Superb performance sees Armagh U20s defeat Cavan by 22 points

Armagh U20s made it two wins from two in the Ulster Championship tonight, putting in a phenomenal performance as they defeated Cavan 2-26 to 0-10 at The Box-It Athletic Grounds.

Barry O’Hagan’s men were clicking all over the pitch, with too many stand-out performers to name. The win follows last week’s triumph over neighbours Down and confirms that Armagh have secured a quarter-final place, with the opportunity to seal a home semi-final should they avoid defeat against Tyrone next week.

Armagh totally commanded the first half and took a resounding 16-point lead in at the break.

Despite that, it took eight minutes for Armagh to register their first score – an Eoin Duffy two-pointer – with Cavan’s Jack Dobson opening the scoring. Further scores from Fergal Boylan (two one-pointers) and Michael McSorley moved Armagh four ahead, before Dobson landed his second point from a free.

But then Armagh hit three two-pointers in the space of two minutes to put daylight between themselves and the opposition. Diarmaid O’Rourke nailed the first before Aaron Haughey repeated the trick twice in quick succession and suddenly Armagh were 0-11 to 0-2 ahead.

Dobson temporarily stemmed the momentum from a free, but the hosts replied with McSorley and Liam McGeary slotting over. Darragh Noonan then got himself on the scoresheet, but Armagh remained well on top with further scores from McGeary and Duffy.

Armagh’s attack was so potent in front of the posts that it took 25 minutes before they missed a shot. McGeary had a gilt-edged goal chance after a pop-pass from Fergal Boylan and he attempted to finish it ‘soccer style’ into the far corner but instead pulled it wide.

Armagh wouldn’t have to wait too much longer to find the net though, as moments later they pounced Cavan sloppily losing the ball in midfield by putting Boylan in behind, and he emphatically finished in a one-on-one to put 14 points between the teams.

Further scores from McSorley and O’Rourke completed the Orchard County’s dominant first half.

The third quarter was evenly contested between the two teams, as they went score for score. A Dobson two-point free opened the scoring in Cavan’s favour, but Armagh responded with a fifth point for Haughey. Cavan captain Aaron Shekleton was next on the scoreboard but Armagh’s Duffy hit back with two in quick succession.

Things continued in that vein

with Armagh never letting Cavan build any momentum and fight their way back into the game, as a Jensen Tynan point was answered by Boylan and a Noonan free was replied to by McGeary. Duffy and O’Rourke then added to Armagh’s lead from frees either side of a Jake Whyte point.

Cavan finished the game with 13 men, following a red card for Aaron Shekleton and a black card for Jamie Clarke, and Armagh took full advantage with further late scores.

Sean Burke added Armagh’s second goal after a shot which dropped short wasn’t dealt with by the Cavan goalkeeper and further points from Callum McKerr and Sean Kelly put the icing on the cake.

MATCH STATS

Armagh: Liam Carroll; Tomas Fox, Gavan O’Rourke, Sean Kelly (0-1); Aodhan McGrane, Ryan Nugent, Diarmaid O’Rourke (0-4, 1tp, 1f); Aaron Haughey (0-5, 2tp), Sean Burke (1-0); Eoin Duffy (0-6, 1tp, 1f), James McCooe, Keelan McEntee; Fergal Boylan (1-3), Michael McSorley (0-3), Liam McGeary (0-3).

Subs: Aron Magennis for McGeary (49), Callum McKerr (0-1) for McSorley (54), Tiernan Brown for Boylan (55), Fergus Toale for McGrane (55), Ryan McGahan for G O’Rourke (60).

Cavan: Cian McConnell; Philip Shannon, Jensen Tynan (0-1), Conor Doyle; Aaron Shekleton (0-1), Harry McMullen, Ben Tully; Joe Dugdale, Jamie Clarke; Dylan Edwards, Shane McCabe, Odhran Madden; Joshua Shehu, Jack Dobson (0-5, 2f, 1tpf), Darragh Noonan (0-2, 2f).

Subs: Luke Mulvaney for Madden (HT), Nathan Quigley for Shehu (HT), Cormac McAvinney for McCabe (36), Jake Whyte for Noonan (49), Thomas Gilsenan for Edwards (49).

Referee: Chris Brady (Monaghan).