O’Neill leads the way as Armagh stun Tyrone
ARMAGH were the big winners in more ways than one in last night’s final round of the McKenna Cup.
A win over arch rivals Tyrone is sweet at any time but their 1-14 to 2-10 victory at the Athletic Grounds was enough to see them qualify for a semi-final berth Saturday night — against Tyrone.
That would have seemed an unlikely outcome when Kieran McGeeney sent out the county’s under-20 team in the opening round against Donegal, where they duly shipped a 16-point hammering.
But that result was declared null and void as a result of Donegal having played an ineligible player.
In truth, their win was more comfortable than the final scoreline, which was skewed by a late injury time goal from Dálaigh Jones, suggested as led by Oisín O’Neill, who kicked 0-6, the Orchard men dominated the second half.
Despite having that opening round win wiped out Donegal still topped their group to qualify for the last four, with Derry having already booked their place last weekend.
Holders Monaghan completed the semi-final line-up but they had to battle hard in a winners take all contest against Fermanagh at Brewster Park, where goals in either half from Andrew Woods and Stephen O’Hanlon proved decisive in a 2-9 to 0-12 win.
Down staged a remarkable injury time come-back to score five unanswered points in injury time to see off Cavan in a 2-15 to 1-15 win at Newry.
Meanwhile, goals in either half from Cathal O’Neill and Luke Flynn saw Limerick cruise to a 2-21 to 1-19 win over Clare in last night’s Munster Senior Hurling clash at the Gaelic Grounds.
Meanwhile, new Wexford hurling manager Keith Rossiter has been hit with a double blow ahead of the Allianz Hurling League.
Corner-back Conor Devitt and forward Conall Flood have been added to Wexford’s injury list.
Devitt has been ruled out with a knee injury and has undergone surgery expected to sideline him for eight weeks while Flood is also rehabilitating from a knee injury.
Armagh will face Tyrone at the Athletic Grounds in Saturday’s McKenna Cup semi-final (4pm), with Monaghan hosting Donegal in the other semi-final at 1pm in Castleblayney on Sunday.