Armagh 1-6 Galway 1-8
Armagh gave up a five-point lead at the start of the second half to lose by two-points to Padraic Joyce’s Galway.
Rory Grugan’s free just after the half time break but the Orchard County five up. But they had to wait until the 69th minute to score again.
In the meantime, Galway rattled off 1-5 and left the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds with two important points.
Armagh on the other hand now face a relegation battle on the final day next weekend, against old rivals Tyrone.
Kieran McGeeney’s men were the better side in the first half, holding Galway scoreless for 25 minutes.
Stefan Campbell and Callum Cumiskey landed scores to put Armagh ahead before they raised the first green flag of the day.
Ethan Rafferty’s long ball in travelled the whole way and ended up in the back of the Galway net.
Galway finally opened their account, with Johnny Heaney and Cathal Sweeney both splitting the posts.
Two super scores from Rian O’Neill and Ciaran Mackin stretched the Armagh lead. Shane Walsh fired over a 45 to leave the score 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.
Grugan’s free was matched by Heaney while Rob Finnerty, Paul Conroy, Walsh and Tomo Culhane levelled the game.
The game had draw written all over it, but Galway had other ideas. Matthew Tierney punched home a goal near the end to give Galway the victory.
Aidan Nugent popped over a score and Armagh had plenty of chances in the second half but couldn’t build on their first half performance.
It’s a disappointing defeat for Armagh and it leaves a huge clash with Tyrone, in Omagh, next Sunday.
