Armagh survived a second-half rally to finish comfortable eight-point winners over Dublin and edge closer to securing their Division One status.
It was the meeting of the last two All-Ireland winners and early in the second half after the Orchard County had stormed into a 1-15 to 0-03 lead before Dublin rallied back with and impressive 1-07.
Armagh were worthy winners with starring roles coming from Andrew Murnin, Greg McCabe and Conor Turbitt, while Paddy Burns did a fine job marking Dublin's prolific forward Con O’Callahan before going off in the first half, although the forward made an impact in the second period.
Both teams made changes to the starting team announced earlier in the week with Oisin O’Neill getting his first taste of action this year, in place of Niall Grimley, while Peter McGrane got the nod ahead of Jemar Hall.
Unsurprisingly, Ciarán Kilkenny lined out the Dubs with Sean Bugler making way and Greg McEneaney replaced Alex Gavin.
Played in Box-It Athletic Grounds, Armagh marched into a 12-point lead at the break with a controlled and slick opening half.
Dublin were restricted to only three first half points and Armagh should have been further ahead as they left four chances at goal behind them.
The All-Ireland champions were quick out of blocks with three flashy points in as many minutes, with Murnin, Turbitt and McCabe steering over some beauties.
It was relentless defending too as Armagh made several huge turnovers and the scoreboard kept lighting up as Turbitt tagged on another score before Oisin O’Neill launched over the only two-pointer of the half.
And the scores kept coming as Ethan Rafferty picked out a sublime through pass to find Barry McCambridge and the Lurgan defender blasted past keeper Evan Comerford.
It didn’t stop there as the Orchard were mopping up around the middle and Turbitt was denied a goal after O’Neill’s clever through ball, with Dublin’s Theo Clancy getting the defining touch, with Rafferty converting the resultant 45’.
Turbitt and then a stunning point from Rory Grugan gave Armagh a commanding 1-09 to 0-00 before O’Callaghan opening Dublin’s account on 20 minutes in front of the Blues fans at the Dalton Terrace.
The breakneck pace of the game eased off somewhat for the remainder of the half as Brain Howard and Luke Breathnach added to the Dubs tally, while Turbitt and McCabe were on target for Armagh.
However, Turbitt was denied a goal chance by Comerford and the shot-stopper had to be alert when McCabe punched Grugan’s effort straight to the alert keeper.
Points from a confident Ross Quillan and a sweet strike from Grugan suggested more of the same from the first half, but Dublin introduced themselves to the game with a two-pointer from O’Callaghan, as he tagged on another free following the 20-second kick-out infringement.
The Dubs were shifting through the gears and that man O’Callaghan slipped the pass for Lorcan O’Dell to lash into the Armagh net. Dublin were on top as O’Callaghan steered over another two-pointer, Breathnach was on target and blood sub Kevin Lahiff tapped over with his first touch. That was a fantastic 1-07 from the 2023 All-Ireland champions before Greg McCabe replied for the Orchard.
Cormac Costello was only on the pitch few seconds when he stroked over to make it a five-point game and he raised the white flag again but that was over-ruled.
It was tense and entertaining, with Darragh McMullen restoring Armagh’s six-point lead as the final ten minutes approached. Murnin’s fantastic fetch the middle got the reward it deserved with Tomas McCormack firing between the posts.
Dublin were forced to shoot wildly for two-pointers with little joy and Turbitt’s converted free after the hooter made it an eight-point win for Armagh.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty (0-01, 0-1f), Tomas McCormack (0-01), Barry McCambridge (1-00), Paddy Burns, Connaire Mackin, Greg McCabe (0-03), Ross McQuillan (0-02), Jason Duffy, Oisin O’Neill (0-2, 1tp), Peter McGrane, Rory Grugan (0-03, 0-1f), Darragh McMullen (0-01), Conor Turbitt (0-06 0-3f), Andrew Murnin (0-01), Oisin Conaty.
Subs: Gareth Murphy for P Burns (ht’), Stefan Campbell for O O’Neill (46’), Jarly Og for J Duffy (52’), Jemar Hall for McQuillan (62’), McPartlan for O Conaty (67’),
Dublin: Evan Comerford, David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Conor Tyrrell, Greg McEneaney, Sean MacMahon, Cian Murphy, Brian Howard (0-01), Tomas Lahiff, Niall O’Callaghan, Ciaran Kilkenny (0-01), Niall Scully, Eoghan O’Donnell, Con O’Callaghan (0-06, 0-1 tpf, 0-1 tp, 0-1f), Luke Breathmach (0-02).
Subs: Brian O’Leary for N O’Callaghan (15’), Lorcan O’Dell (1-00) for E O’Donnell (27’), Alex Gavin for McEnaney (38’), Costello (0-01) for Breathmach (55’), Kevin Lahiff (0-01) for N Scully (61’)
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).
