Armagh 2-20 Tyrone 1-10
Defending Ulster champions Armagh will contest their second final in as many years following an emphatic victory over Tyrone.
The Athletic Ground played host to the latest chapter of this intense rivalry. Armagh have held the upper hand in recent meetings and Friday proved no different.
One point separated these sides in the league, but the margin was much bigger after 60 plus minutes of action.
It didn’t look good at the start. Armagh were wasteful in front of the posts while Tyrone marched ahead with an early Niamh McGirr goal.
Points through Eve Lavery, Fionnuala McKenna, Caroline O’Hanlon and Blaithin Mackin brought the hosts back on level terms.
It was all Armagh in the third quarter as they got their noses in front. Five points just before the break handed Ronan Murphy’s side the edge.
The impressive McKenna grabbed three scores while Aimee Mackin hit two as Armagh led 0-9 to 1-3 at the interval.
Mackin traded scores with the visiting attack before McKenna stretched the lead to six with three more raised white flags.
Lavery, Aoife McCoy, Mackin and Alex Clarke all split the posts. Armagh were now well in control, and it told on the scoreboard.
The game was really put to bed in the next attack. Caroline O’Hanlon latched on to a Tyrone kickout and fed the on running Niamh Coleman.
The hard-working midfielder found Aoife McCoy in space and the Dromintee sharpshooter drilled the ball to the bottom corner.
McKenna and Mackin continued to torment the visiting defence with points before Armagh raised another green flag.
This time in was Kelly Mallon who beat the Tyrone netminder to put the Orchard County 17 points ahead.
Tyrone rattled over five of the final six scores, with McCoy grabbing Armagh’s, but the game was well out of their reach.
Ronan Murphy’s ladies now advance to the Ulster final. They will be out to retain their crown picked up in 2020.
They take on Donegal in the final, who held the title for five years before pulling out of the competition last year.
There’s no doubt the two best teams in the competition are meeting in the showpiece. The final promises to be an exciting affair and one to look forward to.
Armagh Scorers: Fionnuala McKenna 0-8, Aimee Mackin 0-5, Aoife McCoy 1-2, Kelly Mallon 1-0, Eve Lavery 0-2, Caroline O’Hanlon 0-1, Blaithin Mackin 0-1, Alex Clarke 0-1.
