Armagh into MFC Final

July 6th, 2009

Ulster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final:
Armagh 2-14 Monaghan 2-08

A hungrier, more clinical Armagh deservedly booked a place in the final of the Ulster Minor Football Championship at the expense of Monaghan in an entertaining semi-final at Clones on Saturday.

The Orchardmen did it the hard way too, as they were forced to play all but eight minutes of the second-half with 14 players when full-back Ronan Finnegan was dismissed for a second bookable offence after conceding a penalty for a foul on Aaron McCarey.

Eugene McVerry finished top-scorer with 1-7 (1-3 from play) as he wreaked havoc on a beleaguered Monaghan defence.

The Farneymen got off to the best possible start with a goal by Pete Dooney after just 15 seconds.

They went four up after three minutes with a point by Aaron McCarey, but five minutes later Armagh were in front when Gavin McParland finished excellently after being well placed by McVerry.

McVerry added a point in the seventh minute and Rory Grugan hit a second two minutes later to put Armagh a point in front.

Monaghan equalised through Shane Coyle in the 14th minute but Armagh went on to hit four points without reply between the 20th and 26th minutes, three by McVerry, and a free from Rory Grugan.

In the final minutes of the first half, points from Jack McCarron and Daniel McKenna left Monaghan trailing by just two at the break.

McCarron reduced the deficit in the opening minutes of the second-half but Armagh then struck for a brace of points from Andrew Murnin and Robbie Tasker.

Three minutes though Monaghan were back on level terms when a high centre was fielded by Aaron McCarey, who was dragged down by Ronan Finnegan for a penalty that was expertly tucked away by Jack McCarron.

Down to 14 players with the dismissal of Finnegan, Armagh increased the tempo and responded with a brace of points from McVerry, both from frees, to open a two- point lead.

McCarey pulled a point back for Monaghan, but Armagh struck for another brace from Gavin McParland and another inspirational score from Robbie Tasker.

Monaghan stayed in touch with a point from Dooney in the 22nd minute of the half, but again Armagh’s response was swift and emphatic with a goal and two points without reply in the final five minutes of normal time to effectively clinch victory.

Eugene McVerry finished for the goal on the half hour, while he and Tasker shared the points that put Armagh seven in front going into stoppage time.

Three minutes into stoppage time McCarey pulled a point back, but the game was over as a contest quite some time before that.

– Photo Gallery: UMFC – Armagh v Monaghan