Armagh into Ulster semis after tough Antrim test
All-Ireland champions Armagh withstood an unexpectedly tough challenge from Antrim to progress to the Ulster Football semi-finals on a 1-34 to 1-23 scoreline at Corrigan Park. The Antrim players had threatened to boycott the fixture if it wasn't played at their home venue which put them under a degree of pressure to perform. They responded with a vigorous display as man of the match Patrick McBride's four-two pointers from play helped them to a 0-14 to 0-13 half-time lead as Armagh appeared mildly rattled by the Saffrons' physical approach.It could have even been better for Antrim at half-time as impressive corner-back Kavan Keenan had a 20th-minute penalty saved by Blaine Hughes, in what was the keeper's first act of the match after Ethan Rafferty had been black carded for the foul on Ruairi McCann, which had led to the spot-kick.The sides were still level at 0-16 to 0-16 five minutes after the restart but Armagh then took control by hitting an unanswered 1-6 as championship debutant Tomas McCormack hammered in their 44th-minute goal.As Armagh's strong bench told, the Sam Maguire Cup holders hit seven straight points to increase their lead to 1-33 to 0-22 but Andy McEntee's side, who were relegated to Division Four of the Allianz Football League three weeks ago, never gave up as Ryan McQuillan bundled in their goal two minutes from time. Armagh's win sets up an Ulster semi-final on 26 April against the winners of Sunday's game at Omagh between Tyrone and Cavan.More to follow.
Antrim: M Byrne; E McCabe, E Walsh, K Keenan; J McAuley, M Jordan, D McAleese (capt); C Hand, C Stewart; P McBride, P Finnegan, R Boyle; R McQuillan, R McCann, D McEnhill.Subs: L Mulholland, A Loughran, C Johnston, E Quinn, J McDonnell, J Morgan, J Lenehan, N Burns, P King, F Nagle, R Murray.Armagh: E Rafferty; G Murphy, B McCambridge, T McCormack; R McQuillan, G McCabe, J Og Burns; C O'Neill, Ciaran Mackin; D McMullen, R Grugan, P McGrane; T Kelly, A Murnin, S Campbell.Subs: B Hughes, J Morgan, C Higgins, A Forker (capt), D Magee, C McConville, J Hall, S McPartlan, O'Neill, S Conlon, C O'Hanlon
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