CHAMPS FALL TO ORCHARD; NICKY RACKARD CUP.

Byline: Coilin Duffy

ARMAGH delivered the result of the day when they dumped reigning Nicky Rackard Cup champions Sligo out of the 2009 competition.

There were victories also for Fingal, London and Meath on Saturday.

At Markievicz Park, Armagh bagged a hat-trick in their impressive 3-19 to 0-5 victory over the hosts.

Armagh were in superb form as goals from Declan Coulter and John Torvan ensured a 2-10 to 0-3 halftime lead.

The Orchard County failed to ease up in the second half, as they held the hosts to just two points on the restart, with Joe Bannerton, Damien Burke, John Mullins and Walter Gill trying hard for Sligo.

Fiachra Bradley helped the visitors complete their hat-trick in the second half, as they kept motoring to ensure a comfortable 23point win.

It took extra-time to separate Fingal and Monaghan at Clones, before the Dublin outfit emerged 1-18 to 2-13 winners.

EXTRA TIME Emmet McCabe topscored with 1-04, as Fingal outscored Monaghan by 1-04 to 0-01 in the second period of extra-time to ensure victory.

In a keenly contested encounter Monaghan led by 1-05 to 0-06 at half-time of normal time, with Stephen Lambe netting the hosts goal, and the sides were tied at 1-10 to 0-13 after 70 minutes.

A Ray Lee goal edged Monagahan into a 2-12 to 0-14 advantage at half-time of extra-time, but Fingal shone on the restart.

Martin Finn bagged 14 points as London claimed a 1-22 to 1-11 win over Roscommon on home-soil at Ruislip However, wind assisted Roscommon led by 1-09 to 0-11 at half-time, with a Tomas Lennon free edging the visitors in front at the break.

Brendan Hanley bagged Roscommon's first half goal, but they could only add two further points on the restart as London ran rampant.

FElsewhere Stephen Clynch top-scored with 1-9 at Pairc Tailteann, Navan as hosts Meath claimed a comfortable 1-26 to 0-10 win over neighbours Louth.

Meath led by 0-12 to 0-5 at half-time, with Diarmuid Murphy (0-09) keeping Louth in touch throughout.

CAPTION(S):

ON TARGET Declan Coulter was on scoresheet for Armagh