Tyrone Beaten After Extra Time

Saturday 09.06.2018

 

Armagh 2-22 Tyrone 0-24

Armagh are into the inaugural Ulster U20 championship final after shading an extra time thriller at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Friday night.

 

Tyrone led by the minimum margin after an exciting opening period. A superb brace from Paul Donaghy put the visitors into an early lead but Armagh were level by the 10^th minute thanks to an outstanding effort from distance from Rian O’Neill and one from Conor Turbit.

 

Tyrone though were looking the better side with Brian Kennedy on top in midfield and they hit a purple patch. Emmett McNabb knocked over a “45” as well as a free with Donaghy slotted over a placed ball as well.

 

A blistering move from Tyrone sliced open the Armagh defence with corner back and Captain Conor Shields taking a fine point for a 0-7 to 0-3 advantage by the 23^rd minute.

 

Armagh though stuck to the task at hand and after Turbitt narrowed the gap with a point they struck for a superb goal in the 25^th minute. Good approach play from centre half back Conor O’Neill saw him find Eoghan McDonnell and the midfielder finished in style to the bottom left hand corner of the net past keeper Benny Gallen.

 

 

It was point for point in the second half with O’Neill and McNabb among the scores. With time up Donaghy hit a wonder point for Tyrone to force extra time, 1-11 to 0-14.

 

Less than a minute into extra time Jason Duffy palmed in an Armagh goal after great work from Barry McCambridge and Kevin McAlinden but again Tyrone hit back with two superb frees from Tomas Carney. Ryan Owens and Brian Kennedy traded points before a McNabb free left it 2-13 to 0-19 at the break.

 

Tom Loughran and Tiarnan Drayne then put Tyrone two in front before O’Neill replied with a free. A superb Donaghy effort from the left wing gave Tyrone some breathing space. McQuillan closed the gap to the minimum before a row broke out with two players from each side being red carded as Justin Kearns forced further extra time. Just prior to that though Armagh were reduced to twelve men. Conor Magennis, Ryan Garvey and Kevin McAlinden points saw Armagh home in the additional time to set up a meeting with either Down or Derry.

 

Armagh: E Mulholland, J McAlinden, B McCambridge, D Loye, C McGeary, Conor O’Neill (0-2, 1F), R Owens (0-1), E McDonnell (1-0), Callum O’Neill, R McQuillan (0-2), D Luckie, C Turbit (0-4, 2F), R Magennis, J Duffy (1-1), R O’Neill (0-7, 2F, 1 “45”). Subs: J Kearns (0-1) for Geary, K McAlinden (0-2) for McDonnell, C Magennis (0-1) for R Magennis, S McCarthy for McCambridge, R Garvey (0-1) for J McAlinden

 

Tyrone: B Gallen, C Grimes, C Quinn, C Shields (0-1), M McKearney, R McCusker, C Goodwin, R Gormley (0-1), B Kennedy (0-1), M Murnaghan, E McNabb (0-6, 5F, 1 “45”), R Gray, J Garrity, M McGleenan, P Donaghy (0-7, 1F). Subs: D McGuigan (0-1) for McKearney, T Drayne (0-2) for Murnaghan, D Kerr for Gray, T Carney (0-4, 3F 1 “45”) for McGleenan, T Loughran (0-1) for Gormley, J Campbell for Garrity

 

Referee: N McKenna, Monaghan