Ulster MFC: Cavan stun Armagh to end 37-year wait
July 17, 2011
Armaghs Conor McNally and Cavans Brian Sankey during the Ulster MFC final at Clones.
Armagh 1-6
A spirited second-half display saw Cavan upset Armagh this afternoon in Clones to claim their first Ulster Minor Football Championship title in 37 years.
The Blues made a sizzling start to this decider by notching the first five points inside the opening 11 minutes, but Armagh recovered well and hit an unanswered 1-6 to hold the lead come half-time.
It took 13 minutes for Cavan to get off the mark in the second-half and once they did they wouldn't look back, as their sublime defence held the Orchard County scoreless for the entire half-hour to record a long-awaited provincial success at this grade.
Cavan flew out of traps for this showdown at a wet St Tiernach's Park, with Conor Finnegan, Joe Dillon, Gerard Smith and two points from Andrew Graham getting them off to an absolute flyer.
Seemingly unfazed, Armagh came into the game after that to hit back and level after five points in as many minutes via Paul McGeown (2), Conor White, Ethan Rafferty and Conor McNally.
McGeown found a rare gap in the Breffni defence to net the only goal of the game in what looked to be a killer blow on the eve of half-time, before Conor Gough added a point from play to send Armagh in with 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
After some scrappy play from both sides, Michael Argue picked off a point 13 minutes into the resumption to help reset the tone for Cavan and when Darren McVitty fisted over to cut the deficit to one, after Armagh 'keeper Davy O'Hagan had done brilliantly to save from Finnegan, they could sense victory was within their grasp.
Captain Paul Graham struck the equaliser as the closing stages approached and when sibling Andrew Graham fired them in front, quick points from Nevin O'Donnell and Conor Finnegan followed to send the Breffni contingent into a euphoric state come the final whistle.
Cavan: B O'Mara; B Sankey, K Clarke, C Smith; C Brady, C Moynagh, G Smith (0-1); M Argue (0-1), P Graham (0-1); A Dewart, J Dillon (0-1), K Boucher; A Graham (0-3), C Finnegan (0-2), D McVeety (0-1). Subs: N O'Donnell (0-2, 0-1 free) for Boucher, L Buchanan for Dewart, V Coyle for Dillon.
Armagh: D O'Hagan; S Hughes, M Murphy, C Hoey; P Burns, B McCarron, C White (0-1); A Findon, E Rafferty (0-1); C Gough (0-1), C O'Hanlon, M McKenna; C McNally (0-1), P McGeown (1-2, 0-1 free), C Cumiskey. Subs: R McShane for Gough, P Óg Grant for McNally, C Trainor for E Rafferty.
Ref: C O'Hagan (Tyrone) Tweet
