Monaghan will face Donegal in a repeat of last year's Ulster final after beating Armagh by 1-18 to 1-13 in this semi-final replay at Clones.

The reigning Ulster champions were in charge of this match from start to finish and rarely looked troubled as they sent their opponents spiralling towards a back-door showdown with Tyrone.

When the superb Conor McManus (1-7) rattled the back of the Armagh net in the 32nd minute, that score gave the dominant hosts a deserved 1-7 to 1-2 advantage.

Aaron Findon had fisted the Orchard County's goal in the twelfth minute to propel his side into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead. Tony Kernan had opened the scoring from a long-range free and Monaghan replied with two inspirational scores from Darren Hughes.

There were late changes to both starting teams, with the influential veteran Paul Finlay given the nod for Monaghan while Aidan Forker came in from the beginning for the visitors.

McManus and Finlay (free) had Malachy O'Rourke's side level by the end of the opening quarter and frees from goalkeeper Rory Beggan and McManus - followed by a McManus strike from play - made it 0-7 to 1-1 after 27 minutes.

Tony Kernan pointed frees either side of McManus' rocket and the last two scores of a lively first half were swapped by Stephen Gollogly and Eugene McVerry: Monaghan 1-8 Armagh 1-4 at half time.

Trailing by four points at the break, Paul Grimley's men had also lost Finnian Moriarty to a black card during the first half.

McManus added to the Farney County's tally shortly after the restart and Beggan's second long-range free left six points between the teams. Kernan (free) and Jamie Clarke pointed either side of a Dermot Malone effort for Monaghan and wing back Fintan Kelly's excellent long-range point made it 1-12 to 1-6 after ten minutes of the second half.

Donning the No.21 shirt, Finlay stretched the gap two minutes later but Clarke replied to leave six points between the teams as the rain started to fall at the three-quarters stage. (That's Monaghan weather for you!)

Points from Clarke and Kernan eased the Orchard back within four points but they needed a goal. Instead, Finlay and McManus (2) registered three Monaghan points in as many minutes - 1-16 to 1-9 with nine minutes to go.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men when Stefan Campbell was black-carded and they had already used up all five substitutions. Kernan and McManus traded frees either side of that intervention from referee Marty Duffy.

After Clarke had popped over a close-range point for the Orchard County, McManus left those of the 23,324 spectators remaining in the grounds gasping in awe as he lofted over a majestic point from a sideline kick.

Kernan and Clarke (free) hit two late consolation points but Monaghan progress to the Ulster final at this venue against Donegal in a fortnight while Armagh must travel to Omagh next weekend for another crunch derby match against Tyrone in the second round of the Qualifiers.

Monaghan - R Beggan (0-2f); R Wylie, D Wylie, C Walshe; D Mone, V Corey, F Kelly; D Clerkin (0-1), D Hughes (0-2); P Finlay (0-3, 1f), S Gollogly (0-1), P McKenna; D Malone (0-1), K Hughes, C McManus (1-7, 0-3f, 1sl). Subs: C McGuinness (0-1) for K Hughes, G Doogan for D Hughes.

Armagh - P McEvoy; F Moriarty, C Vernon, J Morgan; M Shields, B Donaghy, C McKeever; K Toner, A Findon (1-0); A Forker, K Dyas, E McVerry (0-1); J Clarke (0-5, 1f), S Campbell, T Kernan (0-7, 6f). Subs: A Mallon for F Moriarty (BC), K Carragher for E McVerry, S Harold for K Toner, M Murray for J Morgan, A Kernan for B Donaghy, R Grugan for A Forker.

Referee - M Duffy. Tweet

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