Armagh's class pays off in the end

Armagh 1-13 Monaghan 0-10:   Armagh brushed aside Monaghan's gallant attempt to derail them in today's Ulster SFC replay but…

Armagh 1-13 Monaghan 0-10:  Armagh brushed aside Monaghan's gallant attempt to derail them in today's Ulster SFC replay but class prevailed in the end as Joe Kernan's side finished six point victors.

Monaghan proved tough opponents in the original fixture and did so again today in Clones, starting brightly before running out of steam and allow Armagh dictate.

Monaghan opened a 0-3 to 0-0 lead within minutes and although Armagh clawed their way back, Thomas Freeman squandered a good goal opportunity when dragging the ball wide of the post.

That miss allowed Armagh grow in confidence and Oisin McConville - scorer of five points - and Brian Mallon led the revival.

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Indeed, after 18 minutes, Mallon scored the only goal of the game.  He latched onto Kieran McGeeney's precise ball and found the net after smartly turning his marker.

The writing was then on the wall for Monaghan when Freeman squandered another goal chance, hitting his close range shot straight at goalkeeper Ciaran McKinney.

Armagh led 1-5 to 0-6 at the break and never relinquished it during a second half which they dominated.

That said, Monaghan remained in touch throughout but were always two or three scores from bridging the gap.

Still, though, Armagh had left plenty in the tank and Steven McDonnell, Ronan Clarke and McConville all further their individual tallies to secure a meeting against either Fermanagh or Antrim.