Armagh edge out Tyrone after extra-time thriller

Armagh came through an epic Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie at the Athletic Grounds to pip Tyrone 1-17 to 1-16.

Kieran McGeeney's side thought they had done enough in normal time when leading by three with less than two minutes remaining, but a Ben McDonnell goal forced the additional period.

The Orchard men found a way to get over the line as, although they made a flying start in extra time, Tyrone again fought back before Conor Turbitt fisted over what proved to be the winner and settle another memorable battle between these rivals.

Armagh will now face Fermanagh in a quarter-final at Brewster Park on Saturday, 25 April.

It was a game which was befitting of this rivalry as despite coming in as underdogs, Tyrone found a performance and almost a win, but perhaps it was the strength of Armagh's bench which ultimately decided the matter with Turbitt and the excellent Oisin O'Neill contributing eight points between them and their scores coming at key times.

The opening half was a slow burner with both sides off target with early opportunities but perhaps a strong, swirling wind was not helping.

It was Armagh who were making greater headway as late replacement Callum O'Neill kicked three points from three shots including one from play to help his side open a 0-6 to 0-1 lead midway through the opening half.

It took Tyrone 11 minutes to get on the board through the excellent Conn Kilpatrick, but Armagh's running game was causing problems with Cian McConville and Ross McQuillan finding scores.

The Red Hands still managed to hang in despite losing Darragh Canavan to a knee injury.

After an exchange of points, Canavan's replacement Mattie Donnelly slung over a fine score with his first touch and Ciaran Daly added another.

The Red Hands were dealt a second blow with team captain Brian Kennedy also forced off but Armagh's momentum was stalling a little as a Darragh McMullen score was their first in 12 minutes but helped them into a 0-8 to 0-4 advantage.

Tyrone were growing in confidence and that continued after the break as Donnelly pointed before Jordan finally found his range, kicking a free and then adding another from play.

Armagh substitute Conor Turbitt ended a barren 15-minute spell either side of the break for his side, but it was Tyrone who were now on top and their supporters sensed it as points from Conn Kilpatrick and Peter Teague levelled before they hit the front for the first time through Michael McKernan with 14 to go.

Just as Armagh were wobbling, another of the subs Oisin O'Neill turned it around, landing a superb two-pointer from a free out on the sideline and then added another two points - one from a free and another from play - which seemed to be the winning of it.

However, there still time for drama as Armagh's Darragh McMullen was shown a second yellow card with three minutes to go and with 90 seconds to play, Tyrone grabbed the goal to force extra time as Niall Devlin popped to Ben McDonnell to crack low to the net, levelling it at 0-13 to 1-10.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Armagh flew out of the traps in extra time as after Ross McQuillan pointed, Tomas McCormack - one of four changes before the action resumed - played a one-two with Oisin O'Neill to palm home.

Tyrone again rallied with two-pointers by McKernan and Kilpatrick levelling it and hit the front through Donnelly, but two Oisin O'Neill frees tipped the balance in Armagh's favour at the change of ends.

Both teams were tiring and while Eoin McElholm tied it up early in the second period, Turbitt fisted over with three to play as McElholm flashed a shot wide soon after and, with a late opportunity to force penalties, Niall Morgan kicked wide from a 45 as Tyrone's efforts came to nothing.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes (0-1, 1x45); Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Gareth Murphy; Ross McQuillan (0-2), Tiernan Kelly, Jarlath Og Burns; Callum O'Neill (0-3, 2f), Ben Crealey; Greg McCabe, Darragh McMullen (0-1), Tomas McCormack (1-1); Cian McConville (0-1), Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Conor Turbitt (0-2) for T McCormack (43), Oisin O'Neill (0-6, 1x2pf, 2f)for C McConville (50), Joe McElroy for R McQuillan (56), Rory Grugan for C O'Neill (65).

Extra-time subs:Paddy Burns for B Crealey, Tomas McCormack for J Duffy, Cian McConville for R Grugan, Ross McQuillan for J McElroy, J McElroy for O Conaty (HT), Jason Duffy for G McCabe (17)

Temporary sub: Rory Grugan for J Og Burns (62-64),

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague (0-1), Niall Devlin; Ciaran Daly (0-1), Joey Clarke, Michael McKernan (0-3, 1x2p); Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick (0-4, 1x2p); Seanie O'Donnell (0-1), Ronan Cassidy, Ben McDonnell (1-0); Darren McCurry, Ethan Jordan (0-2, 1f), Darragh Canavan.

Subs: Mattie Donnelly (0-3) for D Canavan (19), Kieran McGeary for B Kennedy (27), Eoin McElholm (0-1) for D McCurry (49), Lorcan McGarrity for E Jordan (57), Ciaran Bogue for R Cassidy (65).

Extra-time subs: Aodhan Donaghy for C Daly (3), Ben Cullen for K McGeary (8), Aidan Clarke for C Quinn (15)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)