Summary

  • FT: Down 2-6 Armagh 0-13

  • Armagh will meet Donegal or Tyrone in the final.

  • Donegal v Tyrone semi-final is on Sunday 28 April, 14:00 BST.

  • The Ulster final in on Sunday 12 May.

  1. Late Saffron surge seals win against Wexfordpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 27 April

    Earlier today, Antrim fought back to beat Wexford to pick up their first win in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

    Read the report from the game here.

    AntrimImage source, Inpho
  2. Half-timepublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 1-2 Armagh 0-5

    A very low-key encounter thus far but that was a frantic finish to the first-half.

    Armagh quickly canceled out the Down goal.Tensions rose as both sides headed in for the break. Let's see what the second period will bring. It's finely poised.

    HT Score in ClonesImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    HT Score in Clones

  3. Postpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 1-2 Armagh 0-5

    Just like that Armagh are back on terms. Rory Grugan's free is followed up by an equaliser from Aidan Forker.

  4. Postpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 1-2 Armagh 0-3

    Super break from Pierce Laverty. The ball eventually comes to Doherty and his shot goes under Blaine Hughes and may have come off Paddy Burns on its way to the net. Either way Down are in front.

  5. GOAL!published at 17:55 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 1-2 Armagh 0-3

    Ceilum Doherty's effort eventually rolls into the net!

  6. Postpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-2 Armagh 0-3

    Pat Havern converts a free to end Down's half-hour drought.

  7. Finding their feetpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-3

    Michael Murphy
    Former Donegal captain and All-Ireland winner on GAAGo

    That was better from Stefan Campbell and a great run off him by Conor Turbitt. It's better from Armagh and they are beginning to find that formula in attack.

  8. Postpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-3

    The veteran Aidan Forker steps up to nudge Armagh further in front with a point off his left-foot.

  9. Hopefully a game will break out soonpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-2

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI at Clones

    Not a lot to report so far folks. Hopefully a game will break out soon.

    Down v ArmaghImage source, Inpho
  10. Postpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-2

    Down could have done with Pat Havern landing that free but he balloons it high and wide. No score now for Conor Laverty's men in 22 minutes.

  11. Postpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-2

    Pure class from Rian O'Neill. Struts his stuff dummying two defenders before clipping over.

    Rian O'NeillImage source, Inpho
  12. Postpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-1

    Wides at both ends with Shealan Johnston off target for Down while Armagh's Joe McElroy is quickly closed down forcing his effort wayward.

  13. Postpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-1

    It's taken them 12 minutes but Armagh are off the mark thanks to a huge 45-yard free-kick off the ground from Rian O'Neill. Super score.

  14. Burns gets hot and heavy with Down boss Lavertypublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-0

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI at Clones

    Armagh's Paddy Burns certainly didn't seem happy with Conor Laverty for some reason as he shoved him after the Down boss had beckoned over Ceilum Doherty to pass on some instructions.

  15. Postpublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-0

    Armagh are finding space in the forward line but with seven minutes gone, they are yet to get on the board.Oisin Conaty has just burst down the field but fires wide.

  16. Postpublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-1 Armagh 0-0

    Patient build-up, which may be a sign of things to come, eventually results in a point for Down from the boot of Ryan Magill.

  17. Postpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down 0-0 Armagh 0-0

    In a repeat of last year's semi-final, we are underway in St. Tiernach's Park.

  18. Highlights: First-half goal salvo sees Armagh past Fermanaghpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down v Armagh (17:15 BST)

    Armagh beat Fermanagh 3-11 to 0-9 at Brewster Park to set up an Ulster Championship semi-final against Down.

    Media caption,

    Highlights: First-half goal salvo sees Armagh past Fermanagh

  19. Down can land Sam Maguire spotpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down v Armagh (17:15 BST)

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI at Clones

    Down are not just playing for an Ulster Final berth today.

    A surprise victory for Conor Laverty's side will also land them a prized place in the race for the Sam Maguire.

    They had the chance to put themselves in pole position for the Super 16s when they faced Westmeath in the Allianz Football League Division Three Final last month but a disappointing display saw them waste the opportunity.

    Armagh, of course, are already guaranteed a place in the top-tier championship, where as their selector Ciaran McKeever said last year with his tongue possibly in his cheek, "the real football starts".

  20. Team news - Rafferty back in Armagh squadpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 27 April

    Down v Armagh (17:15 BST)

    Ethan Rafferty is back in the Armagh squad for the first time this season after being named on the bench for Saturday's Ulster Football semi-final against Down.

    Rafferty has not played for the county since sustaining a serious ankle injury last July while on club duty for Grange.

    Blaine Hughes remains as goalkeeper as Armagh's starting line-up for the Clones contest is unchanged from the dominant opening Ulster SFC win over Fermanagh.

    There is one positional switch in attack with Conor Turbitt moving to right full-forward as Oisin Conaty drops back to the half-forward line.

    Down manager Conor Laverty has made four changes to his starting line-up including three from the matchday programme all of which are in attack.In come, Jonny Flynn in midfield while Ryan Magill, Finn McElroy and James Guinness replace Liam Kerr, Barry O'Hagan and Danny Magill which could suggest a more defensive approach from the Mournemen.

    Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, A McKay, P McGrane; J McElroy, Ciaran Mackin, A Forker (capt); R O'Neill, B Crealey; S Campbell, R Grugan, O Conaty; C Turbitt, A Murnin, J Og Burns.

    Subs: E Rafferty, B McCambridge, T Kelly, G McCabe, Connaire Mackin, D McMullan, J Duffy, R McQuillan, A Nugent, O O'Neill, S McPartlan

    Down: J O'Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy, C Doherty; M Rooney, P Laverty (capt), S Johnston; J Flynn, O Murdock; D Guinness, R Magill, R Johnston; F McElroy, P Havern, J Guinness.

    Subs: K Anderson, L Kerr, B O'Hagan, D Magill, O Savage, C McCrickard, S Annett, R Mason, G McKibben, E Brown, P McCarthy

    Down v ArmaghImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Down v Armagh