All-Ireland MFC final: Derry 2-7 Armagh 0-10 The Tom Markham Cup will reside in Derry for another season, after the Oak Leaf teenagers retained the All-Ireland MFC title at O’Neills Healy Park. They had to work hard to see off a gutsy Armagh side that led by two points heading into the final quarter. Goals from skipper and man of the match James Sargent and Cody Rocks did the trick for the holders as they weathered a number of storms in the Omagh rain.
Derry reeled off three points inside the opening four minutes, to take an early lead through Ger Dillon, Eamon Young and Dylan Rocks, with Ross Marsden getting the Orchard off the mark, but Armagh moved quickly to identify the main avenues of attack and close them down effectively. It was the second successive all-Ulster decider, and a repeat of this year’s Ulster final, which the Oak Leafers won by two points. Goals from skipper and man of the match James Sargent and Cody Rocks sealed the deal for Derry as they made a home in the Sperrins for the Tom Markham Cup for another year.
The holders reeled off three points inside the opening four minutes, to take an early lead through Ger Dillon, Eamon Young and Dylan Rocks, with Ross Marsden getting the Orchard off the mark Defensive systems were addressed on both sides as the game became more dogged, space at a premium for the creative players and even more sparse for the finishers. Although playing into the wind and rain, Armagh dominated possession in the opening quarter, clos.
