Armagh's magical six minutes enough

Armagh 1-11 Derry 0-10

Armagh and Tyrone have shared the past six provincial titles between them but, despite their stranglehold, both teams have yet to meet in the provincial decider.

Although the champions were nowhere near their best in Casement Park yesterday, they didn't need to be. They did just enough, as most great teams are able to do when all parts of their machine aren't quite functioning properly. They decided this Ulster semi-final in a mercilessly efficient six-minute spell midway through the second half.

Place-kicking had been problematic for Derry all afternoon, but when Paddy Bradley levelled the game at 0-7 each with a free in the 46th minute, there were real hopes that the Oak Leafers might cause an upset, especially with Fergal Doherty and Patsy Bradley controlling midfield.

All Bradley's equaliser did was alert Armagh to their task. In a six-minute spell, that was opened and closed by Aaron Kernan's free-taking, Armagh scored 1-3 to bury the faint Oak Leaf hopes. When a dazed Derry gathered their bearings, they discovered they were six points behind and the Ulster final fading in the distance.

That scoring blitz was defined by John Toal's strike in the 50th minute. Kernan, again, played a pivotal role. His bursts from wing-back made him this game's outstanding player. His confidence was such that when Toal released him on the flank, bearing down on goal, he sought the net rather than the safer option of a point. Kevin McCloy, Derry's impressive full-back, flung himself at Kernan's shot but the rebound fell to Toal.

It was a terrific finish, Toal rocketing the ball beyond Barry Gillis to the roof of the Derry net.

Derry hit 14 wides, including four from close-range frees, but the most worrying aspect for Mickey Moran was the ineffectual performance of Enda Muldoon at full-forward. He missed three of those easy frees and couldn't handle the uncompromising style of Francie Bellew.

Whether Bellew should have been on the field for the last half an hour is a bone of contention. Having been booked in the 14th minute, Bellew was reckless in challenging Mark Lynch a few minutes into the second half. Despite the Armagh defender being on a yellow card, Michael Monahan just noted Bellew.

Paddy Bradley did cause Armagh problems, each member of their full-back line was tried on him at some stage. However, his most memorable contribution was a contender for score of the summer in the 8th minute, when he twisted and turned Andy Mallon before splitting the posts from the right flank.

In those early stages, Derry were very much in this game. They started brightly, Doherty bossing affairs around the middle. As pleased as Joe Kernan will have been watching the display of his son from high in the stands, he will also have noted the performance of his midfield.

They were deeply troubled by championship rookie Neil Gallagher in the two Donegal games and yesterday again, Paul McGrane and Philip Loughran came off second best. Until Toal was introduced in the 47th minute, Armagh struggled in midfield.

Steven McDonnell, Martin O'Rourke and Oisin McConville all nailed scores in the opening quarter when Derry were in the ascendant. After 15 minutes, in spite of Derry having the bulk of possession, Armagh were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead.

The quality of football decreased as the first half wore on. Armagh would score only another point, through Brian Mallon, while Derry could only translate all their possession into two more points and plenty of wides. Still, they trailed by only two points at the break, 0-6 to 0-4.

In the opening 15 minutes of the second half the Derry forwards lacked composure and experience when it counted. That is exactly what Armagh have in abundance and Clarke's superb score in the 42nd minute was indicative of that.

Derry rallied near the end, with Eoin Bradley and Lynch scoring fine points, but it was simply window-dressing.

Armagh knew they had the job done when Toal smashed the net and minds were already turning towards Tyrone, July 10 in Croke Park, their first meeting since the 2003 All-Ireland final and a match that will decide the definite Northern footballing power. It promises to be quite an occasion.

Scorers: Armagh: A Kernan (0-4, 3 frees), J Toal (1-0), B Mallon (0-2), S McDonnell (0-2, 1 free) M O'Rourke, O McConville, R Clarke (0-1 each). Derry: P Bradley (0-5, 2 frees), E Bradley (0-2), M Lynch, P Murphy (0-1 each), E Muldoon(0-1, free)

ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, E McNulty, A Kernan, K McGenney, A O'Rourke; P Loughran, P McGrane; M O'Rourke, J McEntee, O McConville, S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon Subs J Toal for Loughran, T McEntee for J McEntee (both 47 mins), S Kernan for B Mallon (64 mins), M Mackin for Clarke (65 mins), C McKeever for A Kernan (68 mins)

DERRY: B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McCloy, G O'Kane, P Wilson, S M Lockhart, P Kelly; F Doherty, Patsy Bradley; P Murphy, M Lynch, E Bradley, C Devlin, P Bradley, E Muldoon Subs P McFlynn for Kelly (50 mins), J McBride for Devlin (55 mins), F McEldowney for Wilson (59 mins)

Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).