Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has urged caution despite his side's record-breaking 3-33 to 0-14 demolition of Down in the Ulster semi-final at Clones. The emphatic victory, which saw the Orchard County limit their opponents to just seven scores per half, has secured their spot in the Ulster final against Monaghan on Sunday, 17 May.

"It's great to get into an Ulster final again," McGeeney told BBC Sport NI. "But in terms of the scoreline, I wouldn't read that much into it. We knew it was going to go one way or the other with Down after the Donegal game last week—either it was going to give them a bit of energy or sap them, and their performance last week probably paid its toll."

The victory builds on Armagh's high-scoring quarter-final win over Fermanagh, but McGeeney was quick to stress how quickly momentum can shift in the modern game. "The score was good today, but so was Down's last week; these things can come and go. Some days, things can run for you. Down was 5-2 up when Greg McCabe had a chance to score, and if that went in, the game could have taken a different trajectory altogether."

McGeeney pointed to the evolving nature of Gaelic football, where leads can evaporate in moments. "You've seen for the last 10 days that 12 or 14 point leads aren't what they were before. Teams can hit two-pointers now and turn things around very quickly, so you always have to stay switched on."

The second half gave Armagh a chance to blood new talent, with Aaron O'Neill and Tomas Galvin making their championship debuts. "It was good to see lads like Aaron and Tomas on. I told Aaron when he came on to pull the trigger, and he did and got a two-pointer," McGeeney said with a smile.

The manager also highlighted the importance of squad depth as Armagh manages several injuries, noting a late change involving Ross McQuillan. "We've had a few boys coming back—Barry McCambridge, Ciaran Mackin, Andrew Murnin—and they're still building match fitness. Having that depth is crucial as we push deeper into the championship."

For fans eyeing the Ulster final, Armagh's dominant display is a statement of intent—but McGeeney knows that in championship football, no lead is safe, and no victory guarantees the next one. The focus now shifts to Monaghan, where the Orchard County will aim to convert this momentum into silverware.