Armagh and Donegal are up and running in the Nicky Rackard Cup after they overcame Louth and Roscommon respectively in today's first round ties.

Louth were the better team in the early stages of their meeting with Armagh in Dowdallshill, but the visitors gradually gained the upper hand to go into the break leading 0-9 to 0-6. Despite being reduced to 14 men early in the second half and being pegged back onto level terms when Aidan Wallace netted for the Wee County in the 40th minute, Armagh had opened up a 0-15 to 1-7 advantage by the end of the third quarter.

Louth were awarded a penalty seven minutes from the end, but Simon Doherty saved from Brian Corcoran and the Ulster side pulled away for a 0-20 to 1-8 victory.

In Letterkenny, Donegal caused a mild shock when they defeated Roscommon 1-15 to 0-14. In what was a close game throughout, the home side always held a slight edge, taking a 1-6 to 0-7 lead into the interval. Tweet

Most Read Stories