Armagh are through to the All-Ireland final for the fifth time in their history after edging out Kerry by two points in a wildly engrossing semi-final in Croke Park.
It was the third year running that an Armagh knockout game in HQ had gone to extra-time, except this one ended not in penalty heartbreak but with scenes of delirium at the final whistle.
Extra-time scores from Jarly Óg Burns, Conor Turbitt, Ross McQuillan and then a point gleefully fisted over Conor Turbitt on the 90th minute gave them a two-point lead in the dying moments.
But there was even greater heroics at the other end, as centre-forward Rian O’Neill dramatically fielded a ball under his own crossbar, with goalkeeper Blaine Hughes somehow emerging from the ensuing schemozzle with the ball to ensure victory.
It was a game that appeared to be out of their reach for much of normal time, until Barry McCambridge’s opportunistically taken goal, the wing-back palming home after Shane Ryan spilled a skied Rian O’Neill point attempt.
O’Neill subsequently put Kieran McGeeney’s side ahead for the first time on the 65th minute after a glorious point from just outside the 45.
Armagh sought to see it out from there but Kerry methodically worked an equaliser, Dylan Geaney curling over a score on the stroke of full-time, with neither side able to find the winner in the additional period.
And so it was extra-time, no doubt sparking more painful memories for the sizeable Armagh contingent. But there was more angst, as Turbitt’s late fisted point and O’Neill’s stunning fielding in the square delivered a most cathartic of wins.
More to follow…
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-final, Donegal v Galway, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player this Sunday from 3.15pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
