Incredible effort from Armagh sees them fight back from five down to slay The Kingdom in Croke Park classic

Armagh came from five points down to earn one of the best wins in their history this evening, defeating Kerry 1-18 to 1-16 after extra-time to book their place in the All-Ireland final.

This team has suffered heartbreak after heartbreak, but today was Armagh’s day and the Orchard supporters roared their warriors over the line.

Barry McCambridge was immense at both ends, holding David Clifford to 0-1 from play and chipping in with a crucial goal himself, with full back Aaron McKay also stupendous in defence.

In attack, substitute Stefan Campbell chipped in with two outstanding points when the chips were down and Rian O’Neill carried the charge for his side. In midfield, Niall Grimley had one of the best games of his life, fighting for every ball and demanding possession of it from his teammates.

Armagh’s bench told the difference late in the second half and in extra-time, as they brought the energy and the fight to an exhausted Kerry side.

In truth, I could run through the names of every single Armagh player who took to the field today, as they gave every drop of effort and application they had for the Orchard cause.

Kerry ahead at half-time

Kerry are no strangers to the big day, and they settled the quicker of the two sides. Armagh had responses to Kerry’s first two scores, with Peter McGrane cancelling out Sean O’Shea and Conor Turbitt (free) doing likewise to Paudie Clifford.

However, Kerry were soon in their groove and scores from Tony Brosnan and Dara Moynihan pushed them ahead, before a David Clifford free from an outrageous angle and a second O’Shea score had them four points ahead.

Armagh responded with three points on the bounce – their best period of the first half – with Grimley scoring twice, and Rian O’Neill opening his account after McCambridge turned over David Clifford. It could have been even better for Armagh in this period, but Turbitt saw his shot come back out off the post.

Then, The Kingdom wrestled back control and had the better of the closing stages of the half, claiming four of the last five scores. David Clifford nailed a free and a mark in quick succession, before Diarmuid O’Connor and O’Shea (free) closed out their scoring.

A Turbitt free was Armagh’s last score of the half, but they came oh so close to hitting the net. However, Shane Ryan pulled off an excellent save to deny Andrew Murnin in a one on one.

Armagh fight back

Aidan Forker chipped in with a captain’s contribution early in the second half, scoring Armagh’s best point of the afternoon – a curler from the right wing – but Kerry quickly replied via David Clifford’s firs point from play.

Kerry’s Tom O’Sullivan should have taken the roof off the net in a one on one, but the corner back let Armagh off the hook by blazing wide. Instead, Rory Gurgan converted a free at the other end. Instead of a seven-point margin, it was three – which Forker soon reduced to two after Armagh Ben Crealey overturned the kick-out.

Crucially, that lead became five when David Clifford’s shot dropped short and was turned into the net by Paul Murphy, after O’Shea kept the ball in play.

Armagh responded well with scores from Turbitt (free) and Rian O’Neill, but O’Shea hit back from a 45.

Armagh needed a goal, and with 15 minutes to go, they got it. Rian O’Neill’s shot dropped short but was fumbled by Kerry goalkeeper Ryan and McCambridge was on hand to palm into the net.

Kerry’s Paudie Clifford showed his class with a superb score, but Campbell answered back with one of his own at the other end. That wasn’t enough for Campbell though, as he doubled down with an unbelievable score moments later to level the game with five to play.

Then Rian O’Neill gave Armagh their first lead of the game with an absolute howitzer of a point from 50 metres out, with the roar of the Orchard supporters shaking the foundations of Croke Park.

Dylan Geaney equalised in injury time, bringing the Kerry fans to their feet, and although each side had another attack, there wasn’t to be a winner in normal time.

Armagh seal the deal in extra-time

There were only two points kicked in extra-time and both of them went the way of Armagh, with Jarly Og Burns scoring one and setting up Turbitt. At the other end, an exhausted Kerry conspired to kick three wides.

Ross McQuillan had Armagh three ahead, but Kerry don’t go away quietly and they roared back with scores from Cillian Burke and Paudie Clifford.

But it was Armagh’s day and Turbitt put the icing on the cake with a late point.

Onto the All-Ireland final they go.

MATCH STATS

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane (0-1); Barry McCambridge (1-0), Tiernan Kelly, Aidan Forker (0-2); Niall Grimley (0-2), Ben Crealey; Oisin Conaty, Rian O’Neill (0-3), Joe McElroy; Rory Grugan (0-1, 1f), Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt (0-5, 3f).

Subs: Stefan Campbell (0-2) for McGrane (HT), Jason Duffy for Conaty (49), Aidan Nugent for Crealey (57), Ross McQuillan (0-1) for Forker (60), Oisin O’Neill for Murnin (62), Jarly Og Burns (0-1) for Kelly (ET), Shane McPartlan for Turbitt (ET), Turbitt for Nugent (80), Conaty for Gurgan (84).

Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy (1-0), Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian O Beaglaioch, Tahg Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor (0-1), Joe O’Connor; Tony Brosnan (0-1), Paudie Clifford (0-3), Dara Moynihan (0-1); David Clifford (0-4, 2f, 1m), Sean O’Shea (0-3, 1f), Paul Geaney.

Subs: Cillian Burke (0-1) for Moynihan (47), Killian Spillane for Geaney (47), Dylan Geaney (0-1) for Brosnan (59), Graham O’Sullivan for O Beaglaioch (64), Barry Dan O’Sullivan for J O’Connor (70), Stephen O’Brien for D O’Connor (HT, ET), Sean O’Brien for P Murphy (84).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).