Home teams earn Ulster SHC wins

Monaghan's Bernard O'Brien battles with Armagh's Francis McMullen

Armagh, Donegal and Cavan clinched wins in Saturday's opening Ulster Senior Championship matches.

Donegal earned their expected comfortable win over Tyrone at Letterkenny with the home side winning 1-21 to 0-6.

Armagh also had plenty to spare at the Athletic Grounds as they defeated Monaghan 1-22 to 1-8.

The margin was a lot tighter at Enniskillen as Fermanagh edged out Cavan 0-13 to 1-9.

A strong second-half display powered Armagh to a 14-point win at the Athletic Grounds.

Armagh, minus Declan Coulter, began sluggishly as a detemined Monaghan led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 15 minutes with Stephen Lambe (0-2), Bernard O'Brien and Jim Lacey hitting early scores for the visitors.

However, Armagh then took control as several frees by Paul Breen helped Armagh move into a 0-10 to 0-5 lead by the break.

Ryan Gaffney struck Armagh's goal five minutes after the break with Barry Reilly hitting Monaghan's three-pointer.

Ciaran McKernan, Ciaran Christie and Paul McCormack were also among the Armagh scorers.

Donegal led 0-10 to 0-2 at half-time against Tyrone and the home team were never under any threat.

Eamon Campbell's Donegal side easily defeated Tyrone at Letterkenny

Ciaran Matheson hit three fine first-half scores and Donegal extended their advantage to 0-16 to 0-4 after the third quarter.

Kevin Campbell hit Donegal's goal from a penalty midway through the second half as they eased to an 18-point win.

Fermanagh withstood a late Cavan comeback to hold out for a one-point win at Enniskillen.

Jason McManus and Ryan Bogue hit early Fermanagh points but home goalkeeper Peter McEvoy had to move smartly to turn an Adrian McManus shot out for a 65.

McManus pointed the placed ball and Cavan led 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval, with McEvoy making another great save to deny Philip Brady before the break.

A series of Bogue points helped Fermanagh pull four clear by the closing stages before Sean O'Grady's goal cut the Erne advantage to the minimum.

Cavan had chances to equalise but they failed to take them as Fermanagh held on to take the win.

Fermanagh go on to meet London on 23 May while Donegal will take on Armagh in the second round next weekend.

Derry and Down then enter the competition at the quarter-final stage with Antrim earning a bye through to the decider because of their involvement in the Leinster Championship.

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