Armagh qualified for the Ulster Championship semi final, beating Cavan with a commanding first half display, to set up a date with Down.
That impressive first half performance led the way as the Orchard County held a seven-point advantage at the interval.
Cavan eventually dwindled the lead down to five by the time the full-time whistle sounded. But the damage had been done by that stage.
Armagh coach Ciaran McKeever believes that the standards his side set slipped after the break, letting Cavan back into the game.
“I think for large parts of the game, especially in the first half, we were quite comfortable, all over the pitch,” said McKeever. “We wouldn’t be happy with how we started the second half.
“There were some aspects of our game that probably allowed Cavan to build a little bit of momentum, and get their foothold in the game, and our standards weren’t where they should have been.
“That’s something that we will have to look at as a group and chat about over the next eight days. It was a game that we probably should have put to bed 10 or 15 minutes into the second half. Conditions weren’t great, and they probably allowed for that type of stuff to happen.”
Squad rotation
Ben Crealey’s first half goal, and his first ever Armagh three-pointer, was the main score in the game.
And up top, it was Conor Turbitt who once again caught the headlines with another Man of the Match display.
“I think boys all over the pitch played well. The boys who came in made an impact, and we’re steadily growing and building the squad.
“There has been a lot of rotation within the squad throughout the last four weeks. We believe that doing that will leave us in a better position in eight days’ time and further down the line.
“I suppose we all know in Armagh that Turbo has the capabilities that he has. He has been a really good impact player for us over the last three or four years.
“Now he has got an opportunity due to boys being out injured. And it is up to those boys to put him back out (of the team).
