Three last-gasp points gave Armagh a dramatic 0-14 apiece draw with Monaghan at Clones.

With 18,886 spectators looking on, the defending champions seemed to have weathered the black-carding of captain Conor McManus when they moved 0-14 to 0-11 ahead on 29 minutes but Armagh rescued a draw with late strikes from Jamie Clarke, Stefan Campbell and substitute Rory Grugan (free), meaning the sides must meet again tomorrow week at the same venue to determine who goes on to play Donegal in the Ulster final.

Crucially for Armagh, they will have suspended trio Andy Mallon, Brendan Donaghy and Kieran Toner back for the rematch.

There was nothing between the teams in the first half and they turned around with everything still to play for after the restart: Monaghan 0-6 Armagh 0-6.

The Orchard County struck first through Clarke but the holders replied with frees from goalkeeper Rory Beggan and Jack McCarron before Campbell made it 0-2 each after ten minutes.

Beggan drilled over another free to edge the hosts back in front two minutes later and Kieran Hughes' point was cancelled out by Mark Shields before All Star McManus thumped over a beauty to put the Farney County two in front again, 0-5 to 0-3 at the midway stage in the first half.

Beggan's third long-range free made it double scores after the Orchard County had lost Kyle Carragher to a black card (replaced by Tony Kernan) - 0-6 to 0-3 with 23 minutes played.

But Paul Grimley's side upped the ante in the closing stages of the opening period and reeled off three unanswered points to deservedly go in level at the break, 0-6 apiece, with Campbell clipping over the leveller in stoppage time.

Clarke, celebrating his 25th birthday today, edged the visitors back in front within two minutes of the restart but Monaghan roared back with points from McManus - who won and converted a free - and half-time substitute Stephen Gollogly, after good work by Darren Hughes.

Tony Kernan fluffed a decent scoring opportunity for the underdogs, as did Ciaran McKeever. Monaghan thought they should have had a penalty when Padraig Donaghy appeared to be impeded as he bore down on goal but referee Joe McQuillan ignored their pleas and their inspirational captain McManus was subsequently black-carded in the 45th minute for felling an Armagh defender as he came out with the ball.

Tony Kernan equalised a minute later with a stupendous point from the sideline but Clerkin replied with an equally-inspirational strike within a minute.

After an Armagh shot had come back off an upright, Kieran Hughes won a Monaghan free and - with McManus sudelined - Carrickmacross Emmets clubman Gollogly assumed free-taking duties and made no mistake: 0-10 to 0-8 after 50 minutes.

Kernan's free went wide of the posts but Dyas reduced the gap to one before Beggan kept his calm to slot his fourth point of the night, 0-11 to 0-9. The tension was almost unbearable as Tony Kernan converted another free to leave a point between the teams with 58 minutes played.

Stefan Forker fisted the leveller nine minutes from the end but the champions refused to panic and Kieran Hughes responded instantly with a fisted point at the other end.

Unerring Monaghan goalkeeper Beggan fired over his fifth pointed free and the hosts threw in Paul Finlay for the last six minutes. Christopher McGuinness made it 0-14 to 0-11.

Clarke and Campbell pointed to leave the minimum between the sides deep into added time and the Orchard County were awarded a free right at the death: substitute Rory Grugan stepped up and smashed the ball over the bar with the last kick of the game to earn a replay.

Armagh - P McEvoy; J Morgan, C Vernon, F Moriarty; M Shields (0-1), A Kernan, C McKeever; S Campbell (0-3), A Findon; E McVerry, K Dyas (0-1), A Forker (0-1); K Carragher, E Rafferty, J Clarke (0-3). Subs: T Kernan (0-3, 2f) for K Carragher (BC), S Harold for E Rafferty, S Forker (0-1) for A Forker, R Grugan (0-1f) for E McVerry, M Murray for F Moriarty.

Monaghan - R Beggan (0-5f); K Duffy, D Wylie, C Walshe; D Mone, V Corey, F Kelly; D Clerkin (0-1), D Hughes; R Wylie, J McCarron (0-1f), P Donaghy; D Malone, K Hughes (0-2), C McManus (0-2, 1f). Subs: C McGuinness (0-1) for C McManus (BC), S Gollogly (0-2, 1f) for J McCarron, P McKenna for P Donaghy, P Finlay for D Malone, K O'Connell for F Kelly.

Referee - J McQuillan. Tweet

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