JOHNNY HANRATTY outfoxed his namesake Ciaran with the late goal that gave Armagh victory in a thrilling Ulster Under-21 football final at Omagh. The Monaghan man had tormented his opponents with five quality points, but it was Crossmaglen's All Ireland winner who had the last say with a 58th-minute strike that finally killed off the Farney challenge.

Monaghan blitzed their opponents in a devastating opening five minutes, going five points clear. Ciaran Hanratty was a central figure, converting two frees and sending Shane Smyth clear to slide a low finish past Armagh goalkeeper Padraig Rodgers in the fifth minute. At 1-2 to no score, Seamus McEnaney's side looked capable of establishing total control, but they added just two further points in the remainder of the half as the Orchard men gradually worked their way into the game.

Stefan Forker, Kevin O'Rourke and midfielder Paul Courtney, with two, clipped back the deficit, and Monaghan's early confidence was fading fast as they were repeatedly put on the back foot. Armagh could have had a couple of goals. First Johnny Hanratty turned over possession in a dangerous area and slipped the ball to the speedy O'Rourke, but Padraig McBennett pulled off a spectacular save.

And when Hanratty himself got in with the goal in sight, his effort was blocked by corner back Ciaran Hughes.

Forker's second score, a converted free, four minutes before the break, narrowed the gap to two points, Monaghan ahead by 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Forker continued to look lively in the Armagh attack, hitting an excellent score and setting up a point for Sean Clarke when his long-range free came back off a post. But Monaghan kept their noses in front with scores from Hanratty and substitute Rodney Gorman.

Armagh, however, were the dominant attacking force, and it was only some poor shooting that prevented them from going level earlier than the 47th minute, when Forker converted a difficult free from 35 metres.

And the same player had the men in orange in front for the first time moments later with a delightful effort from the sideline. David McKenna and Charlie Vernon gave Armagh a two-point advantage as Monaghan's challenge started to crumble. They were still just a point behind, however, as the game slipped into its final three minutes. But a devastating burst saw Armagh hit 1-4 in the closing stages to clinch the title.

Neil McSherry and Vernon combined to send Johnny Hanratty through for a killer goal, and they finished the job off in style with late scores from David McKenna, Ciaran Conlon and goalscorer Hanratty.

ARMAGH P Rodgers; K Dyas, B Donaghy, M Ferris; C Vernon (0-2), K Toner, T McClelland; J Lavery, P Courtney (0-2); S Forker (0-5, 2f), J Hanratty (1-1), S Finnegan; K O'Rourke (0-2), S Clarke (0-1), G O'Neill Subs P Kernan for Finnegan, ht; D McKenna (0-2) for Lavery, 42 mins; N McSherry for Clarke, 49 mins; C Conlon (0-1) for O'Rourke, 59 mins MONAGHAN P McBennett; C Hughes, D Hughes, D Mooney; M McNally, J Ward, C McManus (0-2); E Duffy, O Greenan; N Treanor, S Smyth (1-0), M McElroy; C Hanratty (0-5, 2 frees), B McKenna, B O'Brien Subs D Bishop for Treanor, ht; R Gorman (0-1) for Mooney, ht; J Kingham (0-1) for Hughes, 50 mins; M McKenna for McElroy, 57 mins Referee M Sludden (Tyrone)