Ulster champions Armagh opened their All‑Ireland campaign at the Athletic Grounds, beating Derry 1‑18 to 1‑13 despite a strong wind. Conor Glass opened the scoring after four minutes, but Shane McGuigan’s early goal drifted wide. Armagh then piled on six unanswered points, dominating the kick‑outs and building a comfortable lead before halftime.

Tiernan Kelly delivered the match’s flashiest strike, firing a long‑range effort into the top right corner for what many called the best goal of the championship so far. Derry’s hopes rose when Jason Duffy received a black card, giving Armagh a numerical edge, yet the visitors only managed a 0‑4 to 0‑1 spell before Armagh stretched the gap to eight points.

The victory secures Armagh a place in the last‑eight round, keeping their championship run on track, while Derry drop into Round 2B and lose the safety net of the qualifier system. Coach Kieran McGeeney praised his side’s dominance in the midfield and highlighted the need to maintain intensity as the competition tightens.

Armagh’s forward line, led by Conor Turbitt’s 0‑4 tally, will look to replicate this efficiency against tougher opposition, while Derry must regroup after missed opportunities and a costly dismissal if they hope to revive their campaign. Blaine Hughes added two points, giving Armagh extra firepower, while Derry’s boss must rethink the lineup after Duffy’s dismissal.