Ulster SHC Second Round Round-Up

Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Second Round:
Armagh 3-20 Tyrone 2-9

Armagh advanced to the quarter-finals of the GAA Hurling Ulster Senior Championship after a 3-20 to 2-9 win over Tyrone at Casement Park on Saturday afternoon.

Brian McNaughton was the hero for the victors, netting an impressive hat-trick as well as a point from play, while Paul Breen was just behind him in the scoring stakes with nine points, including two from play.

The Orchard men led 2-14 to 0-5 at the break after McNaughton had stolen in for two goals just before the half time.

Tyrone did have a chance to reduce the deficit in first half stoppage time, but Conor Grugan blasted a penalty over the bar.

The Red Hands grew in confidence after Armagh were reduced to 14 men when Nathan Curry was sent off for a second yellow card offence.

Tyrone cut the gap to manageable proportions when Grugan raised a green flag on 56 minutes and David Lavery snuck in for their second three minutes later.

However, just as the comeback appeared on the cards, McNaughton grabbed his third goal of the game in the 64th minute to guarantee what was an emphatic win in the end.

—

Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Second Round:
London 3-16 Monaghan 1-15

Cork native Martin Finn bagged an impressive haul of 2-4 as London progressed in the GAA Hurling Ulster Senior Championship after a stern test from Monaghan at Casement Park.

Monaghan will consider themselves very unlucky as they gave an impressive showing after recovering from the worst start imaginable.

The Farney men were 2-2 to 0-0 in arrears after 11 minutes, but they recovered well and Michael McHugh struck 0-13 as they gave the Exiles a thorough workout over the remainder of a well contested game.

Finn and Paul Stephenson scored the goals for London as they completely dominated the opening stages.

London extended their advantage before Monaghan hit back with a Kevin Boylan goal after 20 minutes. The goal gave the Ulster side heart as they finished the half well and were only 2-7 to 1-7 down at the break.

However, Finn was on hand to ease London back into a substantial lead three minutes into the second half when he pounced for his second goal of the game.

Monaghan came close to setting up a grandstand finish but they had a goal disallowed late on and London went back across the Irish Sea with a seven-point win.