Armagh respond to Mayo's gritty second-half fightback in pulsating draw
CLOSE QUARTERS: Armagh's Darragh McMullan and Mayo's Enda Hession. Pic: INPHO/Nick Elliott
There was no shortage of drama or excitement as Armagh staged a late comeback to salvage a draw against Mayo after an enthralling contest at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on Saturday evening.
The All-Ireland champions looked set to crash to a surprise defeat when Kevin McStay’s charges hit 1-7 in the space of a blistering 15-minute spell in the final quarter to take the lead for the first time after 60 minutes.
But Armagh came roaring back to shoot the last two points of the game from substitute Stefan Campbell and Conor Turbitt (free) to level things up with two minutes of normal time remaining.
There was still enough time for Mayo to engineer one last-gasp chance to snatch their second win of the campaign, but goalkeeper Colm Reape saw his shot drift wide of the target and the final hooter sounded moments later.
Such a grandstand finish had seemed highly unlikely when wind-assisted Armagh powered into a half-time lead of eight points (1-10 to 0-5).
Mayo had struggled to cope with the home side’s pace and power, especially in the second quarter, and a goal from Paddy Burns in the 15th minute was the score that set the tone for what followed up to the interval.
The defender’s fine finish propelled Armagh into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead and inspired them to cut loose in front of a partisan home crowd.
Kieran McGeeney’s side went on to carve the Westerners’ defence open on numerous occasions with Ross McQuillan, Rory Grugan, Jason Duffy, goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty and Conor Turbitt kicking the pick of their scores.
A free from Ryan O’Donoghue was all that Mayo could muster down at the other end during a disappointing 25-minute spell, although Conor Reid did see his goal-bound shot strike a post after one of his team’s more promising attacks.
Late white flags from Jordan Flynn and the aforementioned O’Donoghue did reduce the deficit, but Armagh seemed to be in complete control when the hooter sounded.
Mayo did make an encouraging start to the second half with quick-fire points from Paul Towey and Matthew Ruane, but this was cancelled out by the first two-pointer of the evening from Armagh’s fly-keeper, Ethan Rafferty.
The sides traded scores again — with Stephen Coen landing an outrageous two-pointer to keep Mayo in the hunt — but Armagh were still seven points clear after 48 minutes.
However, a black card for Niall Grimley was the catalyst for a shift in momentum. The Armagh midfielder had hardly left the field when a quickly-taken line ball from Ryan O’Donoghue picked out the outstanding Davitt Neary, and he raced through to score the first goal of his Mayo career.
A two-pointer followed soon after from O’Donoghue and, all of a sudden, Mayo’s comeback was gathering pace. Scores from Ruane and Neary levelled the match before impact sub’ Aidan O’Shea clipped a neat score to nudge the outsiders ahead.
When O’Donoghue doubled Mayo’s advantage on 64 minutes an upset seemed to be on the cards, but Armagh held their nerve and a late indiscretion from Fergal Boland (who didn’t hand the ball to an Armagh player after being penalised for over-carrying) presented Conor Turbitt with a close-range free that turned out to the last score of a pulsating second half.
C Turbitt (0-4, 1f, 1 s/l), R Grugan (0-4, 0-1 free), E Rafferty (0-3, 1tp), P Burns (1-0), R McQuillan (0-2), J Duffy (0-1), A Murnin (0-1), O Conaty (0-1), S Campbell (0-1).
R O’Donoghue (0-6, 1tp, 0-1 free), D Neary (1-1), M Ruane (0-3), J Flynn (0-2); P Towey (0-2), S Coen (0-2, 1tp), A O’Shea (0-1).
E Rafferty; T McCormack, B McCambridge, P Burns; C Mackin, J Duffy, R McQuillan; B Crealey, N Grimley; J Hall, R Grugan, D McMullan; C Turbitt, A Murnin, O Conaty.
J Óg Burns for Crealey (18); S Campbell for Hall (49); P McGrane for Conaty (62); C McConville for Duffy (63).
C Reape; E O’Donoghue, D McHugh, E Hession; S Coen, D McBrien, E McLaughlin; C Reid, M Ruane; D Neary, F Irwin, J Flynn; P Towey, D McHale, R O’Donoghue.
J Carney for Reid (30); A O’Shea for Irwin (40); S Morahan for McLaughlin (48); F Boland for Towey (62); J Coyne for Flynn (66).
B Tiernan (Dublin)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
