NFL DIVISION TWO Armagh 1-15 Tipperary 2-8:A SPIRITED Tipperary revival came within an ace of producing an upset at Crossmaglen yesterday where the home side, having cruised into a 1-9 to 0-1 half-time lead, found themselves relying on a late four-point scoring burst to eventually take them to victory.

With Gareth Swift finishing to the Tipperary net on the stroke of half-time, Armagh had to all intents and purposes already taken up residence on easy street.

But Barry Grogan took full advantage of a glaring error by home goalkeeper Paul Hearty in the 45rd minute to stab the ball to the net and when he added a second in the 63rd minute the Tipperary rehabilitation was in overdrive despite the fact they had lost defender Derek Bourke to a red card in the 28th minute.

However, Armagh made their comeback through points from Tony Kernan, Kevin Dyas, McDonnell and Aaron Kernan before Tipperary lost George Hannigan to another red card.

ARMAGH: P Hearty: A Mallon (0-1), B Donaghy, P Duffy; M Ferris, P Kernan, F Moriarty; J Lavery (0-1), K Toner; M Mackin, A Kernan (0-4, all frees), G Swift (1-0); B Mallon, S McDonnell (0-6, all frees), S Forker. Subs: T Kernan for Forker (55 mins), K Dyas for P Kernan (59 mins), J Feeney for B Mallon (69 mins).

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 frees). Subs: B Fox for Cagney (27 mins), T Dalton (0-2, both frees)for Tierney (36 mins), K Mulryan for Rockett (46 mins), B Jones for Austin (68 mins).

Referee: M Higgins(Fermanagh).