Armagh booked their place in the National League final with an impressive 0-19 to 0-14 point win over Mayo.
The Orchard County clicked into gear in the last 15 minutes with Ronan Clarke and Steven McDonnell in brilliant form.
Armagh kicked 16 points from play with the talismanic McDonnell acquiring six points. The Ulster champions were in total control for the last quarter of the game and despite having their midfield replaced they put in a composed and fluent performance. Mayo had no reply and suffered the loss of both Mortimers due to the yellow card rules.
Armagh led the first half with a two point advantage but should have been further in front as Oisin McConville’s spot-kick was well saved by David Clarke two minutes before the break.
Armagh opened the scoring through Steven McDonnell but a James Gill converted free restored parity.
There was little to choose between the sides early on and they continued to exchange points with McConville, Alan Moran, Ronan Clarke and Ciaran McDonald scoring the next four points respectively.
Mayo opened up the Armagh defence on two occasions and could have bagged a goal. Allan Dillon had Paul Hearty beaten but his 14-yard shot crashed against the crossbar. And on 33 minutes Andy Moran was denied a penalty when he appeared to be man handled by Hearty.
Peader Gardiner put Mayo in front for the first time on 15 minutes and Conor Mortimer increased the lead. But points from Clarke, John McEntee, Paul McGrane and McConville swung the balance to Armagh before Conor Mortimer pointed for Mayo.
Mayo levelled the score and a both teams were on ten points apiece on 50 minutes. But in the last 15 minutes six unanswered points from Armagh put the game beyond doubt.
Armagh: P Hearty, A Mallon, F Bellew, P McCormack, A Kernan, K McGeeney, C McKeever, J Toal, P McGrane, M O’Rourke, J McEntee, O McConville, S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon.
Subs: P McKeever for O’Rourke, A McCann for Kernan and S Kernan for Clarke, P Loughran for Toal 30, M Mackin for McGrane 45
Mayo: D Clarke, K Higgans, D Heaney, D Geraghty, C Moan, J Nallen, P Gardiner, R McGarrity, BJ Padden, J Gill, C McDonal, A Moran, C Mortimer, T Mortimerm A Dillon.
Subs: K for Moran, B Maloney for T Mortimer 21, M Conroy for C Mortimer 47
