Forker cuts swathe for Armagh

Armagh 1-16 Monaghan 1-9: Five points from the brilliant Stefan Forker and a late Johnny Hanratty goal clinched a fourth Ulster…

Armagh 1-16 Monaghan 1-9:Five points from the brilliant Stefan Forker and a late Johnny Hanratty goal clinched a fourth Ulster under-21 title for Armagh at Healy Park.

Monaghan had threatened a shock with a 1-2 flurry in the opening five minutes - Shane Smyth with their goal - but the Orchard deservedly progressed to an All-Ireland semi-final tilt against Cork.

Despite skipper James Lavery going off injured, Armagh still outscored Monaghan by 1-7 to 0-2 in the last 10 minutes, their goal coming two minutes from time from Hanratty.

ARMAGH: P Rodgers; K Dyas, B Donaghy, M Ferris; C Vernon (0-2), K Toner, T McClelland; J Lavery, P Courtney (0-2); S Forker (0-5, 2 frees), J Hanratty (1-1), S Finnegan; K O'Rourke (0-2), S Clarke (0-1), G O'Neill. Subs: P Kernan for Finnegan, D McKenna (0-2) for Lavery, N McSherry for Clarke, C Conlon (0-1) for O'Rourke.

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MONAGHAN: P McBennett; C Hughes, D Hughes, D Mooney; M McNally, J Ward, C McManus (0-2); E Duffy, O Greenan; N Treanor, S Smyth (1-0), M McElroy; C Hanratty (0-5, 2 frees), B McKenna, B O'Brien. Subs: D Bishop for Treanor, R Gorman (0-1) for Mooney, J Kingham (0-1) for Hughes, M McKenna for McElroy.

Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone).