Grimley relieved as Armagh’s stunning comeback secures draw

Armagh 3-08 Wexford 3-08

Rampant Wexford blitzed an inexperienced Armagh defence with three goals in the opening 21 minutes to lead 3-3 to 0-1. But Armagh rallied, with sub Gavin McParland scoring three goals and Stefan Campbell hitting the equaliser in the third minute of injury-time to draw Armagh level for the first and only time.

“I’ll go a long way before I get 35 minutes of effort like that again, that was some second half,” said a relieved Paul Grimley afterwards.

Grimley admitted his decision not to use Crossmaglen duo Jamie Clarke and Aaron Kernan was looking like a bad call when Wexford scored their early three goals.

“I stand by what I side [that the Cross players needed to rest] but I’d say there’d have been an advert in the paper on Monday looking for a new manager had we not got dug ourselves out of that situation!”

Paddy Byrne, Shane Roche and Redmond Barry (penalty) put Wexford 11 points ahead. McParland grabbed one back before half-time, but Armagh still trailed 3- 1 to 1-1.

Another great strike from McParland in the 55th minute, followed by a dubious penalty four minutes later, left Armagh trailing but they hit the last three points to salvage a draw.

Wexford collapsed in the last 20 minutes and failed to score, with sub Rory Quinlivan sent-off in the last minute for two bookings.

A sickened Wexford boss Aidan O’Brien said: “We were in such a strong position and not to come away with the two points it hurts”.

Scorers for Armagh: G McParland 3-0 (1-0 pen), S Forker 0-4 (0-3 f), A Forker, B Loughran, E Rafferty, S Campbell 0-1.

Scorers for Wexford: B Brosnan 0-5 (0-4 f), S Roche 1-1 (1f), P Byrne 1-0, R Barry 1-0 (pen), PJ Banville 0-2.

ARMAGH: P McEvoy; M Shields, J Donnelly, D McKenna; C McKeever, A Forker, B Loughran; S Harold, K Toner; C Rafferty, N McConville, E Rafferty, E McVerry, S Forker, B Mallon. Subs: J Lavery for Harold (23), G McParland for McConville (26), B Donaghy for McVerry (31), S Campbell for Toner (66).

WEXFORD: A Masterson; B Malone, G Molloy, R Tierney; L Chin, J Wadding, A Flynn; D Waters, C Doyle; M Furlong, B Brosnan, P Byrne; S Roche, R Barry, PJ Banville. Subs: R Quinlivan for Doyle (42), J Holmes for Furlong (55), D Murphy for Flynn (65), C Carty for Roche (68).

Referee: Joe Curley (Meath).