Allianz NFL Division 2 – Armagh 1-15 Tipperary 2-8

Armagh defeated Tipperary by 1-15 to 2-8 in Round 6 of the Allianz National Football League Division 2 at Crossmaglen.

Armagh 1-15 2-8 Tipperary

From the BBC web site

Armagh stayed on course for promotion to Allianz NFL Division 1 as they beat Tipperary despite a second-half scare. The game looked over at half-time as Armagh led 1-9 to 0-1, helped by Gareth Swift’s goal and with Derek Burke already having been sent-off for Tipp.  However, two Barry Grogan goals helped the visitors level by the 64th minute.  However, Armagh hit late unanswered points as Tipp’s George Hannigan was also sent-off and the Orchard men will secure promotion if they beat Donegal.  The defeat means that Tipperary are relegated.

Steven McDonnell hit an early Armagh point before recalled Armagh keeper Paul Hearty and Paul Kernan reacted well to deny a goal attempt by Philip Austin but it was a largely lacklustre opening to the contest at Crossmaglen.  There were no further scores in the opening 15 minutes before Armagh finally began to turn their superiority into points.  Two further McDonnell frees increased Armagh’s lead to 0-3 to 0-0 and they hit six further unanswered points by the 31st minute with Aaron Kernan (three) and James Laverty also on target.  Barry Grogan saved Tipp the embarrassment of not registering a score in the first half as he pointed in injury-time but the game looked well and truly over as Swift hit the net before the break.  Stefan Forker increased Armagh’s lead after the break but the home side then appeared to slacken off and Grogan’s opening goal boosted Tipp morale after Hearty and Andy Mallon appeared to get in each other’s way in the Orchard defence.

Tipp cut Armagh’s lead to 1-10 to 1-6 after 55 minutes and while Andy Mallon got the home team scoring again, points from Christopher Alyward and Timmy Dalton left a kick of the ball between the sides on 63 minutes.  One of the greatest comebacks in National League history seemed truly on the cards when Grogan’s 64th-minute goal brought the sides level.  The shock of the goal finally seemed to stir Armagh from their slumber as the Kernan brothers Tony and Aaron pointed to put Armagh two up with a minute of normal time left.  Tipp were then reduced to 14 men when George Hannigan was dismissed after getting a second yellow card and McDonnell and Kevin Dyas added injury-time points to close out a nervy match for Paddy O’Rourke’s side.  With Armagh having a superior scoring average, a draw away to Donegal on 11 April will enough to secure promotion for the Orchard men.

Armagh 1-15 Tipperary 2-08

From the RTE.ie web site

Sunday, 28 March 2010 17:26

Tipperary have been relegated to Division Three, but not without putting up a courageous fight in Crossmaglen. They came from 12 points behind to draw level with six minutes to play, but a late Armagh rally secured victory and kept the Orchard promotion hopes alive. Barry Grogan led the Tipp fightback with two second half goals to stun an Armagh side that had looked on course for a runaway victory. But Paddy O’Rourke’s men steadied the ship in the closing stages to secure a less than convincing victory.

Tipperary threatened early on, and Armagh goalkeeper Paul hearty had to pull off a fine save to deny Philip Austin. But it was soon one-way traffic, with a dominant Orchard side mounting wave after wave of attack. They failed to score from play, however, until the 23rd minute, when impressive midfielder James Lavery landed a long range point. That score made it 0-4 to 0-0, Steven McDonnell having stroked over three frees. Aaron Kernan also converted a couple of frees, and thumped over an excellent point from play, and McDonnell made it 0-9 to no score, before Barry Grogan claimed Tipp’s only first half score from a stoppage time free. Kernan and Malachy Mackin combined to send Gareth Swift to finish low to the net from close range for a 1-9 to 0-1 interval lead.

Stefan Forker stretched the lead to 12, but suddenly it all started to go wrong for Armagh, as an inspired Tipp side seized control. Hugh Coghlan, George Hannigan and Kevin Mulryan helped them win primary possession around the midfield, and they swept forward. Armagh goalkeeper Hearty will have nightmares about the 45th minute goal he conceded by coming to collect the ball on the 20 metre line, and fumbling to allow Grogan to finish to the empty net. Grogan and substitute Timmy Dalton tagged on points, and it was another sub, Brian Fox, who slipped the ball to Grogan for his second goal on 59 minutes, drawing the sides level on 1-11 to 2-8. Armagh finally managed to turn the game around to finish with points from Kernan, McDonnell and substitutes Kevin Dyas and Joe Feeney to win in less than convincing fashion.

Armagh: P Hearty, A Mallon (0-1), B Donaghy, P Duffy, M Ferris, P Kernan, F Moriarity, J Lavery (0-1), K Toner, M Mackin, A Kernan (0-4, 3f), G Swift (1-0), B Mallon, S McDonnell (0-6, 6f), S Forker (0-1.
Subs: T Kernan for Forker, R Henderson for B Mallon, K Dyas (0-1) for P Kernan, J Feeney (0-1, 1f) for Mackin.

Tipperary: M O’Donnell, C Morrissey, N Curran, P Codd, C Aylward (0-1), R Costigan, D Bourke, G Hannigan, A Rockett, J Cagney, P Austin, H Coghlan, J Tierney, B Coen (0-1), B Grogan (2-4, 0-2 f).
Subs: B Fox for Bourke, T Dalton (0-2, 2f) for Tierney, B Mulvihill for Coen, K Mulryan for Rockett, B Jones for Austin.

Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh)