Three first-half goals from a much superior Armagh side were the key scores in this pretty turgid Ulster SFC quarter-final as they prevailed against Fermanagh in Brewster Park.
Conor Turbitt, Jarly Óg Burns and Stefan Campbell found the Erne net to push their side to a pretty unassailable 3-04 to 0-02 lead at the break.
And while the home side matched the visitors in scoring terms in the second half- it was a half that had all the intensity of one of those challenge matches at the opening of a pitch back in the 1980s.
Armagh were better in all departments and their three goals came from turnovers where the Erne defence was left badly exposed.
A physically stronger Armagh side opened the scoring with a point from an acute angle after two minutes from Andrew Murnin.
And the returned Rian O'Neill doubled the lead with a glorious point a minute later.
The home side missed a great goal chance in the fourth minute when a high ball broke to Oisin Smyth who was facing an empty net.
However, Orchard County full-back Aaron McKay somehow managed to save the shot from a distance of three yards for a 45 which was not converted.
To compound the home side’s misery they lost star forward Ultan Kelm after he dragged down Andrew Murnin with the Erne goals wide open, with keeper Ross Bogue stranded on his own 45-metre line.
An increasingly rampant Armagh certainly made use of the extra man.
Firstly, Conor Turbitt slammed the ball to the net after a great run by Rory Grugan opened the Fermanagh defence in the 17th minute.
Two minutes later Armagh hit the net again when Jarly Óg Burns combined with Rory Grugan, whose shot was superbly saved by Bogue as the ball broke to Burns who had a simple tap in to put the visitors ahead by 2-02 to 0-00 after 20 minutes.
Sean Cassidy opened the Erne side’s account from a pointed free in the 21st minute.
But got even better for Kieran McGeeney’s men when Stefan Campbell finished a sweeping Armagh move to the Erne net to effectively seal the deal by the break as the impressive Fionan O’Brien had another Erne point as Armagh led by 3-04 to 0-02 at the break.
The outstanding Grugan increased Armagh’s lead on the resumption as the tempo fell to a pedestrian pace as both teams seemed to realise that this contest was already over.
Garvan Jones from a free and Ciaran Mackin swapped points as both teams ran their benches.
The highlight of this forgettable affair was an exquisite sideline point from the golden left boot of Grugan.
Fermanagh sub Conor Love hit two points after coming off the bench and Darragh McGurn and Jonny Cassidy got some championship game time.
Armagh gave Rian O’Neill his second start this year and now meet Down in the semi-final.
For Fermanagh it is a run out in the gentler waters of the Tailteann Cup.
Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen, Che Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Declan McCusker, Shane McGullion, Cian McManus; Ronan McCaffrey, Joe McDade; Conor McGee (0-1) Conor McShea (0-1) Fionan O’Brien (0-2); Ultan Kelm (0-1) Garvan Jones (0-1f) Sean Cassidy (0-1f)
Subs: Josh Largo Ellis for Cian McManus (22),Brandon Horan for Conor McGee and Conor Love (0-2) for Garvan Jones (49),Jonathan Cassidy for Oisin Smyth and Darragh McGurn for Declan McCusker (61)
Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane; Joe McElroy, Ciaran Mackin (0-2) Aidan Forker; Rian O’Neill (0-1) Ben Crealey; Stefan Campbell (1-2), Rory Grugan (0-1f) Conor Turbitt (1-0); Oisin Conaty, Andrew Murnin (0-2) Jarly Og Burns (1-1).
Subs: Barry McCambridge (0-1) for Aaron McKay (45), Oisin O’Neill (0-1) for Jarly Og Burns (48). Aidan Nugent for Andrew Murnin and Connaire Mackin for Rian O’Neill (56), Tiernan Kelly for Conor Turbitt (63)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
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