By Michael McMullan

ARMAGH and Monaghan minors enter the last chance saloon on Friday night (Athletic Grounds, 8pm) as the back door returns for the Ulster Minor Football Championship.

The minor scene used to have a system whereby only the beaten provincial finalists got a second crack in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Ulster GAA then changed to bring their championships in line with the three other provinces, before it reverted back to straight knock-out during the enforced compression of the season with the Covid-19 restrictions.

Goals from Tarlach Enright and Kevin McCann saw Antrim shock Monaghan at Inniskeen on Friday night, overturning a 17-point league defeat.

Monaghan were back-to-back minor champions in 2018 and 2019 before losing to Derry in the 2020 decider.

Mark Counihan’s side will face neighbours Armagh who were comprehensively beaten by an impressive Derry on Saturday.

A Dara McCloskey goal took Armagh to within two points of the Oakleafers before three goals in as many minutes shot Derry on their way to a 5-10 to 2-6 win in the Athletic Grounds.

Derry will meet Donegal in the next round, a repeat of the league clash at Celtic Park with Karl Joseph Molloy hitting the all-important goal in a 1-11 to 0-11 win.

Reigning champions – and holders of the recent league title – Tyrone have been drawn against Antrim after their 3-17 to 1-15 win over Cavan.

Donegal were commanding winners over Fermanagh after the Erne County saw off Down in the preliminary round.

Qualifier Round One

Armagh v Monaghan (Friday, Athletic Grounds, 8pm)

Round Two – Saturday, May 7

Derry v Donegal (Owenbeg 2pm)

Antrim v Tyrone (Corrigan Park 2pm)

Qualifier Round Two – 7th May

Down v Round 1 winner (Newry 2pm)

Fermanagh v Cavan (Brewster Park 2pm)