Orchard men euphoric after power-packed win over Wexford

Armagh 1-21 Wexford 1-14, Croke Park

It was a case of Armagh elation and Wexford woe at Croke Park this afternoon as the Orchard men pocketed their first ever NFL Division One title on the back of a power-packed performance.

Joe Kernan's men made it an Ulster double after Monaghan's dramatic Division Two win - as Stephen McDonnell plundered ten points out of the Model defence and Paddy McKeever found the net with eleven minutes remaining.

Wexford - who claimed notable victories over Armagh, Kildare, Limerick, Down and Laois in the league proper - were well touch in the early stages, leading 0-05 to 0-04 on 22 minutes.

Skipper John Hudson signalled their intent with a point after only 15 seconds and although lynchpin attacker Matty Forde did hit three wides sandwiched between his two early scores.

Dual star Redmond Barry pushed Wexford a point in front by the 22nd-minute but a mini-collapse saw Pat Roe's side 0-06 to 0-12 in arrears by the break.

John McEntee cancelled out Barry's over before Brian Mallon (0-02), McDonnell (0-03), Paul McCormack and Ronan Clarke confirmed the Orchard's un-erring dominance with well-taken points before the interval.

Four points in seven sizzling minutes on the restart from 2002-and-2003 All star McDonnell - coupled with Mallon's fourth of the afternoon - effectively ended the contest at 0-17 to 0-08.

Wexford did keep chipping away with Forde expertedly drilling over frees and midfielder Dermot Kinsella waltzing through for a well-taken goal.

But man-of-the-match McDonnell was too good at the other end, selflessly teeing up McKeever for his goal and adding his ninth point for a 1-20 to 1-10 buffer.

The Model men ended the stronger with notable points from Forde and the tireless Hudson but with one eye on their Ulster championship opener against Fermanagh on Sunday, May 15, Armagh eased home to finally break their league duck.