Down 2-7 Armagh 2-5
Two goals from Mark Poland, his second coming in the second minute of injury-time, snatched the points for Down in the Athletic Grounds.
Fourteen-man Armagh looked like they had done enough against the wind in the second half when Tony Kernan netted their second goal after 56 minutes. Armagh lost Robbie Tasker to a straight red card six minutes later but still led by two points as the game entered injury-time. However Eoin McCartan's fisted point followed by Poland's 72nd-minute goal, his second of the game, gifted Down victory.
Even allowing for the wind and rain, the first quarter was error-strewn.With 22 minutes played, the score was 0-2 to 0-1 in favour of Armagh. Jamie Clarke showed a rare glimpse of quality with a fine point and then Kevin Dyas scored a goal for Armagh in the 26th minute.
It looked like they were going to take a 1-3 to 0-1 lead into the break before Down’s late brace in injury-time. Kevin McKernan pointed their only point from play in the first half and Donal O’Hare converted another free.
Within two minutes of the restart, Down were level when Poland fisted the ball into the net. A minute later, Conor Maginn fisted the ball over the bar to put Down in front. The visitors lost Ryan Mallon to a black card for a trip on McKeever after 49 minutes. Tony Kernan got Armagh's second goal in the 56th minute when his point attempt bounced in front of Shane Harrison and flew into the top corner of the net before the dramatic finale.
ARMAGH: P McEvoy; A Mallon, C Vernon, P Hughes; M Shields, C McKeever, C Rafferty (0-1); S Harold, E Rafferty; B Mallon, K Dyas (1-0), T Kernan (1-1, one free); J Clarke (0-1), S Campbell (0-1), R Tasker (0-1). Subs: S Forker for Mallon (48 mins), R Grugan for C Rafferty (57 mins), N McConville for Clarke (70 mins), A Findon for Harold (70 mins).
DOWN: S Harrison; D McCartan, B McArdle, D O'Hagan; R Boyle, A Carr, C Garvey; K McKernan (0-2), P Turley; R Mallon, M Poland (2-0), C Maginn (0-1); D O'Hare (0-2, frees), N Madine (0-1), J Johnston. Subs: R Johnston for Mallon (BC, 49 mins), D O'Hanlon for McCartan (52 mins), E McCartan (0-1) for Boyle (68 mins), B Coulter for Madine (70 mins).
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
