All too easy for Armagh as Cavan head back to Tailteann Cup

Armagh ran out easy winners over Cavan in a one-sided Ulster SFC quarter-final at a rain-sodden Kingspan Breffni.

The Orchard men opened an early lead and would maintain it throughout. They stretched it to nine when Ben Crealey palmed in a goal just before half-time and although Cavan managed to put together a few mini-flurries of scores, the five-point gap at the final whistle was as close as they came, which tells its own story. Armagh won this one pulling up.

The winners, who were very close to an All-Ireland semi-final last year, came in as warm favourites but the feeling, among the home fans at least, was that this one would go to the wire, with the hosts needing to make an Ulster final in order to secure a Sam Maguire place.

Adding to the sense that this one would be close was the fact that both sides will start next season in Division 2 and while the Orchard have made incremental progress, Cavan boasted their most experienced and decorated squad in decades, with up to 10 of the panel above, or closing in on, the 100-cap milestone.

The Blues were made to look very ordinary here, however. Conor Turbitt's movement and slick finishing caused Cavan huge problems and Kieran McGeeney’s side were much more efficient, too – they had no wides in the first half, when the contest was really won, while Cavan registered 15 over the 70 minutes.

Two early left-footed points from Turbitt and a 45 from sweeper-keeper Ethan Rafferty eased Armagh in front. The pattern was set; Cavan huffed and puffed but had to work much harder for their scores while Armagh repeatedly cut them open with smart movement and punished the home side with crisp finishing.

Cavan belatedly opened their account after 11 minutes when Cian Madden hooked over. Oisin