Armagh meant business from the throw in and won most of the puck outs in the first 15 minutes. Paul McCormack was off target with his first attempt but when he received a subsequent pass from Paul Breen he made no mistake and opened Armagh’s account with a well taken point. Breen’s long high ball somehow found the back of the Sligo net a few seconds latter.

A converted free from Colin Herrity opened Sligo’s account and still the game was only three minutes old. His next effort a 65 dropped short and another Mc Cormack,Breen combination resulted in a point this time it was Breen that raised the white flag. At six minutes however his side line puck was off target. Another point for the orchard County was followed by a 65 which spelt danger for the Yeat’s men but the threat was dealt with by Mark Kearney.

John Corvan and Paul Breen(f) added to Armagh’s tally when at 13 minutes Corvan beat the Sligo defence to score Armagh’s second goal. A 21 m free taken by Colin Herrity resulted in Sligo’s first goal in a trade mark strike. Damian Burke and Colin Herrity recorded two more points for the Yeat’s men Herrity’s effort a long distance,65m free. Two 30m Paul Breen frees were converted and at 23 minutes Paul McCormack raised the green flag having received a Ryan Gaffney pass. Points from Paul Gaffney and Kieran McKernan brought the action to 26 minutes. A Paul Breen side line puck supplied McKernan for his point.

Conor O’Mahoney and Colin Herrity converted short frees to bring the action to the half hour mark but Paul McCormack, Kieran McKernan and Ger Enright finished out the half with three Armagh scores from play to leave the tally at half time at 3-11 to 1-06 in favour of the Orchard County. Sligo had the benefit of a moderate breeze in the second half and the resumption saw the introduction of Keith Raymond who has been battling with injury all year.

Colin Herrity opened their account with a short converted free which was quickly cancelled out by a nice Ryan Gaffney point from play. Paul Breen received yet another pass from Paul McCormack but his shot rebounded off the cross bar, John Corvan made no mistake with the rebound however and yet another goal was conceded by the Yeat’s men. Liam Reidy responded with a point and his pass to Colin Herrity resulted in another Sligo point. Armagh’s Francie McMullan and Sligo’s Ronan Cox traded points Cox with a great effort. Two Sligo 65’s came to nothing but Conor O’Mahoney did manage a point from play at 11 minutes into the half.Damian Burke was next to score from play and Colin Herrity’s Free was easily converted John Corvan got one back from play before Herrity converted yet again from one free at 19 minutes and another a minute later.

There was no getting away from Armagh’s dominance in this game however and a kick from Paul McCormack was all that was needed to raise the green flag yet again for the Orchard County. Colin Herrity quickly responded with a point from play. An Alan Cawley point was followed by an impressive Kieran McKernan score from play and at 27 minutes Paul Breen converted a 65 for Armagh. Patrick Quinn and Ryan Gaffney traded points at the half hour mark and Sligo’s Alan Cawley was to score a nice point from play.followed by a Tomás Cawley point, he having been just introduced to the action.

SLIGO:.Mark Kearney, Derek O’Brien,Jamie Kenny, John Kelly, Walter Gill, Mark Burke, Ronan Cox, Liam Reidy, Alan Cawley,Mark Gordon, Robert Molloy, Colin Herrity, Larry Cadden, Damien Burke,Conor O’Mahoney. Subs used; Nial Cadden for Conor O’Mahoney (25mins), Keith Raymond for Larry Cadden(35mins), Nial McDermott for John Kelly, Patrick Qunn for Liam Reidy (62 mins), Tomás Cawley for Mark Gordon(70mins)