Relaxed Armagh almost leave it too late

Armagh 1-6 Wexford 0-8

2002 All-Ireland champions Armagh left most of their scoring to the second half and almost came a-cropper at Crossmaglen, as plucky Wexford ran them to a one-point game, 1-6 to 0-8.

Wexford will count themselves unlucky but nine first half wides saw them guilty of poor finishing.

Points from Stephen McDonnell (free) and Ronan Carr put Joe Kernan’s men 0-2 to no score in front before Wexford captain-for-the-day Lee O’Brien, in place of the unavailable Mattie Forde, stuck over a free and a 45, allied to Adrian Morrissey’s 17th minute point for a 0-4 to 0-2 half-time lead.

Andrew McCann got the critical goal in the tenth minute of the second half from a Diarmuid Marsden through ball, and added a point to put Armagh 1-4 to 0-4 in front.

With McDonnell quietly effective in rounding off his 0-3 tally, Wexford hit back late with scores from David Fogarty and John Hudson but the levelling score proved beyond them.