Armagh 1-14 Tyrone 2-10
Armagh's narrow win over Tyrone at the Box-It Athletic Grounds was enough to see them through to the Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals as best group runners-up.
Tyrone crash out after losing both their games, with Donegal winning the group despite losing the points from their win over Armagh over the ineligible player controversy.
Kieran McGeeney's side progress to face Derry in Saturday afternoon's semi-final, also at the Athletic Grounds.
Ryan Jones had just shot Tyrone into a three points lead when the game exploded into action with two goals in the space of a minute.
Tarlach Quinn got of the end of a Brian Kennedy delivery to finish to the net in the tenth minute for the visitors, but the Orchard men hit back immediately, corner back Peter McGrane collecting Oisin O’Neill’s assist to crash the ball to the roof of the net.
Three O’Neill frees had Armagh ahead for the first time on 24 minutes, but four on the spin, including spectacular efforts from Michael McKernan and Tiarnan Quinn, put the Red Hands back in the driving seat.
A strong finish from Kieran McGeeney’s side saw them pull back points through Cian McConville and McGrane to trail by just one at the break, 1-07 to 1-06.
Armagh needed two brilliant Shea Magill saves to deny Lorcan McGarrity, but bossed possession as they pressed the Tyrone kick-out, hitting a string of scores through Oisin O’Neill, Callum O’Neill and McConville to go three ahead.
With Jarly Og Burns off the bench to add authority to their midfield battle, they gained control, but came up against a determined defence that regrouped with authority.
Tyrone were chasing the game, creating a couple of goal chances, but Aaron McKay, Mark Sheilds and Ciaran Higgins stood firm at the back for Armagh, who survived a difficult spell to counter for scores through Niall Rowland and Joe Sheridan.
It was a tricky finish for the Orchard, however, conceding a goal from Dalaigh Jones’ long range punt, but they held out against a Red Hand side that had Michael McKernan sent off on a second booking late on.
Armagh: S Magill; T McCormack, A McKay, P McGrane (1-01); C Mackin, N Rowland (0-01), M Shields; C Higgins, N Grimley; J Sheridan (0-01), C O’Neill (0-01), T Kelly; C McConville (0-03, 2f), O O’Neill (0-07, 6f) D McMullan.
Subs: J Og Burns for McKay (35), J Hall for Kelly (52), O Conaty for O O’Neill (61), J Kieran for McMullan (63), C O’Hanlon for Rowland (63)
Tyrone: N Morgan; C Devlin, M McKernan (0-02), A Clarke; B Cullen, Tarlach Quinn (1-00), N Devlin; B Kennedy, A Donaghy; R Jones (0-01), P Harte (0-02, 2f), C Daly; J Garrity, L McGarrity (0-03, 2f), Tiarnan Quinn (0-01).
Subs: J Donaghy for Cullen (35), C Kilpatrick for Jones (46) D Mulgrew for Garrity (46), C Owens (0-01, f) for Donaghy (50), D Jones (1-00) for Daly (61), N McCarron for Tarlach Quinn (63).
Referee: M McNally (Monaghan).
Goals in either half from Andrew Woods and Stephen O'Hanlon gave Monaghan a 2-09 to 0-12 victory away to Fermanagh in Brewster Park.
Kieran Donnelly's Fermanagh side shot into an early lead, leading 0-07 to 0-03 on the half hour mark, Ultan Kelm firing three points.
However, Woods' strike late in the first half sent them in level at the break. It remained a tit for tat affair until O'Hanlon's 56th minute goal opened up clear blue water.
Vinny Corey's outfit maintained that advantage until the finish, winning by three to secure their top spot in Section C.
Fermanagh, despite finishing with the strongest score difference on the field of play among group runners-up, exit the tournament due to Armagh's heavy loss to Donegal being voided.
The draw for the 2024 @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Semi Finals 🏐🏆
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 10, 2024
Saturday 13th January@Armagh_GAA v @Doiregaa
Box-It Athletic Grounds 4pm
Sunday 14th January@monaghangaa v @officialdonegal
Castleblayney 1pm#BOIMcKennaCup24 pic.twitter.com/l7FCKHv9Sp
Two second half goals in quick succession saw Down turn the tables on Cavan in Páirc Esler.
With Derry already assured of top spot in the group, the pair were wrestling for second place. The visitors led 1-06 to 0-06 at the break thanks to Brian O'Connell's 17th minute goal.
They pushed six clear early in the second half but Down hit them for 2-02 in a five minute spell, Ryan Mason and Odhran Murdoch finding the net.
While Cavan steadied well with points from Paddy Lynch, Padraig Faulkner and Oisin Brady, it was Down who grabbed the initiative down the closing stretch.
Conor Laverty's side racked up a five-point burst, the last three coming in injury-time. Pól Quinn, Pat Havern (with a brace), Oisin Savage and Rory Mason delivering a 2-15 to 1-15 win for the home side. However, it wasn't enough to secure a semi-final spot.
Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals
Armagh v Derry, Box-IT Athletic Grounds, Saturday 4pm
Monaghan v Donegal, Castleblayney, Sunday 1pm
