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Armagh survive extra-time tussle with Tyrone in Ulster

Updated / Sunday, 12 Apr 2026 19:34
12 April 2026; Conn Kilpatrick of Tyrone in action against Greg McCabe of Armagh during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Preliminary Round match between Armagh and Tyrone at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Armagh had to dig deep to get the better of Tyrone

Armagh survived a proper challenge from rivals Tyrone to emerge from extra time with a 1-17 Tyrone 1-16 victory.

As many expected, it turned into a dogged derby, but in the end it was Conor Turbitt's fisted point that proved the decisive winner.

What the game may have lacked in quality it made up for it in sheer bloodymindedness, and there was not one of the 16, 091 supporters going to leave the ground early.

Late changes included Armagh's midfielder Callum O’Neill coming in for Paddy Burns, meaning a few positional changes, while Tyrone’s two-point specialist Ethan Jordan got the nod ahead of the evergreen Mattie Donnelly, and Ciaran Daly replaced Frank Burns at wing-back.

Armagh led by double scores at the break after dominating the first 20 minutes, but Tyrone were on top for the last 15 but didn’t have enough to show for it.

Armagh seemed comfortable wearing the favourites tag as they seized control in the early exchanges, turning over Tyrone’s first three attacks, before racing into a 0-06 to 0-01 lead.

Callum O’Neill converted two frees and tagged on another point, keeper Blaine Hughes was on target from a 45 and Cian McConville made sure with his shot to put the Orchard five points ahead with 16 minutes played.

There were plenty of mini-battles and subplots, with Aaron McKay outstanding in defence, and Peter McGrane and Darren McCurry having an exciting duel.

Despite losing midfielder Brian Kennedy and talisman Darragh Canavan, the Red Hands turned the game around but failed to make their chances count, with seven first-half wides.

Still, Seanie O’Donnell added to Con Kilpatrick’s opening score for Tyrone and the Red Hands kicked three of the next four points.

Mattie Donnelly, who replaced Canavan, steered over with his first touch and Ciaran Daly followed up with a fine effort but there was only one point scored within the last 13 minutes, which came from Armagh’s Darragh McMullen.

At half-time, Armagh led Tyrone by 0-08 to 0-04

Tyrone came flying out of the traps in the second period and took little time to whittle down Armagh’s lead to only a single point in the opening ten minutes.

Malachy O’Rourke’s side displayed urgency as Mattie Donnelly and then Ethan Jordan (twice) fired over the bar and it took 16 minutes before super-sub Conor Turbitt registered Armagh’s opening point of the second half.

With 20 minutes to go, it was anyone’s game, and Kilpatrick’s second point suggested Tyrone were playing with confidence.

Armagh kicked three wides in a row and when McGeary nipped in to rob Gareth Murphy in front of goal, it looked like it might not be the Orchard’s day.

Tyrone drew level, with Peter Teague grabbing the big score before McKernan edged the Red Hands in front on 56 minutes.

However, Oisin O’Neill’s spectacular two-pointer free raised the decibels from the home support as it put the Orchard back in front as the game entered the fun zone of the last ten minutes.

Jarly Óg Burns got battered throughout the game and he was taken off briefly and replaced by Rory Grugan, who made his first introduction of the season on 61 minutes. Oisin O’Neill’s converted free made it a two-point game and the Crossmaglen man squeezed over another point.

While the game failed to live up to expectations, it ended in chaos, which suited Tyrone, especially when Ben McDonnell blasted into the net to send the game into extra time.

Armagh had to start extra time a man down after McMullen picked up a second card.

Before a minute had elapsed, Armagh had bagged 1-01, as Ross McQuillan took 12 seconds to float over from the kick-out and it was 59 seconds on the clock when McCormack palmed pass Niall Morgan.

But Tyrone hit back immediately with McKernan steering over a two-pointer and it was level again when Kilpatrick launched over another before Mattie Donnelly put Tyrone back in front.

The Red Hands’ tails were up but Oisin O’Neill’s struck two converted frees to swing advantage Armagh’s way before the half-time whistle.

Eoin McElholm’s equaliser was a touch of class and Armagh fluffed several chances to regain the lead before Turbitt fisted over, and McElhom had a great chance to level, but he drove low across goal and wide.

It was frantic and tense, and Niall Morgan had a chance to level from a 45’ with 59 seconds remaining, but his effort veered inches wide as Armagh scraped home by their fingernails.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes (0-01, 45’), Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Callum O’Neill (0-03, 0-2 free), Ross McQuillan (0-02), Gareth Murphy, Jarly Og Burns, Tiernan Kelly, Ben Crealey, Greg McCabe, Darragh McMullan (0-01), Tomas McCormack (1-01), Cian McConville (0-01), Jason Duffy (0-01), Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Conor Turbitt (0-02) on for McCormick (42’), Oisin O’Neill (0-06, tpf, 0-03f) for McConville (50’), Joe McElroy for McQuillan, Rory Grugan for J Burns (61-65 blood sub), Grugan for C O’Neill (65’), Paddy Burns for Ben Crealy (70’), Jarly Og Burns for Grugan (70’), Ross McQuillan for McElroy (70’), Jason Duffy for McCabe (86’).

Tyrone: Niall Morgan, Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague (0-01), Niall Devlin, Ciaran Daly (0-01), Joey Clarke, Michael McKernan (0-03, 1tp), Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick (0-04, 1tp), Seanie O’Donnell (0-01), Ronan Cassidy, Ben McDonnell (1-00), Darren McCurry, Ethan Jordan (0-02, 0-1f, Darragh Canavan.

Subs: Mattie Donnelly (0-03) for D Canavan (19’), Kieran McGeary for Kennedy (26’), Eoin McEholm (0-01) for McCurry (48’), Lorcan McGarrity for Jordan (55’), Ben Cullen for McGeary (77’)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).

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