A thrilling Nicky Rackard Cup final at Croke Park was decided in stoppage time by ace finisher Paul Breen, who hit 2-04 in all as the Northerners ran out 3-15 to 3-14 winners.
London, who also lost last year’s decider, looked as if they had done enough to send tie to extra-time when they staged a late rally, but the Ulster side held firm.
The opening 10 minutes saw both sides pick off impressive scores, with Martin Finn and Mark Mythen finding the target for the Exiles, with John Corvan, Paul Breen, Ryan Gaffney and Paul McCormack registering for the Orchard.
It was in the 12th minute that Breen grabbed the first of four first half goals.
McCormack’s penalty was stopped by full-back Matt Ryan, and the Keady man was in like a flash to finish to the net from close range.
Breen hit 1-02 in the space of four minutes to help Armagh to a 1-06 to 0-05 lead, and they stretched the advantage to seven in the 21st minute with a second three-pointer.
Breen’s long delivery was met with superb timing and technique by Gaffney, who first-timed the ball past a helpless John Joe Burke.
But London, with Colm Forde performing superbly at centre back, hit back with two goals in the space of four minutes.
David Maher ran on to Finn’s pass to finish from close range, and in the 27th minute it was Finn who blasted home a second to cap a flowing move involving Aiden Fitzgerald and Tom Toomey.
Maher then slotted over an equaliser, and the sides went in at the break deadlocked on 2-07 each.
Maher grabbed his second goal just 13 seconds into the second half, finishing at the second attempt past Joseph Burke, but less than two minutes later Breen drilled home his second to make it all-square again.
The sides were level for the fifth time when Maher added a point, but the Ulster men responded again with three excellent efforts from Gaffney, McCormack and substitute Cathal Carvill.
London went four points behind, but three Richaed O’Connell points and an Aiden Fitzgerald effort kept them very much in touch going into the final five minutes.
Two Finn frees brought the sides level, but Breen picked off the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.
Armagh: J Burke, B Mallon (0-01), P McArdle, P Gaffney, B McCormack, E McDonnell, N Curry, F McMullan, B Breen (0-01), R Gaffney (1-02), J Corvan (0-02), K McKernan, P McCormack (0-03), G Enright, P Breen (2-04 (0-02f).
Subs: C Carragher (0-01) for McArdle (25), M Lennon (0-01) for McKernan (62)
London: JJ Burke, C Burke, M Ryan, E Phelan, M Fitzsimmons, C Forde, K Kennedy, N Forde, J Reddan, M Mythen (0-02), R O’Connell (0-03), A Fitzgerald (0-01), D Maher (2-02), M Finn 1-06, 0-04f, 0-01 ’65), T Toomey.
Subs: N Coady for Phelan (23), B Forde for C Burke (40), P Stephenson for Forde (53), F Tierney for Fitzsimmons (59), K Walsh for Reddan (63)
