Cavan claim victory after fiery day in Crossmaglen

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.

Five red, four yellow, and two black cards provided telling evidence of a feisty narrative that blasted open rather than tamely nudged the door to 2016 open.

For Cavan, though, this was an early morsel of encouragement that manager Terry Hyland was happy to embrace despite the manner in which the contest was besmirched.