Fermanagh falter as Armagh cruise to Ulster semi-final
Ulster SFC Quarter-final
THREE first-half goals helped send Armagh through to the semi-final of the Ulster SFC and Fermanagh into the Tailteann Cup for 2024. The goals gave the Orchard County a lead they would never look like throwing away but Fermanagh were the architects of their own downfall as their mistakes led directly to each goal.
Two of the goals came in the 10-minute period in the first half after Ultan Kelm was black-carded for hauling down an Armagh player.
While having 15 men on the pitch for the full 70 minutes may not have affected the outcome, the loss of Kelm was keenly felt.
Armagh had dominated the early proceedings and the extra man advantage was taken to devastating effect.
This act itself was to stop a certain goal chance following another Fermanagh mistake.
Conor Turbitt and Jarly Óg Burns found the net as Armagh dominated early proceedings.
The visitors showed their intent from the start as they controlled the ball before Andrew Murnin reacted quickest to a blocked shot to pick up the rebound and point.
Rian O’neill doubled the advantage a minute later with a fine curling effort.
Fermanagh’s first real attack should have ended in a goal.
Kelm did well down the left-hand side under the stand to play the ball across into the Armagh square.
Oisin Smyth got to the ball ahead of the onrushing Armagh keeper, Blaine Hughes. However, as Smyth turned a blasted the ball towards the net Aaron Mckay somehow got back to get his body in the way and push the ball out for a 45.
With just over 10 minutes played, Kelm received his black card for a pull-down on Murnin and in this time Armagh hit the net twice.
For the first goal, Rory Grugan got away from the attention of Smyth and Cian Mcmanus before he sidestepped Joe Mcdade and passed the ball across for Conor Turbitt to shoot to the net.
Then two minutes later, Armagh turned Fermanagh over and broke.
Burns drove forward before playing across to Murnin whose shot was well saved by Ross Bogue but Burns was there to tap in and it was 2-02 to no score.
After 22 minutes Fermanagh eventually got on the scoreboard through a well-hit Sean Cassidy free but Armagh responded with points from Ciaran Mackin and Burns.
A mix-up between Fermanagh players allowed Armagh to break once more in the 28th minute and Turbitt, Joe Mcelroy got the ball to Murnin who squared it for Stefan Campbell to palm to the net for the easiest of finishes.
The last kick of the game saw Fionan O’brien hit a good score to leave it 3-04 to 0-02.
The second half was more even as Fermanagh were kept at arm’s length.
Turbitt and Garvan Jones traded frees before Mackin, Grugan and Campbell pointed.
Fermanagh hit two quick scores on 55 minutes through Kelm and O’brien but again Armagh responded as Campbell pointed from the edge of the D after jinking into space.
Conor Mcshea and Conor Love hit two good scores in response as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Armagh were in on goal again as Grugan played a ball across to Barry Mccambridge but he opted to fist over.
And while O’brien and Love again responded for Fermanagh it was Oisin O’neill who rounded off the scoring as it finished 3-11 to 0-09 in front of an attendance of 7,096 at Brewster Park.
It now means Fermanagh will go into the Tailteann Cup while Armagh will take on Down in the semi-final of the Ulster Championship.
FERMANAGH:
R Bogue; L Cullen, C Cullen, O Smyth; D Mccusker, S Mcgullion, C Mcmanus; R Mccaffrey, J Mcdade; C Mcgee, C Mcshea (0-01), F O’brien (0-03); U Kelm (0-01), G Jones (0-01,1f), S Cassidy (0-01,1f).
J Largo-elis for Mcmanus (22), B Horan for Mcgee (48), C Love (0-02,1f) for Jones (48), J Cassidy for Smyth (60), D Mcgurn for Mccusker (60).
Black card: Ultan Kelm (11).
Subs: ARMAGH:
B Hughes; P Burns, A Mckay, P Mcgrane; J Mcelroy, C Mackin (0-02), A Forker; R O’neill (0-01), B Crealey; S Campbell (1-02), R Grugan (0-01,1f), C Turbitt (1-01, 1f); O Conaty, A Murnin (0-01), J Óg Burns (1-01).
B Mccambridge (0-01) for Mckay (44), C Mackin for O’neill (56), T Kelly for Turbitt, O O’neill (0-01) for Burns (48), A Nugent for Murnin (57).