Dr McKenna Cup: Armagh edge Tyrone to join Donegal, Derry & Monaghan in semi-finals
- Published
Oisin O'Neill hit 0-7 as Armagh edged out Tyrone at the Athletic Grounds
Armagh squeezed into the Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals as their 1-14 to 2-10 win over Tyrone secured qualification via the best section runners-up spot route.
Despite having their win over Armagh chalked off because of the Finbarr Roarty eligibility issue, Donegal still topped Section A on points difference.
That was because they beat Tyrone by two points on Sunday.
Monaghan secured a semi-finals spot by beating Fermanagh 2-9 to 0-12 with Derry also into the last four.
In Wednesday's other game, Down fought back to beat Cavan 2-15 to 1-15 in Section B but missed out on a best runner-ups spot, with Armagh benefiting from the voiding of their opening heavy defeat by Donegal as they secured the last semi-finals spot.
Armagh, Down and Fermanagh all finished on two points but the Orchard County's score difference of plus one was one better than the Mournemen with the Erne County on minus two after their three-point defeat by Monaghan.
The semi-finals draw pitted Armagh against Derry in a game that will take place at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday with a 16:00 GMT throw-in while Monaghan will host Donegal on Sunday at Castleblayney at 13:00.
The win proved enough to earn Armagh a place in the semi-finals as they finished best runners-up in the three sections
At the Athletic Grounds, both sides mixed experience and youth as they served up an entertaining and open contest on a chilly but dry night.
Tarlach Quinn's ninth-minute goal put the Red Hands 1-3 to 0-1 ahead but Peter McGrane immediately blasted past Niall Morgan at the other end.
Oisin O'Neill's fourth successful free in the 23rd minute put Armagh 1-4 to 1-3 up but Tyrone then produced an exhibition of long-distance point-taking to move 1-7 to 1-4 ahead with corner-back Michael McKernan's score the pick of the bunch as he superbly arrowed over a shot from a tight angle on the right sideline.
However, a Cian McConville point helped reduce Tyrone's half-time advantage to 1-7 to 1-6 and with Jarlath Og Burns introduced at the break, Armagh hit the first four scores after the resumption all from play with two Oisin O'Neill points followed by Callum O'Neill and McConville efforts.
A Conor Owens point ended a 22-minute Tyrone scoring drought to cut Armagh's lead to 1-10 to 1-8 but the home side continued to dominate as two late fine Niall Rowland efforts increased their advantage to 1-14 to 1-10 deep into injury-time.
At that stage, the game looked over but Armagh keeper Shea Magill, who had made three earlier superb saves to deny Tyrone goals, had the misfortune to let a high delivery from substitute Dalaigh Jones drop into his net but the error didn't ultimately cost the Orchard men a semi-finals spot.
Tyrone ended the game with 14 men after McKernan picked up a late second yellow card for ploughing into the back of Armagh substitute Jemar Hall.
Woods & O'Hanlon net in Farney win
Goals in either half from Andrew Woods and Stephen O'Hanlon proved to be the difference as Monaghan secured their semi-finals spot by beat Fermanagh 2-9 to 0-12 in the Section C decider at Brewster Park.
The Division One side recovered from a slow start after failing to score in the opening 15 minutes.
The hosts raced into an early 0-4 to 0-0 lead, holding the ball straight from the throw-up before Ultan Kelm landed the opening score off his left. Conor Love, Brandon Horan and Tiarnan Bogue then pointed to extend the advantage.
The Farney men finally opened their account as Jason Irwin cut inside to split the posts before goalkeeper, Darren McDonnell landed from range to half the deficit.
Two more points from Kelm and another from Bogue had Fermanagh 0-7 to 0-3 approaching the half hour mark.
However, Monaghan upped the ante with the introduction of All-Star, Conor McCarthy before Stephen Mooney knocked over after a sustained period of possession.
Stephen O'Hanlon (right) lobbed in Monaghan's second goal to an empty net at Brewster Park
An incisive run from Jason Irwin before flicking across the face of goal allowed Woods to punch into the empty net to level the game at 0-7 to 1-4 by half-time.
Kelm and Jones exchanged scores with Woods and Barry McBennett in a tight third quarter.
However, the decisive score came in the 51st minute after Fermanagh goalkeeper, Ross Bogue lost possession high up with the field.
With the keeper stranded, Monaghan broke at pace and O'Hanlon's looping effort dropped into the empty net to give his side a 2-7 to 0-10 lead.
Jones and Mooney swapped points at either end but, the experience of Monaghan told as they held on for a three-point win.
Down's late rally edges out Cavan
Down hit five injury-time points to edge out Cavan 2-15 to 1-15 in Section B but it didn't prove enough to earn them a semi-finals spot as they missed out on score difference by a single point.
After early points form Paddy Lynch and Oisin Brady, Down hit back to lead 0-4 to 0-2 but Cavan moved ahead in the 16th minute as Brian O'Connell netted from close range.
Two more Oisin Brady points left Cavan 1-6 to 0-6 up at half-time and the Breffni County looked in a strong position to clinch a semi-finals spot when further scores from Tiarnan Madden, Brady and James Galligan increased their advantage to 1-9 to 0-6.
However, the game turned dramatically as Down notched two goals in three minutes with substitute Rory Mason and Odhran Murdock netting.
Cavan fought back to lead on a number of occasion with Lynch, Padraig Faulkner, Oisin Brady and substitute Jack Tully among their scorers and they held a two-point advantage as the match went into injury-time.
However, Down weren't finished as two Pat Havern scores plus efforts from Pol Quinn, Oisin Savage and goalscorer Mason secured their victory although it didn't prove enough to keep alive their hopes in the pre-season competition.