Ulster SFC final

Armagh 2-28 Monaghan 0-25 AET

By Michael McMullan

ARMAGH ended their run of Ulster final heartbreak by eventually knocking down the door to land a first title since 2008.

Kieran McGeeney’s side needed extra-time as the decider ended level for the fifth successive time when Conor McCarthy nicked his fourth point.

Armagh had a chance to engineer a winner but Conor Turbitt carried the ball into contact and the opportunity was gone.

in the end, it was Oisin O’Neill’s goal that broke the game as Armagh drove the message home in extra-time.

Stephen O’Hanlon hit the first score of extra-time but it was the last Monaghan score as Armagh drove for home.

Monaghan went into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead with points from Conor McCarthy, Michéal McCarville and Andrew Woods (2).

In the rain, Dessie Ward hoovering up breaking ball summed up the positive Monaghan start.

Five points from Oisin Conaty gave Armagh a boost, taking on the Monaghan defence at every opportunity. Jarly Óg Burns kicked a two pointer, adding a point seconds later.

Armagh could’ve been further ahead only for a double save on the line from Dylan Byrne.

A two pointer from Rory Beggan and a David Garland scored had the sides level, 0-11 each.

Conaty and Joe McElroy nosed Armagh two ahead by half-time.

They would’ve been further ahead only for Conor Turbitt’s shot to kiss the side of the post before flashing across goal and wide.

Another surge

Turbitt added a free early on in the second before having a goal chance deflected over by Byrne as Armagh started positively.

Duffy added a third score for a five-point lead with Monaghan struggling to get hands on the ball.

Armagh then hit the net with a Tiernan Kelly goal after a ball from Darragh McMullen, opening a 1-16 to 0-12 lead after 43 minutes.

A Bannigan free broke the Armagh run as Monaghan brought Jack McCarron and Ryan McAnespie into the fray.

McMullen then added a point after Beggan saved his initial shot as the rain began to bucket down even more.

Monaghan burst back to within two points with scores from Jack McCarron and Aaron Carey,

McCarron’s two-pointer lifted the fans with 10 minutes to go. O’Hanlon’s two pointer tied the game, 0-22 to 1-19.

Oisin O’Neill then put Armagh ahead with his first score after coming back on before O’Hanlon levelled again.

Armagh went one up again with a McQuillan fisted point with McCarthy replying with another score to send the game to extra-time.

Cian McConville and O’Hanlon traded scores and it was level again.

The game then changed on an O’Neill goal after Monaghan lost a kickout. Conaty ran at pace before Grugan passed to O’Neill and he netted for a 0-25 to 2-22 lead.

Turbitt and Grugan added points to open a five-point lead at half-time, Grugan their 12^th scorer.

Armagh won the first throw-in of the afternoon and Conaty sped away for his sixth point, putting them two goals clear and on the way to victory

Armagh’s attentions now turn to the visit of Derry when the All-Ireland series kicks into gear later this month with Monaghan taking on Mayo.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Paddy Burns; Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly (1-0), Jarly Óg Burns (0-3, 2f); Joe McElroy (0-2), Jason Duffy (0-2); Darragh McMullen (0-1), Conor Turbitt (0-5, 2f), Tomás McCormack; Cian McConville (0-2f), Andrew Murnin (0-2), Oisin Conaty (0-6)
Subs: Oisin O’Neill for Burns (Blood sub 22, reversed 31), Gareth Murphy for P Burns (HT), Ross McQuillan (0-2) for Duffy (56), Oisin O’Neill (1-1) for McConville (59), Rory Grugan (0-2, 1f) for McElroy (66), Daniel Magee for Kelly (FT), Cian McConville for McMullen (FT), Jason Duffy for Murnin (FT), Darragh McMullen for McConville (80), Barry McCambridge for McCormack (88), Aidan Forker for Turbitt (89)

Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-2tpf); Oisin McGorman (0-2), Ryan O’Toole (0-1), Dylan Byrne; Killian Lavelle, Dessie Ward, Aaron Carey (0-1); Michéal McCarville (0-1), Karl Gallagher; Conor McCarthy (0-4), Mícheál Bannigan (0-2, 1f), Stephen O’Hanlon (0-6, 1tp); Bobby McCaul, Andrew Woods (0-2tp), David Garland (0-1)
Subs: Darragh McElearney for Ward (HT), Jack McCarron (0-3, 1tp) for Garland (45), Ryan McAnespie for McGorman (45), Stephen Mooney for McCaul (INJ 51), Max Maguire for Lavelle (76), Robbie Hanratty for Woods (HT ET), Gary Mohan for Gallagher (74),

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)