Armagh kept their All-Ireland title defence alive after withstanding a late, late comeback from Derry.
Played at the Box-It Athletic Ground, the 14,979 fans got their value for money as Armagh raced into a 13-point lead before Derry whittled it back to four points but ran out of time.
It means Sunday's clash between Armagh and Dublin in Croke Park will decide who tops the table heading into the last round while Derry are still in search for their first win this season when they welcome Galway to Celtic Park also on Sunday.
NI Sports Minister Gordon Lyons was a guest at the Box-It Athletic Grounds but the loudest pre-match cheer came when Rian O’Neill’s name was read out as the team was announced over the PA system.
The pressure to win the opening game was cranked up following Dublin’s narrow win over Galway, last weekend, which in itself indicates just how tight this Group 4 is expected to be.
Armagh were boosted with the return of Crossmaglen’s Rian O’Neill who made his first return in the Orchard jersey since last year’s All-Ireland win. Although it came at a cost as Orchard captain Aidan Forker was ruled out with injury. Derry’s young hot-shot Anton Tohill was a late change, getting the nod from manager Paddy Tally ahead of Niall Loughlin.
The defending All-Ireland champions had confidently marched into a 13-point lead with second half goals from Barry McCambridge and Conor Turbitt and they looked to be comfortably inside the winner's enclosure but Derry deserve huge credit for making a fist of it.
And the Oak Leafers could have got more from the game had Ethan Rafferty not been in such outstanding form.
He denied Brendan Rogers and Tommy Rogers with stunning late saves.
Armagh answered any questions about and Ulster Final hangover by marching into an early 0-05 to 0-01 lead. Conor Glass fisted over to open the scoring but Armagh hit back with Rory Grugan, Andy Murnin and Oisin Conaty lashing over three points in as many minutes.
Then last year’s Young Player of the Year Conaty swung over the first two-pointer of the game
The lively Paul Cassidy grabbed his first of three first half points and Ruairi Forbes tagged on another before two points within two minutes from Rian O’Neill, which produced a loud cheer, and Ross McQuillan, which clipped off the inside of the far post.
Armagh suffered a blow when Oisin O’Neill gingerly walked off but his replacement Conor Turbitt stroked over a two-pointer to give Armagh a 0-09 to 0-03 lead with 16 minutes gone.
It was frantic football as Glass and Grugan traded scores and Darragh McMullan’s two-point effort was denied by Derry keeper Ben McKinless, making his first championship start since 2018. A brace of points from Cassidy closed the gap and sparked a fine mini-comeback from the Oak Leafers.
Glass, Ethan Doherty and the first from Shane McGuigan were on target to make it a three-point game at the break (0-12 to 0-09).
However, Armagh came flying out of the blocks with four points in three minutes to go seven points ahead before Derry managed to get their hands on the ball.
McQuillan grabbed his second with Armagh’s first attack of the half, then fisted points from Jason Duffy and the impressive Jarly Og Burns followed before Murnin extended the Orchard lead.
McCambridge’s goal came on 39 minutes after he got a telling fist to Murnin’s delivery and while McGuigan’s two-pointer lifted Derry’s spirits, Conor Turbitt grabbed Armagh’s second goal with a tidy finish, with Patrick McGurk hanging out of him.
Conaty and McQuillan kept the scoreboard ticking over and Armagh could have been forgiven for thinking about Dublin in Croke Park. But they almost paid the price.
A beautiful daisy-cutter from Glass nestled sweetly into the corner of Rafferty’s net as the game entered the final ten minutes.
Substitute Dan Higgins rattled the Armagh net for Derry’s second goal and all of the sudden the Oak Leafers smelt blood as the Orchard creaked.
However, time favoured Armagh and top defender Paddy Burns provided a cool head before Joe McElroy bagged an important point for Kieran McGeeney’s men as they ran out relieved four-point winners.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty, Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge (1-00), Peter McGrane, Ross McQuillan (0-04), Rian O’Neill (0-01) Jarly Og Burns (0-01), Jason Duffy (0-01), Ben Crealy, Darragh McMullan (0-01), Rory Grugan (0-03, 0-2 free), Oisin Conaty (0-04. 0-1tp ), Tiernan Kelly, Andrew Murnin (0-03), Oisin O’Neill.
Subs: Conor Turbitt (1-02, 0-1tp) for O O’Neill (12’), Stefan Campbell for J Duffy (51’), Niall Grimley for R O’Neill (55’), Joe McElroy (0-01) for R Grugan (60’), Greg McCabe for McQuillan (62’),
Derry: Ben McKinless, Patrick McGurk, Eoin McEvoy, Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes (0-01) Brendan Rogers, Padraig McGrogan (0-01, 45’), Conor Glass (1-03) , Conor Doherty, Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy (0-05, 1tp), Ethan Doherty (0-01), Anton Tohill, Shane McGuigan (0-05, 1tp, 1tpf), Niall Toner (0-01, 0-1 free).
Subs: Dan Higgins (1-00) for A Tohill (38’), Ryan Mulholland for P McGurk (54’), Caolan Devlin for McFaul (59’), Tommy Rogers for N Toner (62’), Danny McDermott for P McGrogan (65’),
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).
