Armagh 2-23 Monaghan 0-16
Armagh reached the Division 3A league final with a convincing 13-point win over Monaghan at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Karl McKeegan’s men were on a mission, hoping to avenge their second round defeat to Monaghan earlier in the year.
And they certainly did that. The Orchard County lead from start to finish to qualify for the league decider against Roscommon.
Shea Harvey (2), Fionntan Donnelly (free) and Cormac Jennings got Armagh off to a flyer, bursting into a 4-0 lead.
Fergal Rafter opened Monaghan’s account, before Harvey grabbed the first goal of the game. Donnelly (2) and Odhran Curry followed up with scores.
Rafter traded scores with Donnelly before Monaghan hit three on the points to narrow the margin to six.
Donnelly and Magee both traded scores with Rafter to bring the half to a close, with Armagh ahead 1-12 to 0-9.
Tomas Galvin got Armagh up and running within the opening minute of the second period, while Donnelly added to his growing tally.
A super score from Cormac Jennings furthered Armagh’s advantage before Monaghan hit a brace.
Three Donnelly frees and another from play fired the Orchardmen further ahead, with ten the difference in the final few minutes.
The margin was widened minutes later when centre half forward Jennings buried the ball to the back of the net.
It was fitting that Donnelly, who finished the game as top scorer with 0-16, grabbed the final score of the day.
Armagh will come up against Roscommon next weekend, with the Division 3A league title on the line.
The Rossies handed Armagh a huge 20-point defeat a number of weeks ago, so the Orchard will be eager to get that one back.
