Armagh have stormed into their fourth consecutive Ulster Senior Football final after a record-breaking demolition of Down at St Tiernach's Park. The final score—3-33 to 0-14—was nothing short of astonishing, leaving the Mournemen facing a summer in the Tailteann Cup.
In a performance that will be talked about for years, Armagh racked up 42 points, smashing the record for the highest single-team score in an Ulster SFC match. Remarkably, they had set that same record just a week earlier in their quarter-final win over Fermanagh. Kieran McGeeney's side showed no signs of slowing down, racing to a 2-12 to 0-7 halftime lead thanks to goals from Tomas McCormack and Conor Turbitt.
Down, who had battled so valiantly to overcome Donegal in the previous round, simply had no answer. Armagh's power and precision were relentless in front of a crowd of 27,423 at Clones. Turbitt added a stunning third goal in the second half, putting the game well beyond reach and sealing a victory that felt more like a statement than a win.
For Down, the disappointment was compounded by Westmeath's extra-time victory over Kildare in the Leinster semi-finals, which denied them a place in the All-Ireland series. The Mournemen now face the reality of Tailteann Cup football, a stark contrast to the high hopes they carried into this championship.
Armagh, whose last Ulster title came back in 2008, will now face Monaghan in the final on 17 May. It's a historic matchup—the first time these two sides have met in an Ulster decider since 1938. Monaghan earned their spot after a heart-stopping extra-time win over Derry on Saturday, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
From the opening whistle, it was clear Armagh were in no mood to let up. Down's early energy, sparked by Daniel Guinness and Odhran Murdock, gave fans a glimmer of hope. Murdock won the throw-in, Guinness split the posts, and the Mourne men looked ready to replicate their heroics from the Donegal game. But Armagh's depth and scoring power proved too much, with live-wire forward Oisin Conaty causing chaos in the Down defense all afternoon.
This is a team that has now scored 5-65 in this year's Ulster Championship alone—a staggering tally that underscores their dominance. For Armagh fans, the wait for a title may finally be coming to an end. For Down, it's back to the drawing board, but the lessons from this defeat will be hard to forget.