Monaghan 1-11 Armagh 1-10PAUL FINLAY'S pointed free late in stoppage time saw Monaghan snatch a late dramatic victory to send a shellshocked Armagh home with nothing to show for their efforts in this hard-hitting, rugged encounter in Clones yesterday.
Earlier Monaghan looked to be coasting to victory when they led by four points with four minutes of normal time remaining with Armagh down to 14 players. But the Orchard County fought back with a goal by Aidan O'Rourke and a point by Tony Kernan in the final two minutes to level the issue.
Armagh then had a chance to take the lead when they were awarded a free but Aaron Kernan pulled his kick wide. Monaghan punished the latter's miss when Finlay showed nerves of steel to slot over for a dramatic winner following a foul on Ciarán Hanratty.
Armagh got off to much the better start and came flying out of the traps to hit four unanswered points in the opening nine minutes, two from frees by Tony Kernan, and one each from Paul Courtney and Paul McGrane.
Following that indifferent opening period, Monaghan began to come to grips with the challenge particularly in midfield and two points from frees by Finlay in the 11th and 14th minutes helped them consolidate.
Again both sides saw chances go a-begging before Monaghan struck a decisive blow in the 22nd minute when Conor McManus finished to the net from close range to put the home side in front for the first time.
Stephen McDonnell levelled from a free in the 24th minute but Monaghan went on to lead by 1-4 to 0-6 at the break with a brace from Finlay and an excellent solo effort from Paul McGuigan.
Aaron Kernan brought Armagh level with a point from a free in the 43rd minute but by that stage Armagh were down to 14 men.
A brace from Paul Finlay in the 46th and 47th minutes, one from a free, put Monaghan two points in front and while play became a little scrappy two points still separated the sides after 58 minutes following further scores for their respective sides from Steven McDonnell and Finlay, a free.
Entering the final 10 minutes Tony Kernan reduced the deficit to the minimum for the visitors but Monaghan now stepped up the tempo and three points without reply from Finlay, a free, Damien Freeman and Paul McGuigan, between the 62nd and 66th minutes looked to have set them on their way to victory.
However, Armagh dug deep to fashion a fighting finish that saw them look at one stage as if they had at least a share of the spoils only to see it snatched from them again in the cruellest fashion.
MONAGHAN: P McBennett; D Mone, JP Mone, D McArdle; D Freeman (0-1), G McQuaid, P McGuigan (0-2); D Clerkin, E Lennon; C McManus (1-0), V Corey, P Finlay 0-8 (seven frees), R Woods, R Ronaghan, T Freeman. Subs: S Gollogly for R Ronaghan, S Smith for T Freeman, C Hanratty for R Woods.
ARMAGH: C McKinney; E McNulty, B Donaghy, F Moriarity; C McKeever, A O'Rourke (1-0), A Kernan (0-1); M Mackin, P McGrane (0-1); S Kernan, M O'Rourke, P Courtney (0-1), S McDonnell (0-3, one free), R Clarke, T Kernan 0-4 (three frees). Subs: K Toner for P Courtney, G Swift for M Mackin, B Mallon for s McDonnell.
Referee: J Bannon (Longford).
