Colm O'Callaghan, Cork, and Armagh's Jason Duffy and Paddy Burns in Allianz Football League action. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division Two
Cork 2-16 Armagh 2-16
By Stephen Barry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
A dramatic Armagh comeback rescued a draw from their trip to Cork with stoppage-time points from Aidan Nugent and Oisín Conaty.
The Rebels had trailed until second-half goals from Chris Óg Jones and Luke Fahy – the first green flags Armagh had conceded all year – turned the tide but Rory Grugan’s 69th-minute strike brought Armagh back within one.
Conor Corbett added a point but it wasn’t enough. Cork still had the final shot from Steven Sherlock, but his left-footed effort faded inches wide.
It meant already-qualified Armagh advanced to the final behind Donegal in second, while Cork finished fourth to copper-fasten their place in the top 16 for Sam Maguire football.
There were changes on either side before the throw-in as Rían O’Neill, Tiernan Kelly, and Jason Duffy replaced Stefan Campbell, Andrew Murnin, and Aidan Forker for Armagh. On the home front, goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin and Maurice Shanley took over from Christopher Kelly and Kevin Flahive.
In cold conditions, this open and entertaining game equalled the scoring of the Hurling League semi-final that preceded it as Cork had 10 different players registering.
They had a strong wind at their backs in the first half and Colm O’Callaghan made the most of it. He supplied Paul Walsh for a first-minute mark to open their account before slotting two of his own, including a lovely curling kick.
Shanley added another, but Conor Turbitt was in fine form at the other end. He reeled off three fine points, two from play and one free he won himself.
Armagh’s movement began to trouble the hosts. Conaty cut through the Cork defence in the 17th minute, but blazed over the bar. They returned two minutes later for the lead goal.
Grugan’s gorgeous pass split the rearguard and while Connaire Mackin’s shot was well saved by Martin, corner-back Peter McGrane pounced to palm home. 1-5 to 0-5 now.
It was tit-for-tat from there to the break. In the 35th minute, Cork almost struck on the counter after Greg McCabe was harshly denied a free. Ian Maguire sent Jones streaking into space as Blaine Hughes back-peddled. His delayed shot lobbed the keeper but also the crossbar.
A Ben Crealey point on the whistle made it 1-9 to 0-9. Armagh’s efficiency was the key difference as they didn’t miss the target with any shot all half.
The sides were back level in the 43rd minute with a rasper to the roof of the net off the outside of Jones’ boot after Brian Hurley turned over possession.
It was a bad time for Armagh’s shooting, perfect until the 45th minute, to begin to misfire and when Hurley added a point, the hosts were ahead; 1-12 to 1-11.
Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney was yellow-carded for his protests after a foul on substitute Stefan Campbell, but Turbitt’s free brought them level again.
On the hour, Cork jumped ahead off another attacking turnover, this time by Jones. Conor Corbett again played the linkman and Fahy slid the ball under Hughes.
A late handling error by Martin under Nugent’s dipping shot allowed Grugan to find the net and Armagh would maintain their unbeaten record at the death.
Scorers for Cork: Chris Óg Jones 1-3, Brian Hurley 0-4 (3fs), Luke Fahy 1-0, Colm O’Callaghan 0-3, Maurice Shanley, Matty Taylor, Ian Maguire, Paul Walsh (m), Brian O’Driscoll, Conor Corbett 0-1 each.
Scorers for Armagh: Rory Grugan 1-3 (3fs), Conor Turbitt 0-5 (2fs), Oisín Conaty 0-4, Peter McGrane 1-0, Ben Crealey 0-2 (1m), Jarly Óg Burns, Aidan Nugent 0-1 each.
Cork: Micheál Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Luke Fahy, Seán Meehan, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Seán Powter, Brian O’Driscoll; Chris Óg Jones, Conor Corbett, Brian Hurley.
Subs: Killian O’Hanlon for P Walsh (49), Steven Sherlock for Hurley (56), Eoghan McSweeney for O’Hanlon (64, inj), Mark Cronin for Powter (67), Kevin Flahive for T Walsh (70+2).
Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane; Greg McCabe, Aaron McKay, Tiernan Kelly; Connaire Mackin, Ben Crealey; Joe McElroy, Rory Grugan, Jason Duffy; Conor Turbitt, Rían O’Neill, Oisín Conaty.
Subs: Jarly Óg Burns for Mackin (21, inj), Aidan Nugent for Duffy (HT), Ross McQuillan for McElroy (HT), Stefan Campbell for O’Neill (49), Oisín O’Neill for McCambridge (70+2).
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).