T-Met Armagh Senior Football Championship
Crossmaglen Rangers 4-10 Killeavy 0-10
GOALS win games and Crossmaglen, chasing their 19th Armagh SFC title in 20 years, bagged four in a low-tempo affair in Silverbridge on Saturday evening to book a quarter-final spot.
Killeavy were quick off the mark, Michael Murphy and Conor King putting them two up, but by the 11th minute Cross had responded with 2-1 of their own, Aaron Kernan and John Murtagh, grabbing the majors. Quite incredibly, they didn’t register again until the 28th minute when David McKenna pointed.
In an exceedingly poor opening half, Killeavy gave as good as they got and further points from Cathal Boylan and Raymond Taggart left it 2-2 to 0-4 at the break.
The champions started strongly after the interval, scoring 1-2 within three minutes, Tony Kernan grabbing a goal and a point. James Morgan raised the other white flag.
A dubious penalty, which David McKenna converted, had the tie wrapped up by the 43rd minute at 4-6 to 0-6, Gerard Byrne getting both Killeavy points.
The teams shared eight points in the closing quarter, Aaron Kernan (two), Tony Kernan and McKenna scoring for Cross and Taggart, Michael McNamee and Byrne, the St Monnina’s marksmen.
Crossmaglen scorers: A Kernan (1-2), T Kernan (1-2), D McKenna (1-2), J Murtagh (1-1), S Kernan, J Morgan, M Aherne (0-1 each.)
Killeavy scorers: G Byrne (0-3), R Taggart (0-3), M Murphy, C King, C Boylan, M McNamee (0-1 each).
Annaghmore 1-12 Ballymacnab 0-14
WHEN Annaghmore went into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead early on, it looked like this game would be a procession, but Ballymacnab regrouped commendably to make this a very close clash at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday evening.
Michael McConville’s goal in the first minute got the Pearse’s up and running and by the seventh minute Michael McQuade, Conor Cullen, Oisin MacIomhair and Eoin McCormack had added points.
However, they failed to register again until the 28th minute as the Round Towers eventually found their rhythm, hitting eight unanswered scores, mainly through Jack Grugan and Gavin McParland.
It was level-pegging, 1-7 to 0-10, at the break but in the second half the ’Nab struggled to sustain their scoring surge.
Early points were traded by Ciarán Mac Íomhair and Grugan before Annaghmore took charge with four unanswered scores through per Cullen (three) and Shane McGeown.
The Round Towers were in a spot of bother and while scores from Brendan Toner (two) and Feargal Nugent narrowed the gap to one, Annaghmore showed plenty of confidence and poise to hold out and book a quarter-final spot.
Annaghmore scorers: C Cullen (0-5), M McConville (1-0), O McIomhair (0-2), C Mac Íomhair (0-2), M McQuade, E McCormack, S McGeown (0-1 each).
Ballymacnab scorers: J Grugan (0-4), G McParland (0-3), B Toner (0-3), P Gribben, F Nugent, B McCone, J Gribben (0-1 each).
Armagh Harps 3-14 St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna 2-12
FORMER county man Gareth Swift gave an exhibition of high-fielding and scoring as Harps dominated their highly-enjoyable round two replay against Cullyhanna at the Athletic Grounds.
The big full-forward pocketed 1-7 as the city side’s route one football paid handsome dividends.
Ryan McShane and Conor White put Harps two up but Aidan Nugent’s 10th minute goal, carved out by Robbie Tasker, gave Cullyhanna the lead for the only time in the game.
Harps smartly responded with two goals of their own, Swift fielding majestically before letting fly to the top right-hand corner of the net.
Con Stevenson immediately added a second and when Shea Grimley grabbed a third six minutes from half-time, the gap was 10 points.
It was 3-8 to 2-3 at the break, a 28th minute Robbie Tasker penalty keeping St Pat’s hopes alive.
Early in the second half the gap was reduced to six courtesy of Eugene Casey, Nugent and Shea Hoey and, after further scores were exchanged by Casey and Swift,
St Pat’s profited immensely by moving substitute Pearse Casey to midfield, where the Harps pairing of Charlie Vernon and Declan McKenna had been dominant.
The result was five unanswered points from Nugent (two), Eugene Casey, Mal Mackin and Tasker.
Suddenly Harps had a game on their hands but they steadied the ship with an exquisite point from Mark McConville and Swift rounded off a masterful display with three more scores.
Harps scorers: G Swift (1-7), C Stevenson (1-0), S Grimley (1-0), C White (0-2), R McShane (0-2), D McKenna (0-2), M McConville (0-1 each).
Cullyhanna scorers: A Nugent (1-5), R Tasker (1-3), E Casey (0-2), S Hoey, M Mackin (0-1 each).
IN THE qualifiers, Wolfe Tone’s recorded a rare championship success as they beat Tír na nÓg 4-14 to 2-15.
Their goals came in the opening minutes from James Doyle (two), James Lavery and John Toal, giving them a 4-7 to 1-6 interval advantage and they held on for a win.
Sarsfield’s went on an extra-time goalscoring spree as their round one qualifier with Forkhill ended 2-13 apiece at the end of normal time. The High Moss outfit scored 4-6 in extra-time while restricting the opposition to a point, leaving the final score 6-19 to 2-14.
The Dromintee v St Paul’s game also went to extra-time with the south Armagh side emerging victorious on a 1-14 to 3-6 scoreline.
ARMAGH SFC QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Maghery v St Patrick’s/Granemore; Harps v Killeavy/Wolfe Tone’s; Crossmaglen v Pearse Óg/Dromintee; Annaghmore v Ballymacnab/Sarsfield’s
