Armagh 2-14

Cavan 1-12

Jason Duffy and Rian O'Neill impressed as Armagh led from start to finish to knock last year's finalists Cavan out of the Ulster MFC at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Paul McGrane's charges got off to a dream start when Crossmaglen starlet O'Neill majored in the third minute. A James Smith goal early in the second half revived the home side, but Armagh had the final say when midfielder Callum O'Neill struck in stoppage-time.

The visitors came flying out of the blocks to lead by 1-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with Jason Duffy's opening point being followed by the opening goal from O'Neill. Cavan replied with points from Thomas Edward Donoghue, Stephen Smith and Conor Brady to trail by 0-4 to 1-4, but an O'Neill '45' broke their momentum as the Orchard went on to lead by 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.

After Conor Smith had narrowed the gap again on the restart, Armagh went 1-9 to 0-7 clear thanks to efforts from O'Neill and Eamon McCabe.

Danny Brady's Breffni side got themselves back in it when Smith netted in the 41st minute and Armagh's lead was reduced to the minimum, 1-8 to 1-9, when Cavan captain Patrick O'Reilly followed up with a point.

But the winners remained composed. Points from Ross McQuillan, Duffy and sub Kevin McAlinden gave them some breathing space again before O'Neill put the result beyond doubt with Armagh's second goal in the third minute of injury-time.

Armagh - M Nugent; J McAlinden, B McCambridge, D Loye; C McGeary, Conor O'Neill, R Owens; Callum O'Neill (1-0), E McDonnell; R McQuillan (0-3), R O'Neill (1-5, 0-3f, 0-1'45), C McConville; J Duffy (0-4), S Loye, R McSherry. Subs: M Girvan for E McDonnell, E McCabe (0-1) for C O'Neill (BC), K McAlinden (0-1) for C McConville, S McAlinden for R McSherry (BC).

Cavan - K Fitzsimons; P O'Reilly (0-1), P Meade, M Magee; D Kennedy, L Fortune, P Rogers; C Brady (0-1), J McCabe; S Smith (0-1), T Donohoe (0-1), R O'Neill (0-2); R Curran, C Smith (0-5f), E Cooney. Subs: J Smith (1-0) for E Cooney, G Smith (0-1) for R Curran, C Rehill for J McCabe, C Madden for S Smith, O Pierson for R O'Neill, C Mussi for P O'Reilly.

Referee - C Mooney.

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