Armagh champions Middletown caused a major shock by defeating Effin 3-14 to 2-10 at Birr.

Two goals in the space of a minute turned this game on its head as Martin Moran and Barney McCann goaled for the Ulster champions just after the break.

Middletown made a dream start as they lead by 1-5 to 0-1 after just eleven minutes with full forward Cathal McCarville scoring the goal.

Tommy Quaid kept Effin in touch with five free from placed balls, but the fact that they had to wait until the 30th minute for their first point from play by David Moloney was a worrying factor for them.

The two goals at the start of the second half left Effin with a mountain to climb, but the switch of county goalkeeper from centre back to full forward yielded two goals, but Middletown were home and dry at this stage.

Middletown: P Moran; B Mallon, P Hughes, F Woods; J McKeenan, N Currie (0-1), P Gaffney; B McCann (1-2 1f), P McBride; M McGuire (0-1), C McCann, D Carville (0-5); R Gaffney (0-4), C Carville (1-0), M Moran (1-1). Subs: P McArdle for Woods (40), S Carville for D Carville (48).

Effin: J O'Leary; John P O'Donnell, J Dillon, A Dillon; M O'Donnell, N Quaid (2-0), M Rea; James O'Donnell, P Carroll; C Kearney, D Moloney (0-1), P O'Kelly; H O'Neill (0-1), T Quaid (0-7 7f), T Rea. Subs: D Sheehy (0-1) for O'Kelly (29), JM Manning for Rea (36).

Ref: S Cleere (Kilkenny). Tweet

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