Kieran McGeeney praises quick Armagh start in Ulster SFC triumph over Fermanagh

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney praised his side's quick start as they proved much too strong for Fermanagh in their Ulster SFC quarter-final.

Goals from Conor Turbitt and Jarly Óg Burns had the Orchard County in command inside 20 minutes, and when Stefan Campbell finished had their third major on the half-hour mark, the game was as good as over.

11 points up at the break, the sides were evenly matched in the second half as both added seven points to their respective tallies, although Armagh were very much playing within themselves at the stage.

For McGeeney, the opening 35 minutes set the foundation for the victory.

"They were hungry in the first half," he said on RTÉ's Sunday Sport.

"When you score a couple of goals it gives you a cushion and forces the other team out. I think Fermanagh are a good team, I think Kieran [Donnelly] is a great manager but we just got a wee distance between us.

"Traditionally between ourselves and Fermanagh it's always tight. Even when we were flying high so we're delighted with the result.

"To come out of Brewster Park with a decent victory is a good day for us."

That slow second half, where the teams were more evenly matched, was the only downside on a good afternoon for an Armagh panel who only lost out on the Ango-Celt Cup last year on penalties.

"If I started laughing or smiling, people would think there was something wrong; there's loads of us to work on.

"The fellas did what was asked of them, we can't ask any more but they'll be asked a few questions on Tuesday."

There are now two weeks before the Ulster SFC semi-final with Down and McGeeney is happy with how his panel is looking ahead of the clash with their neighbours.

"That's the way we like it. It's the one thing that's changed in the last