Mayo boss Kevin McStay was left to lament a familiar failing at the end of a pulsating league encounter in the Box-IT Athletic Grounds which saw Mayo draw a game they should have won - yet perhaps could have lost.
Leading by five points after 67 minutes of play, Mayo saw that advantage whittled down to the minimum as the clock entered its 76th minute. Having turned over what appeared to be Armagh's last desperate attack, Mayo broke forward and looked certain to kill the game.
However, rather than hold possession, substitute Eoghan McLaughlin decided to take on a pot-shot from distance. The effort drifted left and wide, gifting Armagh a kick-out and one final chance at an equaliser.
"They didn't use Aidan O’Shea at all last weekend, whereas today they actively used him. And it was a success."
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 5, 2023
Éamonn Fitzmaurice analyses Aidan O'Shea's performance in Mayo's draw against Armagh. #RTEGAA #AllianzLeagueSunday pic.twitter.com/7Brt5hUDBa
From Ethan Rafferty's restart, the wily Rian O'Neill won a free which he himself converted to leave the final scoreline of 0-17 0-17 after a game that looked like February, but felt more like June.
McStay was full or praise for his side and, although visibly buoyed by their performance, the former Roscommon manager conceded that Mayo's tendency to shoot themselves in the foot is something they need to eradicate if they are going to finally reach the mountain top.
"This is where we have to be better. Make better decisions," McStay told Des Cahill on Sunday Sport. "We would've wanted him to get it to a shooter or recycle because that was the critical play at that stage.
"But some of the stuff we did today was terrific. Our attitude, our hunger for it, we really brought the game to Armagh in that second half.
"Some of the things we're working on are beginning to fall into place. It's only a game, too!
"It'll do great for our young guys. We're very pleased with their effort. They're not shying away from what was a tough, tough game. They're doing all the things we're asking them. We'd a great week training, we knew we'd have a shot at it today... but it's over now - by the time we get to the bus it's over with!.And it's Kerry next, so..."
With the game seemingly well within their control, McStay could feel the home side begin to turn the screw as they sought to reel in the Connacht men in the 'cauldron' of Armagh city. It proved as close to a championship rehearsal as you're likely to see before Valentine's Day.
"It was nearly happening in front of us. We lost momentum," McStay said. "We were in a game-winning situation. I'm going to dwell on the positives from our side.
"This was - I wouldn't say a cauldron - but it was very close to championship and the tempo was high. The last 15 minutes was championship freelancing. It was really end to end.
"I have to tip my hat to Armagh, they were terrific. I had a sense that they weren't going to go away. They had the experience with Galway last year, keeping going to the final minute. When I saw six [minutes injury time] on the clock I nearly fainted, but what do you do?
"At that stage we were struggling for a bit of oxygen. We tried everything. We got chances to seal it and finish it off. Didn't tidy that up, but I would still argue that when we tot it up at the end of the league that will be a really important point.
"Armagh are a brilliantly supported team. Great supporters. There was great craic in the stand near the end. I was getting some good stick.
"Going home with a point is still a good result for us and we'll take it and we'll go searching for more."
