Armagh have claimed the Division Three title, beating Fermanagh by 1-16 to 0-17 at Croke Park.
With 9,074 looking on, full forward Andrew Murnin's goal in the 54th minute proved to be the game-breaker as Kieran McGeeney's new-look charges collected the silverware and bragging rights ahead of these two sides' championship meeting in seven weeks.
The teams were level seven times in a first half that ended with the scores deadlocked on eight points apiece, Seamus Quigley leading the way in the scoring stakes with six converted first-half frees for Rory Gallagher's men.
There was early drama when Sean Quigley - a late addition to the Fermanagh starting team - was black-carded in the second minute; Aidan Forker fisted the Orchard County ahead 60 seconds later and Andrew Murnin restored Armagh's lead with a superb strike after Quigley replied.
A Niall Grimley free had Armagh two ahead but Fermanagh were level by the twelfth minute thanks to quickfire points from Quigley (free) and Declan McCusker. Wing back Greg McCabe restored Armagh's advantage at the midway stage in the first half but another Quigley free from the hands made it 0-4 apiece on 19 minutes.
Conal Jones and Grimley traded wonderful points and there was also an exchange between Ben Crealey and Quigley before Quigley's fifth converted free had the Ernemen ahead by the odd point from 13 with six minutes left before the break. An unorthodox poked finish from corner back Paddy Burns drew them level for the sixth time and there would be no separating the Ulster rivals before the short whistle as Quigley and Murnin posted the last two scores of an evenly-contested opening period.
Substitute Ryan McShane and Murnin pushed the Orchard two clear when the action resumed and an excellent Grimley free from the hands cancelled out a wonderful Ryan Jones solo point before the tireless Burns smashed over a score that any forward would be proud of - 0-12 to 0-9 after 47 minutes.
Quigley (free) and Forker traded scores as the margin remained at three with 20 minutes remaining and the former registered for the eighth time at the three-quarters stage. However, the pendulum swung firmly in Armagh's favour in the 54th minute when a long ball into the Fermanagh goalmouth caused consternation and Murnin had the easiest of tasks in finishing the ball to an empty net after the opposing goalkeeper Patrick Cadden spilled possession under pressure from McCabe: 1-13 to 0-11.
Quigley (free) and Ryan Jones replied before wing back Niall Rowland's stunning point on the hour made it a four-point game. Conal Jones pulled one back in the 64th minute but McShane and Grimley (free) replied to leave five between the teams with just two minutes of normal time to go.
Tomás Corrigan, Conal Jones and wing back Barry Mulrone pointed as the Ernemen refused to roll over but Armagh held on to claim the silverware. These teams will both be in Division Two next year and they'll also be in opposition at Brewster Park on May 19th, when the prize will be a place in the Ulster SFC semi-finals.
Armagh - B Hughes; B Donaghy, A McKay, C Macken; P Burns (0-2), N Rowland (0-1), G McCabe (0-1); S Sheridan, C Vernon; B Crealey (0-1), A Forker (0-2), N Grimley (0-4, 3f); R Grugan, A Murnin (1-3), E Rafferty. Subs: R McShane (0-2) for C Vernon, G McParland for E Rafferty, K Dyas for N Rowland, O MacIomhair for R Grugan, R Owens for C Macken.
Fermanagh - P Cadden; C Cullen, M Jones, E McHugh; B Mulrone (0-1), J McMahon, A Breen; T Clarke, E Donnelly; C McGee, D McCusker (0-1), R Jones (0-2); Sean Quigley, C Jones (0-3), Seamus Quigley (0-9f). Subs: C Corrigan for Sean Quigley (BC), K Connor for E McHugh, R Corrigan for C McGee, D Teague for T Clarke, T Corrigan (0-1) for A Breen, E Maguire for J McMahon.
Referee - J Molloy.
TweetDivision 3 Champions!!!! pic.twitter.com/7ER0bVGeKx
- Armagh GAA (@Armagh_GAA) March 31, 2018