Armagh reach semi with dogged win over Cavan

Cavan 0.12 Armagh 1.14

Clann Eireann player Conor Turbitt received the man of the match award for the second game in a row when he was highly instrumental in helping his Armagh side defeat Cavan yesterday (Saturday, April 22) in Kingspan Breffni Park.

Kieran Mc Geeney's side struggled before the end with the Breffni Blues throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the visitors' rear guard, but a last ditch save from the introduced Rian O'Neill at the death kept a safe cushion between the Ulster rivals.

In retrospect, the winners would need to be judged against better opposition and on a better day, the fans huddled in the rain and, with the players struggling in the torrents, handling was difficult with both settling for midfield knock downs.

Turbitt once again stood out knocking over 7 points to add to the 8 struck against Antrim last time out.

Aidan Forker, who is playing the football of his life, galvanised the defence and the writing was on the wall for the blues when another Maghery player, Ben Crealey, knocked home the only goal of the game before the break.

With the rain causing some tackles to be either late or over the top, several yellow cards were handed out with some players lucky to escape a sterner sanction.

Kieran Mc Geeney made one change to the side bringing Jarly Og Burns in for Barry McCambridge, Burns and Forker were outstanding but just behind Turbitt who was deadly accurate.

With Donegal or Down who meet in the last of the Ulster first round ties going though to play Armagh the chances of reaching this year's decider are positive.

In yesterday's encounter Georoid Mc Kernan knocked over 3 points for Mickey Graham's side, who were wasteful in a pressurised second period. They did, however, have Barry and Madden in good form, but with at times Murnin and Turbitt playing inside the Breffni 21, the orchard side were less defensive than during the league campaign.

Clan Na Gael's Shane Mc Parland hit a peach of a point just after the break, to supplement a sublime Jamar Hall effort and a Grugan strike. 

With firmer pitches and better conditions on the way , Armagh with the super 16s down the line,  can at least celebrate winning back to back Ulster games for the first time in 15 years. 

With the Saturday crowds not quite breaking records, the 12,000 brave souls were kept on their toes, but there was always going to be only one winner from a long way out.