Armagh power past Fermanagh to make Ulster semis

Three first-half goals from a much superior Armagh side were the key scores in this pretty turgid Ulster SFC quarter-final as they prevailed against Fermanagh in Brewster Park.

Conor Turbitt, Jarly Óg Burns and Stefan Campbell found the Erne net to push their side to a pretty unassailable 3-04 to 0-02 lead at the break.

And while the home side matched the visitors in scoring terms in the second half- it was a half that had all the intensity of one of those challenge matches at the opening of a pitch back in the 1980s.

Armagh were better in all departments and their three goals came from turnovers where the Erne defence was left badly exposed.

A physically stronger Armagh side opened the scoring with a point from an acute angle after two minutes from Andrew Murnin.

And the returned Rian O'Neill doubled the lead with a glorious point a minute later.

The home side missed a great goal chance in the fourth minute when a high ball broke to Oisin Smyth who was facing an empty net.

However, Orchard County full-back Aaron McKay somehow managed to save the shot from a distance of three yards for a 45 which was not converted.

To compound the home side’s misery they lost star forward Ultan Kelm after he dragged down Andrew Murnin with the Erne goals wide open, with keeper Ross Bogue stranded on his own 45-metre line.

An increasingly rampant Armagh certainly made use of the extra man.

Firstly, Conor Turbitt slammed the ball to the net after a great run by Rory Grugan opened the Fermanagh defence in the 17th minute.

Two minutes later Armagh hit the net again when Jarly Óg Burns combined with Rory Grugan, whose shot was superbly saved by Bogue as the ball broke to Burns who had a simple tap in to put the visitors ahead by 2-02 to 0-00 after 20