Roscommon 0-19 Armagh 1-22
Armagh qualified for the Division 3A league final with a superb five point win over Roscommon in Hyde Park.
Terence McNaughton’s side gained revenge for the recent loss to the same side just three weeks ago.
It was nip and tuck, but the Orchard pulled away in the last quarter thanks to a Shea Harvey three-pointer.
Armagh made an incredible start with five on the trot before their hosts came roaring back into contention.
Dean Gaffney, Nathan Curry, Danny Magee (2) and Fionntan Donnelly all raised early white flags.
What Armagh could do; Roscommon could do as well. The Rossie’s’ fived over six unanswered points of their own.
Donnelly brought the sides back on level terms, but the home team stretched ahead again with a brace.
Gaffney and Shaun Toal reduced the gap while Donnelly levelled the game just as Roscommon were reduced to 14.
Donnelly grabbed another as Roscommon pushed three points up at the short whistle. 0-13 to 0-10.
Three points from the dead ball got Armagh back on level terms, with Donnelly slotted over two frees and Simon Doherty splitting the posts from a penalty.
Harvey and Donnelly traded scores with the opposition as the players numbers were evened up, just as Roscommon sneaked ahead.
Points from Donnelly and Paddy McBride tied the game as Armagh really began to up the tempo.
Donnelly levelled the game before edging his side ahead, while Dean Gaffney doubled the lead.
Roscommon picked up a second red card and things went from bad to worse for the Connaught men, when Harvey rattled the net for the game’s only goal.
Toal and Donnelly match two from the home side, to put Armagh five up at the final whistle.
They will now take on rivals Tyrone in the league final next weekend, with promotion up for grabs for the winners.
Armagh Team: Simon Doherty 0-1 (1 pen), Caolan Rice, Tiarnan Nevin, Paddy Quinn, Odhran Curry, Shea Gaffney, Kieran McKernan, Fionntan Donnelly 0-11 (3f), Paddy McBride 0-1, Shaun Toal 0-2, Lorcan Oliver, Dean Gaffney 0-3 (1f), Danny Magee 0-2, Nathan Curry, Shea Harvey. Subs: Paul Gaffney for Lorcan Oliver, Tiarnan O’Neill for N. Curry
