REPORT: Ruthless Armagh reach Ulster final with recording-breaking win over Down

Armagh 3-33 Donw 0-14

ARMAGH enjoyed their biggest championship victory ever over old foes Down to reach a fourth successive Ulster final where they will take on Monaghan in two weeks’ time.

Kieran McGeeney’s men were simply outstanding in front of the posts and kicked an eye-catching 3-33, while Down didn’t reach the same level that saw them knock out champions Donegal just seven days ago.

The Mourne men looked on it during the early exchanges, but once Armagh hit the net for the first time, through Tomas McCormack, they never looked back.

Th 2024 All-Ireland champions nailed an unanswered 1-8 during the final quarter to essentially put the game to bed at the halfway stage, leading 2-12 to 0-7.

McCormack’s major came off a Down kickout where the Annaghmore man latched onto a break ball and got on the end of the move to hammer home the game’s first major.

Armagh were a machine there today: Laverty

The second goal was a thing of beauty. Blaine Hughes found Darragh McMullan with an inch-perfect restart and McMullan side-stepped Down keeper Ronan Burns, who had pressed up, and launched a ball towards Conor Turbitt who punched to the net.

Turbitt raised the third and final green flag after the turnaround, firing a beautiful shot into the bottom righthand corner and that helped bring his final tally to 2-5 for the day.

Oisin Conaty rattled off 0-5, all from play, while Jarly Og Burns finished with 0-4. McCormack contributed 1-2 in the end while Oisin O’Neill nailed 0-4 after coming in off the bench.

Daniel Guinness never gave up and Down got 0-6 from their subs bench, with Liam Kerr, Ryan Magill and Barry O’Hagan chipping in with 0-2 apiece, but Conor Laverty’s men were chasing shadows for the majority of the game.

Monaghan now stand between Armagh and a first Ulster title since 2008, while the Farney men are aiming to end their own drought having last held the Anglo Celt in 2015.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Peter McGrane 0-1, Aaron McKay, Paddy Burns, Joe McElroy, Tiernan Kelly 0-1, Jarly Og Burns 0-4, Jason Duffy 0-1, Andrew Murnin 0-3, Greg McCabe, Darragh McMullan 0-3 (1tp) Tomas McCormack 1-2, Oisin Conaty 0-5, Conor Turbitt 2-5 (3f) Cian McConville 0-3 (1f). Subs: Oisin O’Neill 0-4 (1tp) for G. McCabe, Daniel Magee for A. Murnin, Gareth Murphy for J. McElroy, Tomas Glavin for C. Turbitt, Aaron O’Neill 0-2 (1tp) for O. Conaty.

Down: Ronan Burns, Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Callum Rogers, Caolan Mooney, Shane Annett 0-1, Daniel Guinness 0-4, Odhrán Murdock 0-1, Ryan McEvoy, Micéal Rooney, Ceilum Doherty, Pearse McPolin, Adam Crimmins, Pat Havern 0-2 (1f), John McGeough. Subs: Liam Kerr 0-2 for J. McGeough, Jamie Doran for A. Crimmins, Ryan Magill 0-2 for M. Rooney, Barry O’Hagan 0-2 for P. Havern, Finn McElroy for P. McPolin, Tom Close for R. McEvoy.