Extra time cant Part Wicklow and Armagh

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers Round 2

Armagh 0-19 Wicklow 2-13 (AET)

Armagh live to fight another day after their wing-back Aaron Kernan scored the equalising point in extra-time to force a replay.

Wicklow manager Mick O'Dwyer's managerial career will go on for one more day at least as his side battled against the odds and had a one-point lead snatched from their grasp on two occasions.

A late goal in extra-time from target man Seán Furlong, his second, looked to have given Wicklow a massive victory but a late point from Kernan meant both sides would go at it again.

Earlier, Armagh had forced extra-time with a last gasp equaliser from sub Gavin McParland after Wicklow had recovered from a strong Armagh performance in the second-half.

O’Dwyer’s side were well in command of the game and went in at the break 0-4 to 0-9 in the lead. Backed by the wind, Wicklow could and should have been even further ahead but Micheál O'Rourke and Malachy Mackin scored two vital points for Armagh.

Out came a different Armagh in the second half led by an inspirational Jamie Clarke - who clocked up five points in the second half. His side scored eight unanswered points before Mackin edged them in front for the first time with eight minutes remaining.

It looked like there would only one outcome now but up stepped Furlong, three minutes from time, with a great goal that looked to seal it but a last gasp equaliser from sub McParland sent the game into extra-time.

Armagh outscored the visitors by 0-3 to 0-2 in the first period of extra-time but there was still a final kick in Wicklow and Furlong scrambled home his second goal to put them in the lead with four minutes remaining.

Armagh kept pressing though, and Kernan showed great composure to shoot the equaliser to force a replay.

Armagh: P Hearty; A Mallon, B Donaghy, P Duffy; A Kernan (0-3), C McKeever, F Moriarty; J Lavery, C Vernon (0-1); M Mackin (0-3), B Mallon, K Dyas; J Clarke (0-5), S McDonnell (0-4, 1f, 1'45), M O'Rourke (0-1).

Subs: D McKenna for Duffy, 36; J Hanratty (0-1)for Dyas, 41; T Kernan for B Mallon, 44; J Murtagh for O'Rourke, 53; G McParland (0-1) for Murtagh, 71; P Duffy for McKeever, 84; K Dyas for Moriarty, 90.

Wicklow: J Flynn; C Nyland, A Byrne, S Kelly; A McLoughlin, B McGrath, D Hayden; J Stafford, (0-1) R Finn; N Mernagh (0-1), T Hannon (0-3, 1f, 1'45), JP Dalton; P Earls, S Furlong (2-4, 3fs), L Glynn (0-4).

Subs: C McGraynor for Mernagh, 45; A O'Malley for Dalton, 52; D Siney for Hannon, 65; P Dalton for Hyland, 70; JP Dalton for Earls, 80; P Higgins for McGrath, 88