Armagh came out the victors in what proved to be a scrappy all-county Premier Section clash in Portstewart, a result which confirmed both sides’ elimination from the tournament.
Despite coming out of the blocks early on and looking like the team most likely to score, Armagh nearly fell behind in the 4th minute, Darragh Byrne presented with a free header from an in-swinging corner that he should have done much better with.
The game was tetchy and lacked rhythm, the referee’s approach adding to the stop-start nature of the game. Tackles were flying in form all angles, with Armagh’s Oran O’Kane lucky to only see yellow following a high boot in the 13th minute.
The first-half proved to be an ultimately uneventful affair, with speculative shots from long range proving to be the order of the day.
HT: Co.Armagh 0-0 Co.Fermanagh
Fermanagh knew they were in with a chance of progressing to the semi-finals if they could win the game and they gave themselves hope in the opening stages of the second-half, Conor Courtney slotting into the bottom corner following a swift breakaway from a corner.
Despite the goal, the bitty tempo of the match didn’t chance, not helped by two lengthy injury stoppages. However, the course of the game would change in the space of a few minutes.
Indecision at the back for Fermanagh lead to a mix-up between keeper and defender, which eventually resulted in a penalty to Armagh after Oisin Conaty was scythed down in the box. Oran O’Kane stepped up to slot the penalty home, but Fermanagh keeper Sam McDonald will be disappointed not to have made the save having got a sizeable touch on his effort.
Just two minutes later Fermanagh were in real trouble, Jesse Carson putting Armagh in front following a mass scramble in the penalty area.
Fermanagh certainly weren’t lacking in effort, but lacked any real quality in the final third that would trouble David Walsh in the Armagh goal.
Five minutes from time Armagh sealed the victory, Conaty producing a superb piece of close control and a cool finish from close range after the Fermanagh defence failed to properly clear a free-kick.
Armagh now go on to face Londonderry in the SuperCupNI Bowl semi-final, whilst Fermanagh face Japanese side Riseisha in the Vase competition.
FT Co. Armagh 3 – Co. Fermanagh 1
Line-ups:
Co. Armagh: 1. David Walsh, 2. Jesse Carson, 3. Adam Glenny, 5. Lennox Camara, 8. Odhran Smyth, 11. James Teelan, 12. Joel Bassett, 14. Oran O’Kane, 15. Matthew Willis, 17. James Black, 18. Mark McSloy
Co. Fermanagh: 1. Sam McDonald, 2. Darragh Byrne, 3. Jamal Tavares, 6. Ryan Beatty, 7. Einhin Curran, 8. Michael Glynn, 9. Keelan Flanagan, 10. Conor Courtney, 12. Reece Byrne, 14. Henry Miskimmin, 15. Jamie Stewart