Armagh produce gallant fightback to earn draw with Mayo

Mayo will be wondering how they left victory slip, but Armagh deserve a huge amount of credit for an incredible and thrilling comeback Division 1 draw.

Mayo led by five points and were cruising, they had controlled the second half and looked like they were cantering to the two league points on offer.

But as Armagh showed in Croke Park last year against Galway, they don't know when they are beaten.

Joint-captain Rian O’Neill kicked the last three points, each one a pressure kick, to rescue a draw for the Orchard side.

The newly named Box-It Athletic Grounds was packed with an official attendance of 14,113 and Armagh led 0-08 to 0-06 in an intense but not incredibly fast paced first half.

Andrew Murnin and Rory Grugan had grabbed the bulk of scores for Armagh, while Ryan O’Donoghue’s impressive kicking kept the Orchard on a tight leash.

But Mayo seized the second half with Aidan O’Shea magnificent causing havoc around the edge of the square. O’Donoghue and substitute Cillian O’Connor landed some lovely scores and when Matthew Ruane, goalkeeper Colm Reape and James Carr posted points, Kevin McStay’s men looked to be going home happy campers.

However, Armagh don’t know when to quit. Players such as Jarly Og Burns, Aidan Forker, goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty and substitutes Ross McQuillan and Jason Duffy started to overturn possession and force Mayo on the back foot.

Murnin’s third point was a beauty and when Conor Turbitt stroked over on 70 minutes the Orchard sensed it was their time to shine.

All that momentum was almost wiped out by Mayo’s Eoghan McLaughlin when keeper Rafferty was overturned in midfield, but the substitute kicked wide from distance.

Armagh had ridden their luck and up stepped O’Neill who fired over the last three