Ulster Minor Football Championship final: Derry 0-12 Armagh 1-7
Derry retained the Ulster MFC title, but they were pushed all the way by a gallant Armagh side in a tight, low-scoring provincial final in O’Neills Healy Park.
The Oak Leafers defeated the Orchard by 17 points three weeks prior to the final in Owenbeg. Yet, the early exchanges hinted that Armagh had absorbed the lessons of that heavy defeat.
A well-organised Armagh defence proved very difficult to break down with both teams mirroring each other.
Each time Derry moved ahead, Armagh responded with Eamon Young and Ger Dillon doing the damage for the holders while Eoin Duffy (free) Sean Woods and Keelan Woods on target for the Orchard.
Derry moved 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after Dillon converted a stunning long-range free before Armagh struck for what proved to be the game’s only goal. Ross Marsden’s high delivery was superbly fielded by Jack Loughran, who set up Duffy for a well-taken finish.
Yet, Derry forged their way back into the lead before half-time with Young, Dillon and captain James Sargent landing points.
Armagh were also reduced to 14 players before the break with Marsden shown a black card for a hand trip on Caoimhin Hargan.
Dillon and Young moved Derry into a three-point lead early in the second half before Aaron Garvey ended a 22-minute spell without a score for Armagh.
Derry looked to have done enough to put the game beyond doubt when Dillon and the equally-impressive Lule Grant landed back-to-back points while Michael Finnegan made a stunning save to deny Ruairi Biggs.
Armagh were fortunate to avoid a second black card when Diarmaid O’Rourke hauled Grant to the ground with Barry McMenamin showing the Orchard wing-back a yellow card instead.
Young’s fifth point moved Derry into a four-point lead and Armagh were forced to go for broke in the final few minutes of the game.
They cut the gap to two with back-to-back frees from Duffy and Derry were relieved when the Armagh full-forward played the ball on the ground in the final passage of the game when he was just metres from the Derry goal.
Aidan O’Rourke side will face Leinster champions Longford in the All-Ireland quarter-final while Derry play Dublin in what is a repeat of last season’s All-Ireland semi-final.
Derry scorers: Eamon Young 0-5 (0-2fs), Ger Dillon 0-5 (0-3fs), Luke Grant 0-1, James Sargent 0-1.
Armagh scorers: Eoin Duffy 1-3 (0-3fs), Keelan McEntee 0-1, Sean Woods 0-1, Aaron Garvey 0-1, Fionn Toale 0-1.
Here’s a recap of how Sunday’s Ulster MFC final unfolded. . .
Key Events
Full-time: Armagh 1-7 Derry 0-12
Save!
We're back under way in Omagh
Half-time: Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-7
Black card
Paddy Tierney
Up next
Ulster champions Derry face Dublin in the All-Ireland MFC quarter-final while Armagh will face Leinster champions Longford
KEY EVENT
Full-time: Armagh 1-7 Derry 0-12
Derry hang on to deny Armagh in a frantic final few minutes as the Oak Leafers retain the Ulster MFC title
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-7 Derry 0-12
Duffy converts another free deep in added time but they need a goal. . .
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-6 Derry 0-12
Eoin Duffy converts a free which is tipped over by Jack McCloy
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-5 Derry 0-12
Eamon Young scores his fifth point of the game and it looks like Derry will retain the Ulster title unless Armagh can find a goal in injury-time. . .
KEY EVENT
Save!
Michael Finnegan makes a great save to deny Ruairi Biggs in the final minute of normal time, but there will be five minutes of injury-time. Armagh's Diarmaid O'Rourke is very lucky to still be on the field after avoiding a black card for dragging Luke Grant to the ground
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-5 Derry 0-11
Luke Grant and Ger Dillion have been briliant for Derry and the duo land back-to-back points from play to put the Oak Leafers three ahead
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-5 Derry 0-9
Armagh have a chance of a goal as Eoin Duffy plays Fionn Toale through on goal, but he fires his shot over rather than under the crossbar. However, the Orchard County are within one
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-4 Derry 0-9
Aaron Garvey lands a much-needed point for Armagh after 41 minutes,
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-9
James Sargent wins a free and Ger Dillon converts for his fourth of the game as Derry move three clear in the fourth minute of the second half
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-8
Eamon Young wins another free on the restart and he converts as Derry move into a two-point lead for the first time in the game
KEY EVENT
We're back under way in Omagh
The second half begins with Armagh down to 14 for another six minutes following Ross Marsden's black card
KEY EVENT
Half-time: Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-7
Derry hold a one-point lead at the break, but it could have been much worse for Armagh as their goalkeeper Michael Finnegan gets away with a terrible pass which is intercepted by Chris McCullagh, but he fires wide of the target
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-7
Derry retake the lead on the cusp of half-time. Luke Grant, who has been excellent so far, sets up James Sargent who fires over from close range
KEY EVENT
Black card
Ross Marsden is shown a black card for a hand trip on Caoimhin Hargan with three minutes remaining of the first half
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-6
Derry draw level as Ger Dillon kicks another free after 25 minutes
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-5
Derry reply with another point from Eamon Young, his third of the game
KEY EVENT
Goal! Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-4
Jack Loughran takes a high ball from Ross Marsden and sets up Eoin Duffy for a fine goal after 20 minutes!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-3 Derry 0-4
The pattern of the game continues as Derry retake the lead via a Ger Dillon free from the stand side at O'Neills Healy Park
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-3 Derry 0-3
Armagh recycle possession after James McCooe's shot drops short and Keelan McEntee lands their third point with 16 minutes played
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-2 Derry 0-3
Eamon Young does well to win a free after taking a pass from Luke Grant. Young converts the free himself as Derry move ahead once more after 13 minutes
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-2 Derry 0-2
Armagh hit back with a classy score from centre-back Sean Woods
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-1 Derry 0-2
Ger Dillon lands an excellent point to move Derry into the lead again after seven minutes
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-1 Derry 0-1
Diarmaid O'Rourke is fouled and Eoin Duffy converts from 35 metres out for Armagh's first score
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-0 Derry 0-1
Eamon Young opens the scoring with a well-worked point from play after four minutes
KEY EVENT
We're under way in Omagh!
Referee Barry McMenamin (Cavan) gets the game under way.
KEY EVENT
One change on the Armagh team
Armagh will start today's final without their captain Shea Loughran and he is replaced by Ross Marsden. Derry will line-out as selected
KEY EVENT
Team news - Derry
Derry: Jack McCloy; Caomhan McNally, Ronan Canavan, Rian Collins; Luke Grant, Cathal Ó Mianáin, Dara McGuickin; James Sargent, Cathair McBride; Eamon Young, Ger Dillon, Caoimhín Hargan; Chris McCullagh, Ruairi Biggs, Dylan Rocks.
KEY EVENT
Team news - Armagh
Armagh: Michael Finnegan; Tomas Fox, Gavin O’Rourke, Conall Wilson; Fergus Toale, Sean Woods, Diarmuid O’Rourke; Jack Loughran, Daithi O’Callaghan; Aaron Garvey, James McCooe, Keelan McEntee; Fionn Toale, Eoin Duffy, Shea Loughran.
