Cavan came within a whisker of a famous win over their Ulster rivals Armagh at Crossmaglen on Sunday afternoon.
But the Kernan brothers, Tony and Stephen, stepped in to rescue the Orchard men on their home pitch by landing seven second half points between them.
An 18th-minute goal from Seanie Johnston, after Jason Reilly had hit the post, had Cavan leading by 1-5 to 0-3 at half-time.
Stephen McDonnell's 58th-minute penalty was superbly saved by James Reilly, however Armagh came good to secure their first win in Allianz NFL Division Two.
Indeed, after a Dr McKenna Cup campaign to forget, this was Armagh's first success under new manager Peter McDonnell.
Encouraged by how his side came back into the game, the former Under-21 boss said: ‘I am pleased to get the win and pleased we are starting to gel a bit.
‘We didn't play particularly well in the first half and missed a number of scoring opportunities.
‘The free-taking was abysmal and when goal-scoring opportunities arose we were indecisive and failed to capitalise.
‘I felt the introduction of Tony Kernan directly after half-time led the way for everybody else.’
All-Ireland club championship hopefuls Crossmaglen Rangers, who face St. Vincent's in the semi-finals later this month, agreed to allow the two Kernans to play as both are short of match practice.
On a heavy pitch, both sides adopted short-passing styles from the off. Armagh welcomed back Ronan Clarke after a long-term cruciate knee ligament injury. He spurned a fifth-minute goal chance but took his point well instead.
Cavan then forged ahead with the sparky Martin Reilly pointing after 7 and 9 minutes and Reilly soon added his third over, with Johnston also chipping in with a free.
DCU student Johnston did well to goal on the rebound after Reilly's shot had cannoned off the butt of the post.
Armagh finally ended their scoreless spell - they went 24 minutes before Paddy McKeever landed their second point with a free.
The hosts pressed well in the closing five minutes of the half with Clarke having a shot saved by Cavan net minder Reilly and McDonnell watched a free bounce back off the crossbar.
A point from Cavan wing-back John McCutcheon and a McKeever free for the hosts completed the scoring in the opening half.
Brought on at half-time, Tony Kernan made an imemdiate impact for McDonnell's side as he slide a point through the posts and he swapped placed balls with Johnston.
Armagh continued on the comeback trail and whittled Cavan's lead down to 1-07 to 0-08 with Martin O'Rourke, Gareth O'Neill, who struck a brilliant score, and McDonnell all raising white flags.
Armagh looked set to move ahead when Clarke was fouled for the penalty but McDonnell's effort was saved. Still, Armagh had enough in the tank to outlast the Breffni men with five-point hero Tony Kernan having the biggest influence.
