Minors beaten by late point

ARMAGH Minors lost by the narrowest of margins against Cavan in the Ulster Championship curtain raiser played at Breffni Park last Sunday.

The Breffni lads moved through to the first round proper following an injury time winning point from their substitute Brian O’Connell.

But Armagh manager Paul Doyle was stressing after the game that one of his defenders had been pushed in the lead up to the score. Paul said, “We believe we lost because we had a decision which went against us right at the end of the game. The boys fought hard throughout the game and we deserved to get something out of it.”

Three local lads namely St. Peter’s Drew McKenna, James McDade from Clann Eireann and his club colleague Shay Heffron were all involved in the action. Drew was introduced in the second half, James lined out at left corner forward and Shay played at centre full back.

The St. Michael’s captain said, ”We would love to have taken the game to a replay and brought Cavan back to the Athletic Grounds. It probably would have taken another game to gel the boys together considering the St. Michael’s and St. Paul’s Bressbrook lads were just beginning to find their feet after being involved in campaigns with their schools.”

Armagh appeared to be the better team in the early exchanges and were 1-02 to 0-03 ahead following a well taken goal from Joseph McElroy which was assisted by Clann Eireann’s James McDade. Armagh led 1-05 to 0-07 at the break with the help of points from Conor Martin and Cathal McKenna.

Inside the last ten minutes Eoin Burns secured a late point which looked like giving the visitors another day out but deep into injury time Cavan sub Brian O’Connell struck to put his side into the next round. The referee for this particular game Ian Malloy from Donegal is one of the youngest in the game at the age of 25.