Armagh U20s fend off late Cavan comeback to hold on for second straight win

​​It was a bit close for comfort in the end, but Armagh U20s held on to claim a second win in as many games to open their Ulster Championship campaign.

The Orchard County led by seven with 10 minutes to go, but a late flurry from Cavan meant only two points separated the sides in stoppage time. However, Armagh held on to claim a valuable victory.

“We’re a wee bit deflated coming in there,” admitted manager Barry O’Hagan at full-time.

“It was a game that we were in complete control of, we were six up at half-time. We pretty flat at the start of the second half, then we played for five or 10 minutes and went seven up at one stage, and then we just stopped. The energy seemed to go out of the team.

“So, while it was a win, we’re just a wee bit deflated with the last 12 or 15 minutes of the performance, because we know that we’re better than that.

“But the most important thing is that we got two points, and we’re sitting joint-top of the table. That was the target at the start: to get four points from our first two games.”

Armagh lined out with a strong local contingent: Gareth Murphy and Fergal Boylan from Killeavy, Odhran Carragher, Pearse Blessing and Aaron O’Neill from Crossmaglen, Fergal O’Brien from Mullaghbawn, Ruairi O’Brien from Shane O’Neill’s, Ryan Duffy from Culloville and Conal McGeough from Forkhill.

Two local players rattled the net in the first half: Murphy from the penalty spot, before Blessing rifled one in after Ruairi O’Brien had a shot blocked.

This left the hosts 2-6 to 1-3 ahead at half-time.

Armagh only scored three times after the break, but former St Colman’s MacRory Cup captain Callum O’Neill had a superb game, and he kicked a crucial point to put them seven ahead

Cavan almost pulled off a remarkable comeback, as they scored 1-2 late on, but they ran out of time and Armagh held on for the victory.

They play Donegal in Ballybofey on April 10 in their next game.

MATCH STATS

Armagh: Rhys Stevens; Emmett Magee, Gareth Murphy (1-0, pen), Odhran Carragher (0-1); Fergal O’Brien, Brendan O’Hagan (0-2, 1f), Callum O’Neill (0-1); Tadgh Grimley (0-2), Pearse Blessing (1-1); Padraig O’Keefe, Ruairi O’Brien (0-1), Ryan Duffy (0-1); Fergal Boylan, Conal McGeough, Michael Burnett.

Subs: Aaron O’Neill for Boylan (40), Cianan Campbell for McGeough (45).

Cavan: Lee Phillingham; Oran Daly, Cillian Brady, Favour Shehu; Kyle McCabe, Eoghan Hartin, Ben McGahan (0-1); Evan Crowe, Ryan Tobin; Michael Smith, Oliver McCrystal, Barry Donnelly (1-0); Matthew Smith, Darragh Lovett (1-3, 2f), Lorcan Reilly.

Subs: Dylan Edwards for Michael Smith (HT), Cian Keaney (0-2, 2f) for Reilly (40), Daire Madden (0-1) for McCrystal (40), Matthew Costello for Tobin (49), Jensen Tynan for McCabe (57).

Referee: Conor Curran (Down).