Fermanagh 0-17 Armagh 1-16

Fermanagh suffered defeat in the Division Three final as a high scoring encounter finished in a 1-16 to 0-17 loss to Armagh in Croke Park this evening.

The sides were level at the break but Armagh got a grip on matters in the second half, especially in the middle third and an Andrew Murnin goal with 16 minutes to go ultimately proved decisive.

It was score for score throughout the opening 35 minutes of the contest with Seamie Quigley punishing any indiscretions in the Armagh defence as he converted six frees in the first period and ended the game with 0-09 in all.

Rory Gallagher's side suffered a blow after only two minutes when Sean Quigley picked up a black card and it was Armagh who settled the better as they claimed an early 0-03 to 0-01 advantage.

Kieran McGeeney's side had a goal chance in the fourth minute when Aidan Forker was slipped in but he opted to fist over before Quigley opened his account with a free.

Points from the excellent Andrew Murnin and a Niall Grimley free put Armagh two ahead but with Eoin Donnelly an influential figure Fermanagh hit back and Quigley and Declan McCusker tagged on scores to make it 0-03 apiece.

Gregory McCabe banged over a good score to edge Armagh back in front but Quigley landed a free and Conall Jones fired over from play to put Fermanagh in front for the first time, 0-05 to 0-04.

Back came Armagh and Grimley and Ben Crealey notched points to put them ahead but Armagh were guilty of giving away frees and Quigley knocked over another two points to put Gallagher's side into a 0-07 to 0-06 advantage by the 29th minute.

And it continued in the same vein over the remainder of the half as Patrick Burns and Murnin registered for Armagh while Quigley added another from a free to leave it 0-08 apiece at the interval.

It was the Orchard men though who got on in the second half as scores from lively substitute Ryan McShane and Murnin made it 0-10 to 0-08.

Ryan Jones replied with a terrific point but points from Grimley and Burns pushed Armagh three clear before Quigley clipped over a free.

Fermanagh though were struggling to get their hands on ball in the middle third and an Aidan Forker point made it 0-13 to 0-10 in Armagh's favour.

Quigley did keep Fermanagh in touch with a free but Armagh then landed the killer blow as a high ball saw Ethan Rafferty contest it with Fermanagh goalkeeper Pat Cadden and the ball spilled to Murnin who rolled it to the unguarded net to make it 1-13 to 0-11.

Quigley and Jones though kept the scoreboard ticking over to leave the goal between the sides with 11 minutes to go.

Armagh though moved clear again as Niall Rowland, McShane and Grimley notched points to make it 1-16 to 0-14.

Fermanagh did keep battling to the finish and Tomas Corrigan and Conall Jones did hit scores but they could not create the goal chance they needed as Armagh finished up two point victors.