Armagh secured their spot in the Ulster semi-finals with a comfortable win over Fermanagh in Brewster Park. The Orchard County were 16 ahead at half time and while the hosts gave a better display in the second period, they could get close enough to really scare Armagh.
Darragh McGurn was simply exceptional for the Erne County, finishing with 1-12 and picking up the man of the match award. He proved too hot to handle for the Armagh rearguard in the second half.
For Armagh, Conor Turbitt was the main man with 1-6 on the day. Jason Duffy claimed their first three-pointer and recorded 1-2 and ten different names got on the scoresheet in the end.
Jonathan Cassidy kicked the opening score of the day but Armagh completely took charge from there. The Orchard County kicked seven unanswered scores, started with a super two-pointer from Darragh McMullan.
Scoring spree
Jarly Og Burns, Conor Turbitt (3) and Oisin Conaty all split the posts before Darragh McGurn raised a white flag. Turbitt and Conaty grabbed scores while Garvan Jones claimed a third for Fermanagh.
Ethan Rafferty fired over a fantastic two-point free before Burns and Joe McDade exchanged efforts. Tiernan Kelly, Turbitt and Conaty chipped in with further scores before Kieran McGeeney’s men rattled the net.
Quick hands from Aaron McKay and Ross McQuillan saw Jason Duffy palm home an easy major. McQuillan followed that up with a fantastic two-pointer on the resulting kickout and that gave Armagh a 1-17 to 0-4 half time lead.
Cian McConville (free), Duffy and Turbitt grew the gap at the start of the second half before McGurn kicked the first of his four two-pointer. Turbitt raised a green flag but another from outside the arc, along with a single from McGurn, cancelled out the goal.
Oisin O’Neill impressed off the bench with 0-4 in a matter of moments. At the other end, Conor O’Hanlon proved a bright spark for Fermanagh, claiming over a brace of two-pointers after coming on.
McGurn rattled the net with a fabulous goal, striking to the top corner of the net, but Armagh were still safe. They finished the scoring for the day through Conaty, and they await the winners of Down and Donegal in the Ulster semi-final.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty 0-2 (1tpf), Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane, Ross McQuillan 0-2 (1tp), Tiernan Kelly 0-3, Jarly Og Burns 0-4, Jason Duffy 1-2, Andrew Murnin, Tomas McCormack, Darragh McMullan 0-2 (1tp), Daniel Magee, Oisin Conaty 0-5, Conor Turbitt 1-6 (1tpf, 1f), Cian McConville 0-2 (1f). Subs: Ciaran Mackin for A. Murnin, Oisin O’Neill 0-4 for C. Turbitt, Ryan Duffy for J. Duffy, Barry McCambridge for T. McCormack.
