Armagh 0-20 Antrim 1-8
Armagh saw off Antrim with ease in the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, winning by nine-points in the end to qualifier for the next round.
Kieran McGeeney’s men flew out of the traps, stringing together the first five scores of the game to assert their early dominance.
A Tiernan Kelly assist led to Rory Grugan’s opening score, before a brilliant outside of the point effort from Ciaran Mackin doubled Armagh’s lead.
Grugan fired in a long-range pass, which was brilliantly captured by Jason Duffy. But the goalkeeper smothered his goal-bound effort.
Conor Turbitt knocked over three in a row before Antrim opened their account through full forward Ruairi McCann.
Debutant Shane McPartlan claimed his first ever championship score before Grugan tapped over a free.
Tiernan Kelly and Jemar Hall stretched the difference to eight, but Antrim relied through Conor Stewart and Eoghan McCabe.
Stefan Campbell claimed his first of the day, which was matched by Ryan Murray (free) to bring the half to a close. Armagh ahead 0-10 to 0-4.
Second half
The second half started in similar fashion, with Ethan Rafferty (free), McPartlan and Turbitt landing early scores.
Pat Shivers exchanged scores with McPartlan, while James McAuley pointed for Antrim before the Saffrons claimed the first goal of the game.
Conor Stewart raced through the Orchard rear-guard and fired low to the corner of the net to narrow the gap to five.
The long ball into the full forward line troubled Armagh, and the Saffron’s perhaps should have come away with more than one goal.
McPartlan claimed another, while Grugan and Turbitt (two) split the posts. Ruairi McCann hit his second for Antrim, before Turbitt chipped in with another brace.
It’s Cavan up next for Kieran McGeeney’s men, in Breffni Park, and they’ll expect a much tougher test.
