Orchard in top flight yet again
Armagh 2-21 Cavan 0-12 Allianz NFL Division 2
BY PADDY TIERNEY ARMAGH sealed their return to Division One and extinguished Cavan’s promotion hopes with a ruthless 15-point victory at the Box-it Athletic Grounds.
With a trip to a resurgent Cork next week, Kieran Mcgeeney’s men were keen on confirming promotion with a game to spare.
First half goals from Peter Mcgrane and Conor Turbitt from a penalty had them leading 2-12 to 0-4 at half-time.
Cavan lost Padraig Faulkner, Jason Mcloughlin, Gerard Smith and Caomimh O’reilly before throw-in and they struggled to match the intensity of the hosts.
Ryan O’neill landed a fine score for Cavan in the opening minute, but it was to be the only time they led. Wing-back Greg Mccabe hit two points from play while Stefan Campbell and Andrew Murnin were also lively in attack.
The writing was on the wall for Cavan when Turbitt stripped Paddy Lynch of possession to set up Murnin for a classy point to put Armagh 0-10 to 0-3 ahead after 26 minutes.
The game fizzled out in the second half and Cavan’s frustration boiled over.
Killian Brady and Cian Reilly were black carded, but the latter could have been sent off for a crude challenge on Mccabe. ARMAGH: B Hughes; P Burns, A Mckay, P Mcgrane; G Mccabe (0-2), A Forker, J Mcelroy; Connaire Mackin, B Crealey (0-1); S Campbell (0-1), R Grugan (0-5) (0-3f), B Mccambridge; C Turbitt (1-4, 1-0pen, 1m, 1f), A Murnin (0-2), O Conaty (0-4). T Kelly for Mccabe (37), R Mcquillan 0-1 for Burns (50), R O’neill 0-1 for Turbitt (56), A Nugent for Murnin (56), O O’neill for Campbell (58), J Hall for Crealey (64). CAVAN: G O’rourke; C Reilly, K Brady, O Kiernan (Castlerahan); D Mcveety (0-2), N Carolan, B O’connell; K Clarke, J Smith; C Brady, C Madden, T Madden (0-1); R O’neill (0-3), P Lynch (0-5 4f, 1 45), R Donohoe (0-1). Subs: C Brady for Carolan (HT), T Hofmann (HT), O Brady for C Madden (HT), L Fortune for C Reilly (55). REFEREE: L Devenney (Mayo)