Armagh 1-12 Cavan 0-9

An investigation will be held into the scenes which erupted prior to the start of yesterday's Ulster SFC quarter-final at the Athletic Grounds, which left Cavan forward Martin Dunne with a suspected broken hand.

Suspensions appear inevitable after both sets of players became embroiled in a row which erupted when the Armagh team took up a position behind the Cavan flag being carried by the St Michael’s Scout Band for the pre-match parade.

The Cavan players reacted to the Armagh team lining up behind the Breffni blue and white flag. Tempers flared with players from both sides swinging punches and wrestling players to the ground.

It took match officials two minutes to get across to the far side of the pitch to separate the players and break up the scuffle.

Martin Dunne had to be replaced prior to throw-in by Jack Brady while Armagh defender Brendan Donaghy received treatment for a cut above his eye before the game started.

Referee Marty Duffy decided to take no action, however, and the parade went ahead.

There was another flare-up as the teams made their way off at half-time with Armagh assistant manager Kieran McGeeney getting involved with Cavan forward Eugene Keating.

But it was the scenes before the game started which will concern the GAA’s CCCC in the coming days.

An Ulster Council spokesman confirmed they will be making no comment until the referee’s report is received. Duffy has up to three days to submit his report with the spokesman adding: “it will be a matter for the CCCC at national level to deal with”.

The match itself will not last nearly so long in the memory as the the row beforehand.

Cavan were poor although the loss of Martin Dunne, who had kicked eight points from play in their win over Armagh 12 months ago, was a huge blow.

Cian Mackey was also unable to start because of injury and without their best ball-carrier and best finisher, perhaps it was no surprise they struggled to punch many holes in Armagh’s well-organised defence.

They did have a couple of goal chances, Keating and David Givney going close in each half, but both sides missed a lot more than they scored.

Frustrate

Armagh set up to frustrate Cavan and the plan to break at speed was working brilliantly with half-forwards Kevin Dyas, Caolan Rafferty and Eugene McVerry superb at carrying the ball into enemy territory.

Unfortunately, the finishing on both sides was fairly shocking. Armagh hit 11 first-half wides and should have led by for more than 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time. They should have been out of sight in fact, but equally Cavan were unable to make them pay a price for their wastefulness.

Only one of the seven points scored in the first half came from open play and even that score, from Jamie Clarke, came after a free had rebounded off a post. Keating converted two frees in the opening seven minutes for Cavan, but they failed to score again until the 45th minute.

Armagh completely took over, scoring eight unanswered points between the ninth and 45th minute. It was all-out defence from both teams but there were still a few good goal chances spurned.

Stefan Campbell was brilliantly set up by McVerry and he should have found the net after 13 minutes, but he elected to kick the ball to the net inside of using his hands, and the chance was lost.

Cavan made three half-time substitutions, Mackey being one of them, and also brought Givney back to midfield from full-forward. He made an impact temporarily in a sector of the field which was being bossed by Kieran Toner and Armagh’s deep-lying but pacey half-forward line.

Givney scored two points from play with fellow midfielder Gearóid McKiernan also finding his range.

When the deficit was reduced to 0-9 to 0-6 with 20 minutes still remaining, and Cavan still in the game despite being thoroughly outplayed, there was reasonable hope that they could enjoy a dominant spell at a crucial stage of the match.

Killer goal

However Caolan Rafferty’s goal in the 52nd minute killed them off.

Jamie Clarke struggled all day but his mishit attempt at a point fell perfectly for Rafferty, who showed great strength to beat two Cavan defenders to the ball and stick it into the far corner across the goalkeeper.

Aaron Kernan’s introduction was also huge for Armagh. Despite being fully fit, he was left on the bench until the 40th minute and came on and kicked three points (two from play) and should also have bagged a goal.

Rafferty’s goal left Cavan six points adrift again and they looked like they had given up all hope of a comeback. They had two players, James McEnroe and Robert Maloney-Derhem black-carded in the last ten minutes. Armagh also had Ethan Rafferty sent-off, after he picked up a yellow card followed by a black.

Marty Duffy’s bookwork was spot on and he immediately flashed a red card after the black card in the last act of the game, but it will be the explosive start to the game which is likely to dominate Duffy’s match report.