Ulstermen end Dublin odyssey

Armagh 1-14 Dublin 1-13

Armagh broke their Croke Park hoodoo in a drama-packed thriller to reach their first All-Ireland Football Championship final in a quarter of a century with a sensational victory over Dublin.

The Orchard county had failed to win a game at headquarters since 1977, but Joe Kernan, a star of the side which triumphed in 1977, led his side to a memorable triumph and a meeting with Kerry on September 22.

A thunderous second half transformed the game into an epic contest following a disappointing first period in which neither side showed any measure of quality.

A sell-out crowd of 79,386 was thrilled by frantic action, crunching tackles and breathtaking scores, with the sides level on no less than eight occasions.

Dublin's lively start saw them take the game confidently to the Ulster champions, and scores from Senan Connell, Ray Cosgrove and Darren Magee eased them into a three points lead.

Magee's score, superbly executed on the end of a surging run through from midfield, illustrated the failings of a sluggish Armagh side who struggled to find the pace of the game.

It wasn't until the 10th minute that they had their first score from a Paddy McKeever free.

That was the spark which ignited the Northerners' best period of the first half.

With Paul McGrane winning valuable possession in midfield and full forward Ronan Clarke drifting deep to pick up ball, they tested the Dubs' defence to the limit.

And Tommy Lyons' side needed a superb reflex save from Stephen Cluxton, who managed to get a hand to Steven McDonnell's flicked effort from an Oisin McConville '45'.

McDonnell blasted over a wonderful score, and when McConville converted an 18th minute free, the sides were level.

Cosgrove struck three Dublin frees to bring his tally to four, but again Armagh were difficult to shake off, and after Clarke narrowed the gap, two late frees from McConville levelled the scores for the third time, and the sides went in at the break locked on 0-6 each at the end of an uninspiring first half characterised by poor shooting and misplaced passes.

Armagh's tactic of seeking out McDonnell, their one genuinely dangerous attacker, paid off early in the second half when he gave his side the lead with a delightful score, but Dublin were back on terms almost immediately with an equally majestic score from Connell.

Then came two goals in the space of a minute as the game sprang to spectacular life.

First Armagh struck a major blow five minutes into the half when McKeever ran on to a Diarmuid Marsden flick to plant the ball in the net, but Dublin's response was immediate and emphatic, Ciaran Whelan driving through from midfield to fire a screamer in off the underside of the crossbar.

Alan Brogan and John McEntee swapped points, and the sides were level for the sixth time.

Now this was a contest of real quality, Dublin substitute Colin Moran easing his side ahead before midfielder Ciaran Whelan powered through from midfield for a trademark score and a margin of two.

But McGrane and John Toal were beginning to get on top at midfield following the retirement through injury of Darren Magee, and McKeever and John McEntee both swung over points to level it again at 1-10 each.

Almost inevitably, the balance swung back in Dublin's favour, Brogan and Cosgrove restoring their two points cushion, thanks chiefly to the guile of experienced target man Dessie Farrell.

McConville, with his first point from play, regained the lead for the Ulster side with just four minutes to play, and the game had slipped into added time when Cosgrove struck the post from a free.

Armagh held on in the almost unbearable tension, Dublin's dream was over in the most sensational of circumstances.