Wexford will be playing NFL Division Two football in 2007 despite the best efforts of Mattie Forde in a 1-11 to 0-15 Division 1B loss to Armagh at Wexford Park.
In a repeat of last year’s Division One final, Forde scored 1-07 of his side’s tally, but injury-time points from Aaron Kernan (free) and Stephen McDonnell rescued Armagh, who had to be thankful for a 0-06 haul from 2005 All-Star McDonnell.
As relegation hung over both sides, Wexford were determined to get off to a good start and they did with Forde (free) and Rory Stafford pointing them into a 0-02 to no score lead.
But the Orchard men, with McDonnell (0-03) and Paddy McKeever (0-02) in good form, soon had a 0-07 to 0-04 buffer to build on by the 23rd-minute.
Two angled shots from Forde kept Wexford in the hunt, but Armagh took their tally to 0-07 as McKeever, McDonnell, Malachy Mackin, McKeever, Brian Mallon and McDonnell (0-02) opened their accounts.
Ciaran Deeley launched over a well-hit point on 27 minutes for the hosts, points from McDonnell (free) and Kieran McGeeney sandwiched a Forde free to see Armagh go in at the break – 0-10 to 0-06 up.
Seven minutes into the second half, Liam Murphy played Forde in for a goal that helped Wexford get back level – the 2004 All-Star fisted home to the Armagh net.
Two further Forde frees kept Wexford in touch with Mackin and McDonnell adding to their tallies. Forde free, right on 70 minutes, pushed the Model men in front but the 2005 champions had the final say as Kernan and McDonnell slotted over to help post up Armagh’s third and most precious victory of the league run.
