Armagh beat Kerry to lift All-Ireland Gaelic Football Championship

Fans from across Ulster were celebrating Armagh's historic All-Ireland Gaelic football success following Sunday's 1-12 to 0-14 win over Kerry.

The Orchard County players who stepped up to lift the Sam Maguire were the first from Ulster to win the top prize since Down in 1994. The match was a case of third time lucky for Armagh who had taken to the field on two previous occasions for the All-Ireland Gaelic football decider without success.

Trailing by four points in the second half, Armagh staged a comeback in what proved a tense and edgy final between the sides at Croke Park. Armagh looked like they were heading for another final defeat as they struggled at times to contain Kerry. But although Kerry showed a little of the poise that had seen off the other teams on the way to the final, that form did not last. In the second half, Armagh took advantage of a stuttering off-pace Kerry performance to edge back on the four-point deficit and hold off the Kingdom.

Oisin McConville who had missed a 33rd minute penalty after he was brought down by Kerry keeper Declan O'Keefe made good and found the back of the Kerry net in the 54th minute. Ronan Clarke then pointed for Armagh to take the teams level. A few minutes later Steve McDonnell gave Armagh a one-point lead to clinch a match that saw Kerry fail to score in the next 20 minutes.

This was a particularly sweet victory for Armagh manager Joe Kernan – as 25 years ago he had scored two goals in the last All-Ireland final only to see the side lose to Dublin.

(SP)