Cavan ratings
Raymond Galligan
Scored one 45, but missed two other chances on a night when Cavan needed to be more clinical. His restarts weren’t up to his usual high standards either. 6
Killian Clarke
Struggled with the pace and movement of the brilliant Andrew Murnin. Was then tasked with marking Rian O’Neill, but the Crossmaglen man spent more time in defence as Armagh closed the game out. 6
Padraig Faulkner
Mickey Graham resisted the urge to move Padraig Faulkner off Conor Turbitt after the Armagh attacker hit three points from play in the first half. Faulkner was taken for two more in the second half. 6
Jason McLoughlin
Made his 100th appearance for Cavan, but failed to make it to half-time after picking up an injury. 5
Ciaran Brady
A tight man-marker, Ciaran Brady had a great battle with Stefan Campbell throughout. Campbell didn’t score himself, but had more of an impact on the game than Brady. 6.5
Oisin Kiernan
One of Cavan’s better defenders on the night. Struggled with Jemar Hall’s pace early on and his man scored a point in the first half, but Kiernan was much better in the second half. 7.5
Gerard Smith
Cavan can usually rely on Gerard Smith to pop up with a few scores in the big games, but it just didn’t happen for him on Saturday night. 5
Gearóid McKiernan
Cavan’s key man tried desperately hard to bring the fight to Armagh. Wasn’t involved enough in the first half as he switched from midfield to full-forward. More joy when stationed at centre forward and finished with 0-3. 7
James Smith
Cavan were second-best at midfield for large periods of Saturday’s contest and James Smith couldn’t exert his usual influence on the game. 5.5
Conor Brady
Had a brief spell at midfield early on and kicked a great point late on in the first half. Linked up well with Lynch and McKiernan in the second half. 7
Dara McVeety
Set the tone for a wasteful night in front of the posts for Cavan when he dropped an early shot short of the target. Caught between two stools as he tried to track Ciaran Mackin while also playing as a sweeper. 5
Jonathan McCabe
Like a number of his colleagues, Jonathan McCabe simply didn’t see enough of the ball to have a major impact on proceedings and he failed to score. 5
Cian Madden
Scored two brilliant points in the first half at a time when Cavan were on the backfoot. Less influential after the break, but a solid shift from the Gowna star. 7
Paddy Lynch
Scored 0-4, two from play and two from marks. However, he also kicked four wides and dropped another couple short on a frustrating night for the home team. 6.5
Oisin Brady
Started the game well and took his point with aplomb. Less of a threat in the second half when picked up by the excellent Aaron McKay. 6.5
Subs:
Niall Carolan: Perhaps unlucky to be dropped after the Division Three final and came in for the injured Jason McLoughlin and played well. 6.5
Tiarnan Madden: The outcome of the game might have been very different had Madden’s late effort found the back of the net. 6.5
Conor Madden: Introduced for the final 10 minutes of the game, but was unable to exert much influence. 5
Conor Moynagh: Not on long enough to be rated
Brendan Boylan: Not on long enough to be rated
Armagh ratings
Ethan Rafferty
Shipped a few late tackles when he roamed out the field. Kicked one pass over the endline which resulted in a point for Cavan, but was excellent under the high ball in tough conditions and converted a 45. 7.5
Conor O’Neill
Restricted Oisin Brady to a single point in the first half and broke clear to score an excellent point in the second. 7
Aaron McKay
Deployed as a sweeper once Forker moved to McKernan and was brilliant in the first half. Tasked with picking up Oisin Brady in the second half and kept him scoreless. 8
Aidan Forker
It didn’t take long for Cavan to move Gearóid McKernan into the full-forward line and Aidan Forker was relieved of sweeper duties to track Cavan’s talisman. Forker edged their battle in the first, but McKernan scored 0-3 in the second half. 7
Greg McCabe
Scored Armagh’s opening point of the second half as Cavan were beginning to force their way back into the game and was excellent in defence. 7.5
Ciaran Mackin
Another fine display from Ciaran Mackin. Ensured that Dara McVeety was put on the backfoot by attacking from deep and he set up Crealey for the game’s only goal. 7.5
Jarly Óg Burns
Started the game on Gearóid McKernan and fared well. When McKernan moved into the full-forward line, Burns had more chances to push forward and he was assured in possession. 7
Ben Crealey
Was in the right place to finish at the back post following good work from Grugan and Mackin. Also made a superb tackle to strip Paddy Lynch of the ball and the turnover led to Conor O’Neill’s score. 8
Shane McPartlan
Another solid effort from the Clann na Gael midfielder. Took his score well and looks to have formed a good understanding with Ben Crealey. 7
Stefan Campbell
Was fouled twice with Grugan and Turbitt converting in the first half. Dropped deeper in the second half as Armagh closed the game out. 7
Jemar Hall
Impressed in the first round win over Antrim and scored a well-taken point in the first half. However, he faded in the second half and he made way for Rian O’Neill early in the second half. 6
Jason Duffy
Operated more on the wings as Armagh sought to stretch the Cavan defence. Worked hard throughout before being replaced in the closing stages. 6.5
Rory Grugan
Not as influential as he was against Antrim, but Rory Grugan still managed to have a hand in the game’s only goal when he cut inside and linked up with Ciaran Mackin. Also scored a point from a free. 7
Andrew Murnin
Missed the Antrim game through injury, but returned to action with a classy display. Hit a fine point in the first half and fought hard for breaks when moved to midfield in the second half. 7.5
Conor Turbitt - Star Man
Conor Turbitt scored 0-8 against Antrim. He backed up that performance with 0-7 against Cavan, including four points from play. Gave Padraig Faulkner a torrid time and picked up a second successive Man-of-the-Match award. 9
Subs:
Rian O’Neill: Introduced in the early stages of the second half and picked up a booking. More than made amends when his heroic late save denied Cavan’s Tiarnan Madden. 6.5
Aiden Nugent: On for the impressive Murnin for the final 15 minutes. Was a calming presence in defence as Armagh kept a clean sheet. 6
Stephen Sheridan: Replaced the influential Crealey for the closing 10 minutes and fared well. 5.5
Calllum Cumiskey: Introduced for the final five minutes of the game, but wasn’t able to threaten Cavan’s defence. 5
Ciaran Higgins: Not on long enough to be rated.
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