TG4 Ulster Senior Championship round 2: Donegal 2-4 Armagh 1-15
ULSTER champions Armagh had to come from behind to defeat Donegal in Lifford yesterday.
Shane McCormack’s side had a comfortable eight-point win but at half-time they trailed 2-1 to 0-5 amid wonders of an upset.
In truth though, after the first quarter, the Orchard County dominated the game and it ended up business-as-usual for the holders as Aimee Mackin, who picked up the LGFA Player of the Month award for April, finished with nine points and her captain Kelly Mallon with 1-3.
The visitors, playing into the wind, opened the scoring with a point but the game was blown wide open with two goals in five minutes from Tara Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr to give Donegal a 2-0 to 0-1 lead with 12 minutes gone.
However, in the style of true champions, Armagh reeled off four points, Mackin bringing her first half tally to three points – all from frees, to help reduce Donegal’s lead down to two at half-time.
Armagh’s unanswered tally was brought to eight as they hit the first half scores of the second half, Mackin’s 39th minute effort giving them the lead again for the first time since the opening minutes, and they moved three in front, 0-10 to 2-1.
Donegal were able to momentarily break Armagh’s momentum through Karen Guthrie but any chance of Donegal inflicting a first defeat of the season on the champions was ended with Mackin, Mallon, Caitriona O’Hagan and Cait Towe all raising further white flags and captain Mallon finishing up with a late goal.
There is still one more group game to be played – Armagh and Cavan – next weekend before the finalists are known and unless Cavan can win it’s expected these two sides will play out one more instalment before this championship is decided.
In the Intermediate Championship, Antrim booked their place in the final against Tyrone with an impressive 3-12 to 1-13 win over Monaghan at Aghabog yesterday.
They had to come from four points down at half-time but an impressive second half performance saw them run out six point winners.
They still have a game to play – next week against Tyrone – but yesterday’s defeat for Monaghan and last week’s loss against Tyrone ended their hopes of reaching the provincial decider.
Down are also through to the Ulster Junior final after a 1-20 to 1-3 win over Derry in Pairc Esler, Newry yesterday.
The Mourne County dominated from start to finish. Derry now must win their final group game against Fermanagh this weekend if they are to reach the decider.
Results
Ulster Senior Championship round 2: Donegal 2-4 Armagh 1-15
Ulster Intermediate Championship round 2: Monaghan 1-13 Antrim 3-12
Ulster Junior Championship round 2: Down 1-20 to Derry 1-3
