Football League Division 3: Armagh 2-08 0-13 Tipperary
Last updated on .From the section Gaelic Games
Two late Jamie Clarke points helped Armagh snatch victory over Tipperary in the Division 3 Football League opener.
Tipp were angered by David Coldrick's awarding of a penalty on the stroke of half-time which Clarke slammed home.
The goal put Armagh 1-4 to 0-4 up and while Tipp regained the lead, a Mark Shields goal put Armagh ahead again after Robbie Kiely was red carded.
Five straight points put Tipp two ahead but a Miceal McKenna point and Clarke's two scores ensured the final twist.
Clarke had scored Antrim's opening three points as they moved into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead before two Conor Sweeney points helped Tipperary level the contest at 0-4 to 0-4.
The visitors wasted a glorious chance to notch the opening goal of the game when Brian Fox blasted wide with only Armagh's league debutant goalkeeper Tim Harney to beat.
And while Armagh had the bulk of the first-half possession, Tipperary looked to possess the greater scoring potential when they did venture into opposition territory.
| Armagh's remaining Allianz Football League Division Three fixtures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
| Sunday, 8 February | Wexford | Wexford Park |
| Sunday, 1 March | Limerick | Gaelic Grounds |
| Saturday, 7 March | Fermanagh | Athletic Grounds |
| Sunday, 15 March | Clare | Cusack Park, Ennis |
| Saturday, 28 March | Louth | Athletic Grounds |
| Sunday, 5 April | Sligo | Markievicz Park |
However, Armagh were handed a break in first-half injury-time as referee Coldrick awarded a soft penalty after Aaron Findon appeared to have lost possession before tumbling to the ground.
Clarke took full advantage as he sent keeper Evan Comerford the wrong way from the penalty.
Tipperary regrouped with four unanswered points after the restart with impressive midfielder Colin O'Riordan notching two of the scores.
The visitors then suffered a blow as Kiely was red carded following an off-the-ball incident which had left Stefan Campbell on the ground.
Armagh looked to be exploiting their numerical advantage as a levelling Aidan Forker point was followed by Shields's superb goal to put them three ahead.
However after Campbell missed another goal chance, Tipperary suddenly regained control as they hit five straight points as O'Riordan and Stephen O'Brien began to dominate around midfield.
O'Brien hit two of the Tipperary points during their period of supremacy and they missed other chances to extend their advantage.
As so often happens, the visitors paid for failing to put the opposition away and after McKenna's 70th-minute point left the minimum between the teams, Clarke struck two glorious points in injury-time to seal the home team's victory.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE RESULTS
SATURDAY
Division One
Tyrone 0-09 1-13 Monaghan
Donegal 1-15 0-12 Derry
Division Three
Fermanagh 0-16 0-07 Louth
Division Four
Waterford 0-14 0-10 Wicklow
SUNDAY
Division One
Cork 1-15 0-16 Dublin
Kerry 0-10 2-11 Mayo
Division Two
Galway 2-13 1-12 Meath
Roscommon 1-11 0-14 Cavan
Westmeath 1-12 0-10 Laois
Kildare 1-15 3-13 Down
Division Three
Clare 1-16 0-05 Wexford
Limerick 0-14 1-09 Sligo
Armagh 2-08 0-13 Tipperary
Division Four
London 1-02 0-09 Offaly
Leitrim 0-15 1-12 Longford
Antrim 1-12 0-15 Carlow
