Football

Ulster MFC semi-final previews: Derry expected to topple Tyrone while Armagh may upset the hosts in Ballybofey

Armagh were second in Group B behind Derry, with a solitary defeat difficult to critique, particularly against an incredibly strong Oak Leaf outfit.

2024 Ulster GAA Minor Championship Playoffs Quarter Final 2.
Armagh  Minor Manager Aidan O’Rourke  during Saturday's game at the  Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
Armagh v Monaghan Minors 2024 Ulster GAA Minor Championship Playoffs Quarter Final 2. Armagh Minor Manager Aidan O’Rourke during Saturday's game at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
Ulster Minor Football Championships semi-finals
Donegal v Armagh (Ballyshannon, 12pm)
Derry v Tyrone (Owenbeg, 12pm)

A helter-skelter Ulster MFC Group A eventually saw Donegal come out on top, and this weekend their reward is a meeting with Armagh in Ballyshannon.

Coming into the final weekend, the Tír Chonaill men weren’t even assured of progression, but they held up their end of the bargain in dispatching Monaghan.

On paper, it is difficult to split the sides. Armagh were second in Group B behind Derry, a solitary difficult to critique, particularly against an incredibly strong Oak Leaf outfit.

The Orchard men put Monaghan away too, their more treacherous path featuring a 10-point home quarter-final win over The Farney.

2024 Ulster GAA Minor Championship Playoffs Quarter Final.
Tyrone's Aodhan Quinn and Cavan's Conor Doyle  during Saturday's game at Healy Park in Omagh.
PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
2024 Ulster GAA Minor Championship Playoffs Quarter Final. Tyrone's Aodhan Quinn and Cavan's Conor Doyle during Saturday's game at Healy Park in Omagh. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN

Eoin Duffy top scored on that occasion for Aidan O’Rourke’s charges, but it was the full-back line of Tomas Fox, Gavin O’Rourke, Conall Wilson that particularly impressed in restricting Dermot Malone’s full-forward line to a point from play.

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Donegal haven’t played since May 4, with Donnacha Ó'Baoil to the fore as they also overcame Monaghan by ten, one of several indicators that there will be little to split the sides.

In Owenbeg, Tyrone face the challenge of reigning All-Ireland champions Derry on their home patch, and a side who have shown little sign of relenting.

Their ultimate group fixture against Armagh was billed as a top-of-the-table decider. What transpired was Derry 2-18 0-07 Armagh, even without Padraig O’Kane and Turlough McHugh.

James Sargent, now skipper, has picked up where he left off in 2023, while Jack McCloy is also still underage in goal. Twins Dylan and Codi Rocks have been incredibly impactful, with Dylan kicking two of those points against Armagh.

All in all, it’s quite the task for Tyrone. They will need a big performance from Shea McDermott, who inspired an early blitz of Cavan. An 0-08 0-01 lead proved unrelinquishable even as The Breffni men huffed and puffed.

The Red Hand succeeded in keeping Cavan Gaels’ Joshua Sheehu relatively quiet, but Damian McErlain’s men have threats from everywhere and should prevail by six or seven.