Armagh U20s lose out to Monaghan in Ulster Semi-final

The Armagh U20s’ Ulster Championship campaign ended in heartbreak this evening, as they were beaten 3-13 to 1-9 by a magnificent Monaghan performance.

Monaghan were full value for their win, as they played with impressive intensity, defended with discipline and created the lion’s share of the chances.

They got the first point of the game through Max McGinnity and had a goal chance from the resulting kick-out, with Armagh getting caught out in their own full-back line. However, John McCrystal’s powerful shot flew just over the bar rather than under.

Armagh got up and running with scores from James McCooe and Liam McGeary, but the scores were flying over in the early goings and Monaghan went back into the lead with McCrystal getting his second point and the fifth of the opening six minutes.

In terms of the scoring, things tailed off as the first half went on but the intensity certainly didn’t, as the game was keenly fought. Tom Doherty was next on the scoreboard but Armagh were level once more following a Diarmaid O’Rourke score and a ‘45 from goalkeeper Liam Carroll.

Matthew Finn and McGinnity pulled the Farney men back into a two-point lead, before Ryan Nugent paid off a superb bit of solo play with an impressive score.

With half-time approaching, Monaghan were almost caught out for their aggressive style. Goalkeeper Jamie Mooney committed by coming out to midfield for an Armagh kick-out, but was beaten in the air by Sean Burke. Burke fed the ball to Fergal Boylan, who had an open net, but his audacious effort from some 30 yards out drifted the wrong side of the post from Armagh’s point of view.

At the other end, Monaghan got a goal chance and made no mistake. McCrystal fed the ball through to McGinnity, and he almost took the roof off the net with a ferocious finish to put Monaghan 1-6 to 0-5 ahead on 28 minutes.

Eoin Duffy was the star man in Armagh’s prior win over Tyrone, finishing with 1-7 but it took him almost the entirety of the first half to open his account tonight – which he did from a free to cut the gap to three points as the sides headed in for the interval.

Monaghan very nearly had a second goal just minutes into the second half when Finn got clear of the Armagh full back line. He went for the point, but ended up with nothing, pulling the shot wide.

At the other end, Boylan’s bad luck continued. His initial shot hit the right upright, he gathered the rebound and went for it again but remarkably hit the left upright.

The first score of the second half was arguably the best one of the night – a sublime two-point effort off the outside of the right boot from McGinnity from the right wing.

The sides then traded points back and forth, with Aaron Haughey and Aaron McGuinness scores for Armagh cancelled out by Doherty and Caolan Clerkin respectively.

With 15 minutes to go, Monaghan could have virtually put the game to bed when a Finn shot dropped short and Matthew Carolan beat the Armagh goalkeeper Liam Carroll to the ball. However, his fisted attempt stayed out of the net by a matter of inches, hitting the foot of the post.

The next point of the night came from the boot of Haughey, before Diarmaid O’Rourke had a goal chance, but his shot was kept out by one of a number of Monaghan defenders on the line.

A Finn point put five between the teams with time running out and although Armagh created chances, they couldn’t take them. At the other end, Monaghan were clinical with two Doherty points putting them into a seven-point lead.

A goal from McGuinness gave Armagh a glimmer of hope, but that hope only lasted thirty seconds. Monaghan won the following kick-out, got in on goal and although Carroll kept out Tom Mallon’s initial effort, Killian Kearns was there on the rebound to fire home and put the result beyond doubt.

To add salt to Armagh’s wounds, Monaghan added a third goal deep in stoppage time, with Mallon and Kearns involved again. Mallon put it across and Kearns put it into the net to seal the deal for the Farney.

MATCH STATS

Armagh: Liam Carroll (0-1, 1’45); Tomas Fox, Gavan O’Rourke, Sean Kelly; Aodhan McGrane, Ryan Nugent (0-1), Diarmaid O’Rourke (0-1); Aaron Haughey (0-2), Sean Burke; Eoin Duffy (0-1, 1f), James McCooe (0-1), Keelan McEntee; Fergal Boylan, Michael McSorley, Liam McGeary (0-1).

Subs: Conal Wilson for McGrane (HT), Aaron McGuinness (1-1) for McGeary (36), Callum McKerr for McCooe (50), McGeough for Boylan (52), Fergus Toale for Nugent (60+3).

Monaghan: Jamie Mooney; Andrew Stuart, Caolan Clerkin (0-1), Martin Quinn; Mark McCaffrey, Donnacdha Connolly, Luke McKenna; Shane O’Connor, Matthew Carolan; Canice Murphy, Tom Doherty (0-4, 1f), John McCrystal (0-2); Max McGinnity (1-4, 1tp), Matthew Finn (0-2), Max Maguire.

Subs: Conor Jones for Murphy (Temp 14-20), Jones for McKenna (HT), Johnny Wright for McCrystal (50), Killian Kearns (2-0) for McCrystal (50), Tom Mallon for McGinnity (54), Senan Carolan for Clerkin (60+1).

Referee: Conall Roberts (Antrim).