Armagh battle back to earn parity against 14-man Monaghan

Allianz Division 1 leaders Armagh came from five points down in a tense draw at home to 14-man neighbours Monaghan at the Athletic Grounds.

Monaghan were full value for their four-point half-time lead, which should have been more but for ten wides, but the sending-off of their top scorer Conor McManus meant they played more than half an hour with 14 men (and ten minutes with 13 after Dessie Ward was sin-binned).

Despite seeing Rian O'Neill crash a penalty off the crossbar, a goal by sub Conor Turbitt lit the fuse on Armagh’s challenge and they looked set for a third straight win when they moved ahead for the first time in the game just past the hour mark. Monaghan regained their composure, however, with a Jack McCarron free entering added time earning them their second draw of the Division One campaign.

The teams managed just a point each in the first 12 minutes, with an early opener by Conor McManus being cancelled out by the in-form Rian O'Neill, who would have to limp off just before the half-hour mark, only to return ten minutes into the second half.

Monaghan were creating the better chances and they eventually moved ahead with points by Ryan McAnespie and Mícheál Bannigan, although a second free by O’Neill kept Armagh in touch.

Another burst of scores by Jack McCarron, Killian Lavelle and Shane Carey increased Monaghan’s lead and although Jason Duffy ended 17 scoreless minutes for Armagh, a quick brace by McManus moved the visitors five clear. A fisted point by O’Neill’s replacement in the Armagh attack, Conor Turbitt, made it 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time.

Both sides missed goal chances in the opening minutes of the second half, with Stefan Campbell and Bannigan unable to find the net and the latter being quickly followed by