MONAGHAN...1-08 ARMAGH...0-11: Christopher O'Connor came to Armagh's rescue yesterday when he scored the equaliser two minutes from the end of normal time to send these sides to a replay.

The sides were also level at half-time, with four points apiece on the scoreboard, though Armagh thought they were a point in front and manager Gerard Houlihan debated with officials afterwards and said he hoped the matter would be investigated.

Monaghan got off to the best possible start to the second half, when Niall Duffy was on hand to toepoke the ball home after Bernard O'Brien's effort had been blocked.

Armagh responded with four points on the trot, three from top scorer O'Connor, and led again by the 15th minute.

The final quarter was a see-saw affair as the sides swapped points and the lead.

The replay takes place in Kingspan Breffni Park next Sunday as the curtain-raiser to the Cavan-Down senior replay.

MONAGHAN: P McBennett; M McHugh, C Hughes, N MacRory; M McNally, J Ward (0-1), M Lennon; D McKeown, S McAleer; A Ward, D Rooney (0-1), N Duffy (1-0); G O'Callaghan (0-1), B McKenna, B O'Brien (0-4). Subs: M Downey (0-1) for A Ward, N Treanor for B McKenna, N McAdam for M Lennon, N Morgan for N Duffy.

ARMAGH: K McGuigan; B Donaghy, P Courtney, P McKeever; M Ferris, C Vernon, K Dyas; J Lavery (0-1), G O'Neill (0-1); J McCormack (0-3), J Grimley, E Rafferty (0-1); C O'Connor (0-5), S Clancy, D McGeown. Subs: K O'Rourke for D McGeown, P Kernan for S Clancy, S Morrison for E Rafferty.

Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone).