Late blitz takes Armagh clear

Armagh 5-19 Fermanagh 5-6

A strong display in the final quarter earned Armagh a 13-point win over Fermanagh in the opening round of the Ulster Senior Championship this afternoon.

The sides were tied at 4-5 to 1-14 with 20 minutes left at Brewster Park in Enniskillen, following a second goal from Fermanagh's Declan McGarry (2-0).

However, the Orchard County side responded in brilliant fashion, finding the hosts' net on four occasions in the closing 19 minutes with Conor Corvan (2-1), Ger Enright (1-3) and Cathal Carville (1-2) raising green flags.

The result sees Armagh advance to meet Monaghan in a quarter-final tie on Sunday, May 29.

All of the positive play in the opening stages came from the Ernesiders who led by 2-2 to 0-4 after 10 minutes.

Corner forward Sean Corrigan claimed both of Fermanagh's early goals, with the first arriving just 30 seconds into the game.

However, Armagh battled back strongly with Paul McCormack's 28th-minute goal helping the visitors take a 1-10 to 2-4 lead into the break.

Little separated the sides in the third quarter, with McGarry's first goal bringing his side level at 3-05 to 1-11. Armagh broke in front before McGarry's second goal tied the contest once again.

However, a tiring Fermanagh outfit were unable to cope with Armagh's firepower in the closing minutes and Carville's goal put the seal on a well-merited away victory.

Scorers - Armagh: C Corvan 2-1, G Enright 1-3, P McCormack, C Carville 1-2 each, R Gaffney 0-5, M Lennon 0-3, M Maguire, R McGratten, J Corvan 0-1 each

Fermanagh: S Corrigan 3-2, D McGarry 2-0, K Kehoe, R Bogue 0-2 each.