Monaghan 2-16 Armagh 2-5
Armagh crashed out of the Ulster Minor Championship at the hands of Monaghan, with 11-points the difference in the end.
Armagh fought bravely in the first half, but the home side stormed ahead after the turnaround to reach the last four.
The gap could have been larger, but for some excellent shot-stopping from Armagh netminder Liam Carroll.
It ends Armagh’s campaign, that saw them draw with Antrim and lose to Tyrone, Cavan and Monaghan.
Monaghan made the brighter start to the game, racing into a 4-0 lead. Tommy Mallen, Tom Doherty, Matthew Carolan and Max McGinnity all got on the scoresheet.
But Armagh narrowed the gap through captain Daragh McNulty, who buried the ball to the net after some sharp hand passing from the Armagh attack.
McGinnity (free) traded scores with Conall McGeough before Monaghan edged three-points ahead.
Fionn O’Tuathail pulled one back for the Orchard before McNulty’s second goal, assisted by McGeough, shot Armagh ahead for the first time.
Monaghan responded brilliantly, however. They rattled off 1-3 on the bounce to lead 1-10 to 2-2 at half time.
Second half
McNulty and Calum Hughes closed the gap at the start of the second period, but it was all Monaghan for the remainder of the half.
While Luke McKenna and Matthew Finn missed gilt edged goal chances, the pair did register points while McCrystal eventually raised a green flag.
Aaron Haughey saw his point matched by an outstanding effort from the sideline by Monaghan half back Mallen.
Monaghan cruised to victory in the final quarter and finished with a flurry, hitting the last five points of the day.
Armagh: Liam Carroll, Aodhan O’Connor, Fionnbar McKee, Daire Young, Paul Hendron, Ryan Nugent, Daniel Cullen, Aaron Haughey 0-1, Michael Hughes, Fionn O Tuathail 0-1, Daragh McNulty 2-1 (1f), Shea Carr, Cahal Donnelly, Calum Hughes 0-1 (1m), Conall McGeough 0-1. Subs: John Joe Hughes for C. Donnelly, Tiarnan McDonald for D. Cullen, Paddy Lynch for F. O Tuathail, Donal Coffey for C. Hughes, Ross Marsden for S. Carr.
