Armagh hold of Tyrone to take Ulster title for third year in a row

Armagh captured the TG4 Ulster SFC title for the third year in a row when they held off the challenge of Tyrone in the final at Owenbeg.

Tyrone had the better start and led by two points after as many minutes. Three points on the trot from Armagh edged them in front and in the 20th minute Aoife Mc Coy netted the first goal of the game after Lauren Mc Conville drove at the Red Hand defence, offloaded to Caroline O'Hanlon who in turn set up Mc Coy who palmed calmly to the net.

Tyrone, to their credit, did not panic and with the next attack the excellent Sláine McCarroll finished a solo run from the halfway line with a low drive to the net.

Tyrone hit the next four points to regain the lead but Armagh hit back and scored the next three points including a two-pointer from Aimee Mackin. In the dying minutes of the half both sides traded points but it was Armagh who went in ahead 1-9 to 1-8.

Scores were exchanged early in the second half and then Armagh struck their second goal in the 15th minute. Blaithin Mackin, who had just been brought on, produced a wonderful high catch in the middle of the field and set up Caoimhe McNally who made no mistake from close range.

In the final quarter Armagh introduced a number of subs including Kelly Mallon who fired over three points.
 
Tyrone pushed hard and narrowed the score to a single point but ultimately time ran out and Armagh were crowned champions for the third year in a row.

Final score: Armagh 2-13 Tyrone 1-15

Scorers: Armagh: A Mackin 0-6 (1tp, 4f), A McCoy 1-2, C McNally 1-0, K Mallon 0-3 (2f), C O’Hanlon 0-1, E Druse 0-1.
Tyrone: N O’Neill 0-5 (4f), S McCarroll 1-1, A Horisk 0-4 (3f), C McCaffrey 0-3, S Gormley 0-2.
 
Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville, G Ferguson; C O'Reilly, L Marsden; C Marley, A McCoy, C McNally; A Mackin, C O'Hanlon, A Donnelly. Subs: B Mackin for Donnelly (40), K Mallon for Marley (46), C Henderson for O'Reilly (47), E Melanophy for M Ferguson (54), M Lennon for McNally (59).

Tyrone: L Kane; J Hearty, G McKenna, E Quinn; C Canavan, M Corrigan, C Campbell; M Mallon, A McHugh; S McCarroll, C McCaffrey, E McCanny; N O'Neill, S Gormley, A Horisk. Sub: K Muldoon for Canavan (58), M Maxwell for McCanny (59).

Referee: S Coyle (Donegal).