Armagh scrape through against Cavan

Armagh's survival instinct saw them through to the Ulster Championship final as they scraped a 0-13 to 0-11 win over Cavan at Clones.

Cavan, despite being down to 14 men for almost the entire match after Pearse McKenna was sent off in the first minute, showed some spirited play and came close to creating the major upset in this year's Championship. Armagh manager Joe Kernan outwitted old adversary Eamonn Coleman with second half substitutions that helped turn the game in Armagh's favour. In added time Brian Mallon took two crucial points, and the Orchard county's final flourish saw Diarmuid Marsden and Kevin McElvanna brought on to score.

Although Cavan were ahead by two points with 10 minutes to go, Paul Hearty denied Gerald Pierson a goal and Michael Brides sent a shot wide.

Cavan shrugged off McKenna's sending off, in under 40 seconds of play for felling Francie Bellew, but Eamonn Coleman's men battled on to stand one point shy of Armagh at half-time with a score line of 0-5 to 0-4.

Armagh had a goal disallowed in the dying moments of the half - Armagh penalised for a thrown ball to Oisin McConville who found the net with a fine half-volley.

Cavan returned to the field stoked up and by the 12th minute of the second period they led by 0-9 to 0-6, Lyng converting two frees and Pierson squeezing over a point from an extreme angle.

Armagh had levelled the game by the 67th minute, thanks to two points from McConville, but Lyng and McCabe nudged Cavan back in front from frees.

The substitutions though proved to be decisive as McGeeney, Marsden, Mallon and McElvanna ensured a forceful flourish to Armagh's finishing. Marsden and then Mallon taking vital points, while Cavan's efforts failed to find target. The final score line, Armagh 0-13, Cavan 0-11, will see the Orchard County take on either Donegal or Tyrone.

Scorers: Armagh; O McConville 0-5 (3f), S McDonnell 0-2, B Mallon 0-2, P McKeever 0-1, R Clarke 0-1, D Marsden 0-1, K McElvanna 0-1.

Cavan; M Lyng 0-4 (4f), L O'Reilly 0-3 (1f), G Pierson 0-3, D McCabe 0-1.

(SP)