Great comeback secures Mayo a share of the spoils in Armagh

A superb second-half comeback saw Mayo emerge from BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh, with a share of the spoils following their Allianz National Football League Division 1 clash with the host team, which finished 1-17 apiece, writes Brian Gillespie.

A draw didn't look likely at the break as Mayo trailed by eight (0-5 to 1-10) against a rampant Orchard County outfit, who used their pace to great effect and scored some incredible points in addition to an excellent goal by Paddy Burns.

But Mayo were a differnet animal in the second half. They appeared unshackled and unburdened by the deficit, which they began to eat into expertly. Pace was a facet of the rejuvenated Green and Red men, who scored a cracker of a goal through Davitt Neary on 49 minutes, which got them to within three of Armagh (1-11 to 1-14), and they proceeded to go ahead by two (1-17 to 1-15) on 65 minutes before Armagh produced a comeback of their own.

Late points from Stefan Campbell and Conor Turbitt (free) saw Armagh claw back the deficit, but Mayo had a great chance to win it when Colm Reape advanced far from goal and did everything right to set up a brilliant opening but dragged his effort wide of the near post from the right-hand side.

That epic second half was in total contrast to the first – at least from a Mayo point of view. In fact, the longer the first period went on, the more grim it got.

Their slow build-up played into Armagh's hands, the hosts scoring a number of points on the quick break. Conor Turbitt, Oisin Conaty, Andrew Murnin, Jason Duffy, Ross McQuillan and goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty all gave a kicking exhibition, while Rory Grugan, who scored a free in that first half, displayed huge hunger to keep alive a ball that appeared to heading wide and crossing first-time to the centre, where Paddy Burns collected possession, side-stepped three Mayo defenders and shot the ball the net beyond the dive of Colm Reape.

Armagh's great first-half display was capped by a superb Turbitt point from the sideline after the half-time hooter had sounded, leaving the hosts 1-10 to 0-5 up at the break.

Mayo had started well, Matthew Ruane and Jordan Flynn with good points in the opening five minutes either side the opening score for Armagh by Oisin Conaty.

But they only added three more for the remaining 30 minutes, Flynn again and Ryan O'Donoghue (two, one free) on target – and two of those scoers came late in the half.

They also missed the target on seven occasions, displaying a profligacy that was absent at the other end, Armagh only off-target twice in the opening 35 minutes.

The second half was totally different. Slowly but surely Mayo reeled Armagh in, helped by a black card for Niall Grimley.

Ruane, O'Donoghue and Paul Towey all landed good efforts, while captain Stephen Coen scored a monstrous two-pointer from 45 metres.

The goal by Neary, who displayed great pace as he collected a quick sideline kick from Ryan O'Donoghe, had Mayo firmly back in contention at just three points down (1-11 to 1-14), and a now rampant visiting side went ahead when a run of scores by O'Donoghue (two-pointer), Ruane, Neary and substitute Aidan O'Shea was punctuated by just one at the other end by Rory Grugan, leaving Mayo 1-16 to 1-15 ahead with eight minutes to go.

Ryan O'Donoghue put Mayo two up but Armagh came with their own late run to ensure it was honours even – though Reape might have won it in the closing seconds.

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty (0-3, 1 2P; Tomás McCormack, Barry McCambridge, Paddy Burns (1-0); Connaire Mackin, Jason Duffy (0-1), Ross McQuillan (0-2); Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley; Jemar Hall, Rory Grugan (0-3, 1f), Darragh McMullan; Conor Turbitt (0-5, 2f), Andrew Murnin (0-1), Oisin Conaty (0-1).

Subs used: Jarly Óg Burns, Stefan Campbell (0-1), Fergal O'Brien, Peter McGrane.

Colm Reape; Eoin O'Donoghue, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen (0-2, 2P), David McBrien, Eoghan McLaughlin; Conor Reid, Matthew Ruane (0-3); Davitt Neary (1-1), Frank Irwin, Jordan Flynn (0-2); Paul Towey (0-2), Darren McHale, Ryan O'Donoghue (0-6, 2f, 1 2P).

Subs used: Jack Carney, Aidan O'Shea (0-1), Sean Morahan, Jack Coyne.

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).