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Armagh's meeting with Mayo yesterday at the Box-It Athletic Grounds was always going to be unpredictable, but Armagh came out all guns blazing, and a goal from Paddy Burns fifteen minutes in saw them go in at half time eight points ahead, 1-10 to 0-5. It was easy to think the game was in the bag, but Mayo were certainly not playing to that script, taking the first two points of the second half.
That was cancelled out a minute later by an Ethan Rafferty two pointer. Fifteen minutes into the second half and Armagh still had a healthy seven point lead, but a ten minute dry spell for the Orchard County saw Mayo catch up on 18 points each, aided by a goal from Davitt Neary.
A black card for Niall Grimley saw Armagh down to 14 for a crucial ten minute spell. Two further points from Mayo and it looked like Armagh were going to lose the game they looked like they had won in the first half, but a point from play by Stefan Campbell and a converted free by Conor Turbitt saw the game go 1-17 apiece. A pressure attack from Mayo could have sealed victory in the dying seconds but thankfully for the massive home crowd the shot went wide.
Certainly an exciting game to watch even if blood pressure levels did rise as the second half went on.
Roll on Dublin next weekend.
