Armagh back on track

Down's Brendan Grant challenges Oisin McConville

Down 2-4 Armagh 1-13

Armagh, denied a hat-trick of Ulster titles when they lost to Tyrone, got back to their winning ways by beating Down at Casement Park, Belfast, on Saturday.

The Orchard county were consistently first to the breaking ball and dominated long spells of the match.

Down did produce a late revival with two goals, one of them scored by the evergreen Mickey Linden who had come on as a second half substitute.

But their young side had fallen too far behind and Armagh got home with three points to spare.

Steven McDonnell celebrates his goal

Armagh now go through to the second round of the qualifers where they will meet a beaten provincial semi-finalist.

But joint-manager Brian McAlinden was not 100 per cent satisfied.

"We are not happy with that performance," he said.

"But we have an opportunity to regroup on Tuesday night and hopefully we can iron things out.

"We conceded two soft goals but held out for the victory.

"We were pleased with the hunger and commitment which were not there against Tyrone."

Armagh scorers: Steven McDonnell 1-2, John McEntee 0-4, Barry O'Hagan 0-1, Kieran McGeeney 0-2, Oisin McConville 0-4, Paul McGrane 0-1.

Down scorers: Brenadan Coulter 1-0, Mickey Linden 1-0, Shane Mulholland 0-1, Michael Walsh 0-2, Sean Ward 0-1.

Other Saturday qualifying round results: Antrim 0-13 Leitrim 1-8; Louth 0-13 Tipperary 1-8.