The game was played without the controversial hand-pass rule which had just hours earlier been ditched by Central Council, and Sunday’s FBD Connacht League final between Galway and Roscommon at Tuam will also be played without the ill-fated regulation.

Cavan 2-8 Armagh 0-11: Any lingering notion that the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup is nothing more than a gentle preamble into the more serious business of the GAA season was emphatically kicked into touch in this turbulent, fractious encounter at Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen yesterday.

Cavan put their troubles at senior level behind them to advance to an Ulster U21FC semi-final in impressive fashion at Kingspan Breffni Park last night.

CORK super sub Stephen O’Mahony struck for a sensational injury time goal to snatch a semi-final spot away from a stunned Armagh outfit, who had looked the dominant team for the opening three-quarters of this game.