Ulster MFC Round 1
Armagh 2-9 Antrim 0-2
Antrim proved no match for a very good Armagh side in Round 1 of the Ulster Minor Football Championship in Crossmaglen on Saturday afternoon.
The Orchard put seven goals past the young Saffrons a fortnight ago in the Shield semi-final and while Antrim tightened up considerably from that performance they never really looked like troubling a very sharp Armagh side.
It took Armagh 8 minutes to register their first score in Crossmaglen when Diarmaid O’Rourke pointed but by the 19th minute the home side were well in control.
By that time Caomh Agnew had fired home the game’s opening goal and it followed points from Daithi O’Callaghan, Keelan McEntee, a well struck ‘45’ from Diarmaid O’Rourke and a Shea Loughran free to put the Orchard 1-5 to 0-0 ahead.
Armagh would manage only one more point in the opening half but it took Antrim 30 minutes to finally break their duck when Odhran Quinn pointed a free to leave his side trailing 1-6 to 0-1 at the break.
The home side would wrap matters up with a goal from play in the 6th minute of the second half and the scores dried up after this in the strong wind and difficult conditions.
Armagh added two further points but were always in control over an inexperienced Antrim side whose only other point came from another Odhran Quinn free.
Antrim now face Derry at Dunsilly on Saturday 20th April before travelling to Breffni Park to take on Cavan in their final Group B game on the 4th May.
Antrim: John McAtamney, Caden Logan, Liam McLernon, James Og McAuley, Conor O’Connell, Cormac Trainor, Ryan McKeever, SedgaevMacAdhaim, Michael McKenna, Padraic O’Connell, JJ Higgins, Shea McCann, Padraig O’Muirigh, Odhran Quinn, Liam Og Cullen
