Armagh pip Tyrone to confirm Donegal's semi-final place in the Dr McKenna Cup

Donegal have qualified for the semi-finals of the Dr McKenna Cup having topped Section A.

Armagh’s 1-14 to 2-10 win over Tyrone at the Athletic Grounds wasn’t enough for the side managed by Kieran McGeeney to pass Donegal, but it did secure the best runners-up spot from the three groups and therefore progression to the last four. 

Donegal and Armagh, who saw their 16-point defeat scrubbed from their young team’s loss at MacCumhaill Park, joined Derry and Monaghan in the last four, with the semi-final pairings to be confirmed.

Donegal’s 3-16 to 1-6 win over Armagh last Wednesday was erased from the equation, having been found guilty of fielding an illegal player. Finbarr Roarty, who only turned 18 last Thursday - the day after the game - was underage having not turned 18 in 2023.

Manager Jim McGuinness was handed a proposed eight-week ban on Monday, 24 hours after his side won 0-15 to 1-10 at Healy Park against Tyrone. 

That meant going into tonight’s last set of fixtures, Tyrone knew that victory at the Athletic Grounds would only be enough for second place in the group no matter what, as they had lost the head-to-head with Donegal, with Armagh doing just enough to squeeze through.

Section B was won by Derry, who were already through to the semi-final with two wins. Down defeated Cavan 2-15 to 1-15 in Newry, although it wasn’t enough to pip Armagh into the best second place. However, the Moure County finished up with a score difference of zero, just one point off Armagh’s +1.

In Enniskillen, Monaghan secured a 2-9 to 0-12 win over Fermanagh to top Section C, which also included Antrim.