Armagh earn passage

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER-FINAL/Armagh 2-14 Kildare 2-8:A SPARKLING first-half display proved pivotal as Armagh advanced to the All-Ireland minor football semi-finals after a dramatic contest at Breffni Park on Saturday.

The Ulster champions were on fire in the opening period before a freak own goal on the hour mark helped seal Kildare’s fate.

However, Armagh manager Paul McShane insisted afterwards that his side’s victory had much more to do with his team’s mental strength than any frailties on Kildare’s part. “It was a hard-earned win and our lads had to dig deep but they showed great character, stuck in there and kept putting over the scores until the finish,” said McShane.

Armagh received a huge boost in the 20th minute when Gavin McParland fired home to catapult his side into a 1-8 to 1-2 lead after Kevin Fitzpatrick’s goal in the sixth minute had put Kildare in the driving seat.

Kildare were a much improved side in the second half as they sought to eat into Armagh’s 1-10 to 1-3 lead.

Darrock Mulhall’s 52nd-minute goal succeeded in cutting the Leinster side’s deficit to just two points as Armagh laboured at midfield.

Kildare then almost sneaked into the lead two minutes later but Armagh goalkeeper Stephen O’Reilly brought off a terrific save.

There was still just two between the sides when the retreating Tomás Moolick fisted the ball into his own net to bury Kildare’s faint hopes of victory.

ARMAGH: S O’Reilly; K Downey, R Finnegan, K Nugent; D McKenna, N Rowland (0-1), J Morgan (0-1); P Carragher, J Donnelly; R Grugan (0-3, one free), A Murnin (0-1), C King (0-1); R Tasker, E McVerry (0-7, two frees), G McParland (1-0). Subs: R Rafferty for C King (58 mins), T McAlinden for J Donnelly (58 mins). (T Moolick, own goal).

KILDARE: M Donnellan; D Holton, T Barron, D McDonnell; C O’Shea, K Corrigan, E Doyle; T Moolick, J Comerford; K Fitzpatrick (1-0), P Cribbin (0-2), S Hurley (0-1); D Mulhall (1-2, two frees), P Fogarty (0-1), C Reynolds (0-2). Subs: J Byrne for D McDonnell (23 mins), W Burke for D Holton (half-time), P Cocoman for K Fitzpatrick (50 mins).

Referee: Gregory Walsh (Antrim).