Recent History – Armagh vs Antrim

It’s almost forty years since these sides clashed in the Ulster Championship, way back in 1982. Armagh won that day 1-20 to 1-6 on their way to claiming their 6th provincial crown.

They’ve shared 22 championship outings in all with the most recent meeting coming back in 2003. Armagh edged out the Saffron’s by three points that day in round two of the qualifiers.

Meetings have been confined to the McKenna Cup more recently, along with a national league game back in 2017.

Armagh have taken on Antrim four times in the last ten years and lost just once during that time.

Photo Credit: John Merry

2011: Armagh 0-12 Antrim 1-12 (McKenna Cup R1)

Antrim travelled to the newly developed Athletic Grounds and came away with a three-point victory in a close encounter.

Mark Sweeney struck a first half major that split the sides 1-5 to 0-5 at the break and remained the difference at full time.

A youthful Rory Grugan top scored on his debut with 0-4. The Ballymacnab attacker is the only member of the current Armagh panel that featured that day.

Paddy Cunningham is who still doing the business for Antrim and he chipped in with two points of his own that day for the Saffron’s.

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2015: Antrim 1-4 Armagh 2-11 (McKenna Cup R2)

Armagh eased to victory in Creggan to secure their only win of the 2015 McKenna Cup campaign, losing to Tyrone and drawing with St Mary’s.

The Orchard men held a slender 0-6 to 0-2 half time lead but eventually pulled away with two second half goals.

Stefan Forker top scored on the day with 1-4 while Oisin MacIomhair also hit the net after the turnaround.

Jamie Clarke lined out at wing half back and chipped in with two points. Two yellow card offences cut his day short.

Photo Credit: John Merry

2017: Armagh 1-12 Antrim 0-13 (National Football league R6)

Armagh’s hunt for promotion was boasted with a hard-fought win over their Ulster rivals, although Tipperary would eventually spoil the party.

Ciaran McKeever grabbed the all-important goal having lined out at full forward and ended the game with 1-1.

The Cullyhanna mans three-pointer saw the sides all square at the half time interval, drawing 1-3 to 0-6.

Blaine Hughes was the match winner in only his 4th ever start for the Orchard County. He expertly saved a 63rd minute CJ McGourty penalty to hand Armagh a vital victory.

Photo Credit: John Merry

2019: Antrim 1-10 Armagh 2-21 (McKenna Cup R2)

Kieran McGeeney’s men overpowered Antrim on their way to the 2019 McKenna Cup Final.

Armagh’s attack was in deadly form with their now captain Stefan Campbell nailing eight points on the day.

Ryan ‘Minnie’ McShane and Jamie Clarke (penalty) both rattled the net as Armagh marched to an easy 14-point victory.

Eleven players got on the scoresheet. The Orchard County’s dominant first half performance saw the game over at the break, 2-12 to 0-2.