Tyrone and Cavan come through tough tests to book semi-final slots

Ulster U20 round-up: Tyrone had to come from behind to defeat Armagh by 3-15 to 1-11 at Dungannon while Cavan eclipsed Down with a devastating display of attacking football

RED-HOT HAND: Eoin McElholm of Tyrone. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The semi-final line-up in the Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 Football Championship was completed as All-Ireland champions Tyrone and Cavan came through their quarter-final tests to set up meetings with Derry and Donegal respectively.

Tyrone had to come from behind to defeat Armagh by 3-15 to 1-11 at Dungannon, hitting three second-half goals to get themselves out of trouble and set up a last four meeting with Derry.

Armagh raided right from the outset and were rewarded with a goal after just five minutes when Aaron O’Neill’s shot was parried, and John Joe Hughes finished to the net, after Shea McDermott had given the Red Hands an early lead.

Conor O’Neill and Liam Og Mossey responded, but the visitors struck for scores through Aaron O’Neill and Conor McGeough.

Tyrone rallied strongly in the second quarter, hitting scores through Eoin McElholm, Ruairi McCullagh and Matthew Quinn, but two more Hughes points had Armagh in front by 1-6 to 0-8 at the interval.

They continued to press, carving out scores for Callum O’Neill and Aaron O’Neill, but the Red Hands found a defiant response, with three goals in the final quarter.

Conall Sheehy netted the first, and senior panellist McElholm added another, before Noah Grimes sealed the win with his side’s third four minutes from the end.

Cavan eclipsed Down with a devastating display of attacking football at Kingspan Breffni Park on their way to a 2-26 to 1-13 win and a last four meeting with Donegal.

A closely fought opening saw Cian Keaney trade points with Down’s Jamie McFerran and Barra McEvoy.

But the home side stepped up the tempo, hitting a string of scores through Keaney, Matthew Smith, Matthew Costello and Lorcan Reilly to open up a 12 points lead.

The Mourne side hit back with a Lorcan Ward goal five minutes before the interval, but Cavan turned around with a 0-16 to 1-7 advantage.

Down were still within reach as Eoghan Travers converted a couple of frees, but the red card dismissal of midfielder Lorcan Ward ended their hioes.

Cavan piled on the agony with a strong of classy points, Smith, Keaney, Evan Crowe and Niall Magee all on target.

And they killed the game off with goals from Costello and Jake Whyte to complete the job.