Derry break Armagh hearts with penalty shootout win

Derry win 3-1 on penalties

Derry retained their Ulster Football Championship title after beating Armagh 3-1 in a penalty shootout in a titanic battle in Clones.

It was goalkeeper Odhran Lynch who emerged as the spot kick hero, producing three brilliant saves to deny Rian O'Neill, Aidan Nugent and opposite number Ethan Rafferty.

With Ciaran Meenagh on the sideline as manager due to Rory Gallagher’s decision to step back from the role, the Oak Leaf County remained focused on the task in front of a sell-out 29,000 crowd at St Tiernach’s Park.

The ailing provincial system badly needed a game like this to keep alive its hopes of survival following three painfully one-sided deciders in Munster, Connacht and Leinster, and once again Ulster delivered with all its might in a memorable clash of Oak and Orchard.

Armagh, appearing in their first provincial final since 2008, came so close, but this was to be Derry’s day once again as they celebrated back to back wins, only the second time the county has successfully defended the Ulster title.

With Armagh committing all 15 players to the defensive effort, there seemed no way through for the holders, but a seemingly aimless high ball from Paul Cassidy in the ninth minute produced the opening.

As it dropped from the Clones skies, Brendan Rogers connected with the fist and the ball flew into the net past a ruck of defenders.

The Orchard men made the most of their raids from deep in the opening quarter, with Greg McCabe and Jarly Og Burns converting marks, along with a 55 metre free from Rian O’Neill.

Rogers was in electrifying form at midfield, skipping past a couple of defenders to land a superb score, adding another from distance as Shane McPartlan allowed him all the room he needed to get