TYRONE 0-13 ARMAGH 1-10

BY ORLA BANNON

Having conceded a last gasp equalising goal against Galway two weeks ago, Armagh were on the right side of a dramatic finish with Niall Grimley fisting home a goal to salvage a precious league point for Armagh in Healy Park.

Tyrone, already guaranteed promotion from Division Two, were in front for most of the game in Omagh but failed to kill Armagh off and paid a high price.

Tony Kernan lobbed a high ball into the square in the 73rd minute and Grimley got the last touch to flick it into the net to grab a vital point which might well see Kieran McGeeney's side escape relegation.

Armagh salvaged the draw despite being reduced to 14 men for the last few minutes after Colm Watters received his marching orders for two yellow-cards.

It might have been top versus bottom, but the dreadful weather conditions were the classic leveller.

In front of 4,255 fans, the howling wind, driving rain and treacherous underfoot conditions ensured there was little to choose between the sides.

Tyrone faced into a strong wind and Ronan O'Neill had them in front within 20 seconds with a fisted point.

In-form Stefan Campbell, who kicked 1-9 against Galway last time out, soon equalised but the half was memorable for a couple of superb scores on either side.

Ritchie Donnelly stroked over two long-range beauties with the outside of his boot into the wind while Omagh St Enda's O'Neill used his local knowledge of his home pitch to perfectly judge the wind to nail two difficult frees.

Connor McAliskey, at times the only Tyrone player inside Armagh's '45', hit 0-3 from play in the opening period.

The third one was the pick of them, taking a clever dinked pass from O'Neill and dummying onto his left foot just before the break to put Tyrone 0-8 to 0-6 ahead at the interval.

Tyrone's efficiency was impressive given the conditions, Niall Morgan's long-range free which drifted wide in first-half injury time was their first wide of the game.

Armagh had a strong wind at their backs and while they hit five first-half wides, must have been reasonably happy with their 35 minutes' work.

Campbell converted three frees, though missed two, while Colm Watters scored twice from play after Tyrone twice failed to secure their own kickouts.

Ronan O'Neill's 39th minute meant Tyrone had scored five of the last seven points and gave the home side a three-point cushion for the first time.

Yet despite failing to score from play since the 15th minute, Campbell's dead ball striking kept Armagh well in the game with a free and '45'.

Darren McCurry was unusually subdued but nailed two left-footed frees to put Tyrone 0-12 to 0-8 ahead after 58 minutes.

Armagh were reduced to 14 men soon after when Colm Watters was sent-off for a second yellow card but Tony Kernan's spectacular point on the hour mark at least ended a 47-minute spell without a score from play.

Tyrone twice hit the woodwork yet despite the extra man, struggled to put Armagh away and paid the price with Grimley's late heroics.

TYRONE: N Morgan; A McCrory, P Hampsey, C McCarron; N Sludden, R Brennan, T McCann; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; P Harte, R O'Neill 0-5 (3f), R Donnelly 0-2; D McCurry 0-2 (2f), S Cavanagh, C McAliskey 0-3
Subs: M Bradley 0-1 for Harte (5), B Tierney for Sludden (52), C McCann for McAliskey (57), P McNulty for R Donnelly (62)

ARMAGH: P Morrison; A Mallon, C Vernon, S Heffron; M Shields, S Connell, A Forker 0-1; J McElroy, E Rafferty; R Grugan, M McKenna, C O'Hanlon; C Watters 0-2, S Campbell 0-6 (5f, one '45'), G McParland
Subs: T Kernan 0-1 for O'Hanlon (HT), N Grimley 1-0 for Rafferty (58), A Findon for McKenna (65), J Hall for Campbell (69)

REFEREE: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)