centre hal- back, while further forward they had attackers all comfortable and sharp in possession.

Fermanagh: J Kelly; B Daly, R McCaffrey, C Carney; C McManus, M Og McGarrigle, D Leonard; N Clarke, D Sanderson; K Kelly (0-1), C McAuley (0-2), C McShea; J Toye, D Teague (0-1), C McGee

Subs: L Jones for C Carney (12), A Burke for C McShea (37), D OCathain for C McGee (41), M Jordan for J Toye (52), J McCaffrey for B Daly (52), M Maguire for D Teague (56).

Cavan: L Brady; M Smart, D Monahan, L Fortune; S O’Connor, E Sommerville, D Wilson; T Galligan, C Daly; P Smith (0-1), T Donohue, M McKenna (0-1); C O’Reilly (0-7), B Magee (0-2), R Connolly (0-4).

Subs: C Smith (1-0) for R Connolly (34), S Dunne for D Wilson (43), R Clarke (0-2) for T Donohue (43), C Bradley (0-2) for M McKenna (43), P Corrigan (1-0) for P Smith (48).

Referee: Dan Mullan (Derry)