Derry 0-15

Armagh 3-17

By Michael McMullan at Celtic Park

ARMAGH PUT A firm stamp on their All-Ireland passport, backing up their win over Westmeath with an impressive victory over league champions Derry.

It was goals from Ross McQuillan and Conor Turbitt that put Derry on the way to a 2-8 to 0-6 interval on a day they totally outplayed a home side who looked a pale shadow of what they brought to the league.

It was Emmett Bradley who opened the scoring for Derry on the way to a 0-3 lead, with scores from Conor Glass (mark) and Shane McGuigan (free).

In that time, Rian O’Neill kicked a point unchallenged with Oisin Conaty’s pace leading to a goal chance coming off the crossbar.

It was the signal of Armagh’s intent. They hunted Derry down to get level at 0-3 each after 15 minutes.

Then came the first goal. A Tiernan Kelly turnover led to Conaty’s run before he tied up blood sub Ross McQuillan who blasted to the net for a 1-3 to 0-3 advantage after 13 minutes.

Armagh soon hit their second goal. Brendan Rogers had a pass intercepted by Aaron McKay who put Armagh on the front foot with Turbitt’s goal making the score 2-3 to 0-4.

Diarmuid Baker and Paul Cassidy pointed for Derry but it was all Armagh, as they pushed eight clear by half-time, 2-8 to 0-6 with scores from Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker and Turbitt.

Glass and McGuigan hit early Derry scores on the restart before Armagh settled the game down. Niall Grimley, who bossed the game, was on target for McGeeney’s side.

Lachlan Murray and McGuigan hit points for Derry before Rian O’Neill buried a third Armagh goal in the 53rd minute, stretching their lead to 3-10 to 0-11.

It went from bad to worse for Derry who had Ciaran McFaul sent off when his yellow was backed up by a black card.

Armagh turned on the style with 12 players on the scoresheet in a victory that was every bit as convincing as the scoreline suggests.

Derry face into a round three game with Westmeath with the Orchard now up against Galway.

Scorers for Derry: S McGuigan 0-7 (4f), C Glass 0-3 (1m), L Murray, E Doherty, E Bradley, P Cassidy and D Baker 0-1 each

Scorers for Armagh: C Turbitt 1-4 (1f, 1m), R O’Neill 1-1, R McQuillan 1-0, O Conaty, T Kelly 0-2 each B McCambridge, R Grugan, A Forker, S McPartlan, A Nugent (f), B Crealey (m), N Grimley and O O’Neill 0-1 each

Derry: O Lynch; C McCluskey, C McKaigue, D Baker; D Gilmore; C Doherty, B Rogers, D Gilmore; C Glass, E Bradley; E Doherty, N Toner, P Cassidy; S McGuigan, L Murray.

Subs: C McFaul for E Bradley (42), D Cassidy for N Toner (48).

Armagh: B Hughes; B McCambridge, A McKay, P McGrane; J McElroy, Connaire Mackin, A Forker; R O’Neill, B Crealey; S Campbell, R Grugan, T Kelly; O Conaty, N Grimley, C Turbitt.

Subs: R McQuillan for McGrane (blood sub 9, reversed 62), J Duffy for S Campbell (50), O O’Neill for R O’Neill (56), G McCabe for A Forker (56), S McPartlan for B Crealey (65), A Nugent for C Turbitt (66), D McMullen for Connaire Mackin (73).

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)