Armagh 0-9 1-5 Fermanagh

By Sinead McNicholl

Joe Kernan (right) and John Rafferty were at Davitt Park

Armagh had to withstand a second-half Fermanagh comeback before winning Sunday's Gaelic Life McKenna Cup clash.

After playing with a wind advantage, Armagh led 0-8 to 0-2 at the break with Steven McDonnell and Peadar Toal both notching three points at Lurgan.

However, Eamon Maguire's 53rd-minute goal got Fermanagh back into the game.

Fermanagh continued to fight back and Peter Sherry missed a late equalising chance. Armagh's Paddy McKeever got a straight red card late in the game.

Armagh had control of the game in the first-half with both Peadar Toal and Steven McDonnell registering three scores each and Martin O'Rourke chipping in with two from play.

Fermanagh's Mark Little and Shane O'Brien were the only Erne men to get onto the scoresheet in the first period.

The second half saw regulars Barry Owens and Eamon Maguire introduced for the Ernemen as well as a refereeing change with injured Monaghan whistler Gerry McCarron having to be replaced by Down official Seamus O'Hanlon.

Steven McDonnell pointed within a minute of the start of the second half to give Armagh a seven-point advantage but this was to be the Orchard men's final score of the game.

Fermanagh had two great goal chances however couldn't convert them with Marty McGrath's shot brilliantly blocked by Armagh new recruit Kieran Toner and Damian Kelly's chance saved by Alan Hearty.

However the Fermanagh revival came in the 52nd minute when Eamon Maguire finished beautifully past Hearty.

McElroy then pointed for the visitors followed by a point blasted over the bar from Mark Murphy which could have easily ended up in the back of the net.

One minute into injury-time McElroy got his second of the game to leave just one between the side with just three minutes of added time remaining.

Armagh had an anxious ending to the game when Paddy McKeever,who had only been on the field for 20 minutes was red-carded, for an alleged kick on a Fermanagh player.

From the resulting free-kick, Peter Sherry had a glorious chance to equalise but he kicked wide from 21 yards.

Armagh's win leaves them on maximum points in the section and they will be involved in a group decider against Monaghan next weekend.

Fermanagh remain without a point and their final clash with St Mary's will be a dead-rubber.

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Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup fixtures

Saturday :

Section B:
Cavan 1-13 1-11 Queens

Sunday

Section A
Armagh 0-9 1-5 Fermanagh
Monaghan 2-16 0-11 St Mary's

Section B
Tyrone 1-15 0-9 Derry

Section C
UUJ 1-19 1-6 Down
Antrim 0-8 0-9 Donegal