Armagh 2-07 Derry 0-17
Derry booked their place in the Dr McKenna Cup final with a four-point victory over Armagh at the Box-IT Athletic Grounds on Saturday.
Shane McGuigan scored 10 of their 17-point tally - eight from frees - and despite a battling display from Armagh, including a well-taken goal from corner-back Sean Conlon who made his debut in this competition, Mickey Harte's team were worthy winners and will be glad of another competitive game before they take on Kerry in the Allianz League.
Derry dominated the first quarter of the game but still only led 0-04 to 0-01 after 15 minutes. Armagh were level four minutes later and Conlon’s goal put Kieran McGeeney’s men in front for the first time in the game, but three points from McGuigan levelled the scoreboard once more with the sides tied 1-04 to 0-07 at the break.
Another Armagh goal in the second half kept them in the game, but Derry took their points well and despite missing a few goal chances of their own, thanks in part to a couple of great saves by Armagh 'keeper Blaine Hughes, held on for the win.
Conor Doherty opened the scoring for Derry in the second minute and McGuigan doubled their lead three minutes later. Armagh were trying to build from the back, with Hughes, like his counterpart Odhran Lynch, happy to roam up the field from his goal.
That almost cost Armagh dearly when a turnover saw Cormac Murphy burst forward and off load to Diarmuid Baker, but Hughes had raced back on time and managed to smother Baker’s scuffed goal effort on the floor.
Murphy pointed after that to make it three unanswered points for the Oak Leafers, but Ciaran O’Hanlon opened the scoring for Armagh from a mark in the 12th minute and traded points between Dan Higgins and Oisin O’Neill preceded a couple of good scores from Justin Kieran and Ben Crealey to level the game at 0-04 apiece.
With 23 minutes on the clock, a high ball dropped into the square by O’Neill wasn’t dealt with by the Derry defence and Conlon slotted into the net. That was the first time Armagh led in the game but that goal was cancelled out by half-time with a brace of frees and a point from play by McGuigan.
Derry began the second half as they ended the first, with McGuigan converting two frees.
But on 38 minutes Armagh struck again. Lynch denied Cian McConville a goal with a terrific save but Crealey bundled the rebound into the net from close range.
McGuigan squared the game again with another free and things really heated up with McGrogan denied a goal by the crossbar and Hughes saving a shot from Gareth McKinless.
A frantic last 15 minutes ensued, with a brace of points from O’Neill and Conlan for Armagh cancelled out with scores from Padraig McGrogan, McGuigan and Paul Cassidy keeping the score level 2-07 to 0-13 with 54 minutes played.
Derry pulled away after that however, with two more frees from McGuigan sending him into double digits and a second from Murphy and a fisted point from Eoin McEvoy finishing the scoring.
Armagh: B Hughes; T McCormack, C Higgins, S Conlon (1-01); C Mackin, N Rowland, M Shields; B Crealey (1-01), C O’Neill; C O’Hanlon (0-01, 0-01 mark), J Sheridan, J Kieran (0-01); C McConville, O O’Neill (0-03, 0-02fs), Darragh McMullan.
Subs: J Burns for Sheridan (46), D Magee for Crealey (65), M McConville for Conlon (67).
Derry: O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, (0-01), C McKaigue; C Doherty (0-01), G McKinless, P McGrogan (0-01); D Higgins (0-01), B Rogers; D Gilmore, D Cassidy, P Cassidy (0-01); B McCarron, S McGuigan (0-10, 0-08fs), Cormac Murphy (0-02).
Subs: Niall Loughlin for Cassidy (46), Niall Toner for McCarron (46), Ruairi Forbes for Higgins (67), Niall O’Donnell for Murphy (72).
Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan).
Roscommon 0-21 London 1-09
Roscommon booked their place in Friday's FBD League final with a nine-point win over London in the University of Galway GAA Air Dome.
Conor Cox and Diarmuid Murtagh clipped over 0-06 apiece, while Eoin McCormack, Daire Cregg and Andy Glennon all chipped in with a brace of points as Davy Burke's side ran out comfortable winners.
Things might have gotten dicey for the favourites in the closing stages but Liam Gallagher's 50th minute penalty was saved by Conor Carroll when the score was 0-16 to 1-07 and London's hopes fizzled out.
The Rossies had sauntered into a 0-12 to 0-04 lead by the half hour mark, with Cox, Murtagh, McCormack and Cregg all scoring multiple points.
Ciaran McKeon's goal gave life to a contest that was one way traffic and further points from Shay Rafter and David Clarke saw the Exiles improbably make a four-point game at half-time.
However, Roscommon swiftly regained the initiative early in the second half and the penalty miss shut the door on London's chances, ensuring no repeat of their shock victory over Mayo last weekend.
The Rossies will face Galway in Friday's decider, after the Tribesmen's development side overcame Leitrim by four points on Friday.
