McVerry hat-trick leads Armagh rout of Leitrim

Armagh 8-13 Leitrim 0-10: Armagh continued their excellent form in the qualifier series, scoring eight goals in a stunning 27-point victory over Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon,

Armagh had 25 points to spare over Wicklow in the first round of qualifiers, but led by a hat-trick from Eugene McVerry and two late goals from Jamie Clarke they blew Leitrim away.

McVerry scored two goals in the first half , with Tony Kernan and Kevin Dyas also finding the net in the opening 35 minutes as Paul Grimley's side built up a 4-8 to 0-4 lead by the break.

McVerry wasn't long in completing his hat-trick after the interval, with Kevin Shields and Clare's double completing the rout.

In Saturday night's other round two qualifiers, Wexford's footballers needed extra-time to beat Longford 2-13 to 0-16 at Pearse Park, while Kildare beat Louth 1-19 to 0-15 at Newbridge.

Cavan ran out comfortable winners over fellow Ulster side Fermanagh, winning 1-14 to 0-10 in an ill-tempered encounter at Breffni Park that saw referee Michael Duffy send off the Fermanagh duo of Séan Quigley and Shane McCabe and Cavan's Martin Reilly, while also handing out 12 yellow cards.