Armagh breeze past Fermanagh into last four of Ulster Championship

Joe McElroy of Armagh in action against Oisin Smyth.

Fermanagh 0-9 Armagh 3-11 

Armagh qualified for the last four of the Ulster Championship with the minimum of fuss to set up a semi-final showdown with rivals Down as they breezed past a helpless Fermanagh at Brewster Park.

By the time 2025 rolls around, the Orchard County will be plying their trade in the top tier of the National League while Fermanagh will battle it out in Division Three and the gap in quality was evident from early on.

A smoother, much more controlled and ruthless Armagh brushed off their Division Two league final defeat with aplomb and Fermanagh simply couldn’t live with their visitors. Armagh’s kickout press and overall intensity immediately put Fermanagh on the back foot.

Any hope of an ambush similar to the one Fermanagh pulled off in 2018 when the sides met at the same venue in the championship were dashed when dangerman Ultan Kelm picked up a black card in the 12th minute for a deliberate pull down of Andrew Murnin.

In that ten-minute spell, Kieran McGeeney’s side raised two green flags through Conor Turbitt and Jarly Og Burns, putting them 2-2 to 0-0 ahead after just 18 minutes of action. Game over.

Fermanagh actually should have hit the net themselves in the fifth minute when cornerback Oisin Smyth out-jumped Orchard netminder Blaine Hughes, but his goal-bound shot was blocked on the line by Aaron McKay.

Fermanagh did open their account with a Sean Cassidy free just as Kelm re-entered the fray but by that time the flood gates had well and truly opened, and Armagh had no intentions of slowing down.

Points from Ciaran Mackin and the lively Burns were followed by a third goal, with Stefan Campbell palming home from close range after a breakaway move saw Murnin set up the Clan na Gael man for a third major.

Kieran Donnelly’s team did grab the final point of the first half with Fionan O’Brien splitting the posts just before the half time whistle sounded, with the home side trailing by 11-points, 3-4 to 0-2.

Turbitt and Cassidy exchanged dead ball efforts while Mackin, Rory Grugan and Campbell extended the gap to 14-points after 55 minutes. Kelm and O’Brien did pull two back, while a leisurely point from Campbell was matched at the other end by Conor McShea.

With the result beyond doubt, both sides emptied their benches and substitutes Conor Love (Fermanagh) and Barry McCambridge (Armagh) chipped in with scores after being introduced.

O’Brien, one of the few positive performers in the green and white, grew his own personal tally to 0-3 with a superb looping kick while Love added his second, scoping over a free right in front of the goalposts.

Oisin O’Neill swung over the last score of the day with ease, becoming the ninth scorer in the Armagh side in a game that they will quickly move on from, and grew their final advantage to 11-points.

It’s on to the last four for Armagh as their search for a first Anglo Celt since 2008 (when they beat Fermanagh in the Ulster final after a replay) continues and they’re now one game away from competing in the decider.

For Fermanagh, their attentions will swiftly turn towards the Tailteann Cup and getting a run in the second-tier competition will be top of Kieran Donnelly’s agenda.

Scorers for Fermanagh: F O’Brien 0-3, S Cassidy 0-2 (2f), Conor Love 0-2, Conor McShea 0-1, U Kelm 0-1.

Scorers for Armagh: S Campbell 1-2, J Burns 1-1, C Turbitt 1-1 (1f), C Mackin 0-2, A Murnin 0-1, R O’Neill 0-1, R Grugan 0-1 (1f), B McCambridge 0-1, O O’Neill 0-1.

FERMANAGH: R Bogue, L Cullen, C Cullen, O Smyth, D McCusker, S McGullion, C McManus, R McCaffrey, J McDade, C McGee, C McShea, F O’Brien, U Kelm, G Jones, S Cassidy. Subs: J Ellis for R McCaffrey (blood sub) (19), J Ellis for C McManus (22), C Love for G Jones (48), B Horan for C McGee (48), J Cassidy for O Smyth (60), D McGurn for D McCusker (60).

ARMAGH: B Hughes, P Burns, A McKay, P McGrane, J McElroy, C Mackin, A Forker, R O’Neill, B Crealey, S Campbell, R Grugan, C Turbitt, O Conaty, A Murnin, J Burns. Subs: O O’Neill for R O’Neill (blood sub) (21), B McCambridge for A McKay (44), Oisin O’Neill for J Burns (48), Connaire Mackin for R O’Neill (55), A Nugent for A Murnin (55).

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)