Armagh hit Down for four goals to reach first Ulster SFC final in 15 years
April 30, 2023
Armagh's Ciaran Mackin celebrates their third goal against Down ©INPHO/John McVitty
Armagh will face holders Derry in the Ulster senior football championship final in two weeks’ time after hammering four goals past neighbours Down in Clones this afternoon.
It finished 4-10 to 0-12 in the Orchard men’s favour at St Tiernach’s Park, where Andrew Murnin and Shane McPartlan supplied the first-half goals in a devastating six-minute spell for the winners.
The semi-final derby had been all square on 0-3 apiece when Murnin got in for the first goal on 20 minutes and McPartlan’s superb strike would back it up and send Kieran McGeeney’s men towards a 2-4 to 0-6 lead at the half.
Jemar Hall and Murnin put six between the sides within five minutes of the restart and Mackin would supply the third goal by palming in a high ball that left Down with a mountain to try and climb in the closing 20 minutes.
The Mourne men wouldn’t register their first score of the second-half until Pat Havern’s free sailed between the Armagh posts in the 58th minute and, by that stage, Rian O’Neill had already banged in a fourth goal for McGeeney’s side.
Their focus now switches towards what is set to be a much taller order against Rory Gallagher’s Derry side the same venue a fortnight from today.
TweetWatch the Full-Time Highlights of Armagh v Down in the Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final here on #GAANOW
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 30, 2023
Full-Time Score:
Armagh: 4-10
⁰Down: 0-12 pic.twitter.com/LuY7OkWn5T
