Armagh are into their first All-Ireland senior football championship final since 2003 after coming through an epic battle with Kerry (AET) this evening.

It finished 1-18 to 1-16 at Croke Park, where the 55,548 in attendance were treated to a cracker in the first of this weekend’s semi-finals in the race for Sam Maguire.

After having built up a 0-10 to 0-6 lead by half-time, the Kingdom looked like they’d keep things to script after Paul Murphy’s goal in the 47th minute washed away a shaky restart for them.

Instead, it was Kieran McGeeney’s men that kept their foot on the throttle by sending over points via ace attacker Conor Turbitt and ‘Man of the Match’ Rian O’Neill before being gifted a goal with 15 minutes to go.

Kerry ‘keeper Shane Ryan failed to hold with O’Neill’s short point effort and Barry McCambridge was on hand to net for Armagh to make it a one-point game.

The Ulster side would get level through sub Stefan Campbell and hit the front when O’Neill sailed over in the 65th minute ahead of Dylan Geaney's coolly taken point five minutes later forcing extra time (1-14 to 1-14).

Eager to not leave their fate up to another penalty shootout, Armagh hit the front again two minutes into the added periods through Jarly Og Burns and doubled their advantage via Turbitt before the break.

Ross McQuillan broke through to extend the Orchard men’s lead to three after the second change of ends and, while the Munster champions kept the heat on with sorely needed scores from Cillian Burke and skipper Paudie Clifford, Turbitt’s late point would ensure the win for Armagh as they now look forward to a decider date with either Galway or Donegal on July 28th.

FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA TIME

ARMAGH 1-18
KERRY 1-16@Armagh_GAA @Kerry_Official #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/xQVgWvVjAH

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 13, 2024

Tweet

Most Read Stories