GAA: Tyrone overpower Armagh in 3-17 to 0-08 quarter-final win
Sunday 6 August 2017 10:16, UK
After back-to-back Ulster titles for the first time since 2010, Tyrone are just one game away from their first All-Ireland final in nine years following this massive 3-17 to 0-8 victory over neighbours Armagh at Croke Park.
Tyrone, All-Ireland champions in 2003, 2005 and 2008, were back to their best as they dominated Kieran McGeeney's tired Armagh side.
Peter Harte blasted a first-half penalty while Tyrone took a 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead, and after half-time Mickey Harte's side pulled clear with substitute David Mulgrew hitting 2-1.
Last weekend's 1-17 to 0-17 win over Kildare was one of Armagh's most devastating displays this year but they struggled to gain a foothold. Jamie Clarke was marshalled well and Tyrone often played with all 15 players inside their own 65-metre line.
Colm Cavanagh scored the first point in the 55th second and a couple of efforts from Mark Bradley gave Tyrone a 0-3 to 0-0 lead. Sean Cavanagh, who was playing in his 88th championship match, slotted his opening point from a free 13 minutes in.
Tyrone were devastating, they pushed up on Blaine Hughes' kick-outs and Tiernan McCann profited next. Hughes' next goal-kick was poor and Bradley burst forward before he was fouled by James Morgan. Referee David Gough pointed to the penalty spot and Harte's goal gave them a 1-5 to 0-0 advantage.
There were just 15 minutes gone at that stage and Tyrone already looked out of touch - Niall Grimley finally got Armagh's first point from a free in the 18th minute but Declan McClure cancelled that out.
Tyrone continued to flood their defence but Mark Shields exploited a gap to double Armagh's tally in the 23rd minute. That was Armagh's first point from play and Gavin McParland scored a huge effort to help them move within six of Tyrone, six minutes before the break.
But Shields dragged Harte to the ground and got a black card in the 31st minute - Sean Cavanagh tapped over the free and his side were back in the ascendancy. Rory Grugan got his first point from a free, but the Armagh captain saw that cancelled out instantaneously by Harte.
Tyrone's last championship win over Armagh came five years ago in an Ulster quarter-final but they led comfortably, 1-8 to 0-4, at half-time.
Armagh were lacking a focal point up front with Andrew Murnin out injured and they failed to score first at the start of the second-half. Niall Morgan slotted a free for Tyrone and that was a big score.
The Armagh heads dropped and once Bradley scored another point Tyrone were on their way to the semi-finals. Clarke finally got his point however Tyrone applied the pressure again and substitute Mulgrew scored Tyrone's second goal in the 55th minute before Stephen Sheridan got a black card for a foul on Colm Cavanagh.
Cathal McCarron was sent off for a second bookable offence but Mulgrew added another goal to his tally, and a black card for Grugan compounded the misery for Armagh.
Tyrone: N Morgan (0-2, 0-2f); A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann (0-1), P Hampsey, P Harte (1-2, 1-0 pen); C Cavanagh (0-3, 0-1f), C McCann; D McClure (0-1), N Sludden, K McGeary; M Bradley (0-3), S Cavanagh (0-2, 0-2f), M Donnelly (0-1).
Subs: D Mulgew (2-1) for C McCann (44), D McCurry (0-1) for McGeary (44), R O'Neill for Bradley (50), R Brennan for McCrory (50), R Donnelly for McClure (58), J McMahon for C Cavanagh (59).
Armagh: B Hughes; J Morgan, C Vernon, P Hughes (0-1); B Donaghy, M Shields (0-1), J McElroy; S Sheridan, N Grimley (0-1, 0-1f); R Grugan (0-3, 0-2f), C O'Hanlon, A Forker; J Clarke (0-1), G McParland (0-1), S Campbell.
Subs: O O'Neill for O'Hanlon (30), A Duffy for Shields (33, black card), E Rafferty for Campbell (46), B Crealey for McParland (51).
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
