It took penalties and over 90 minutes of football but Monaghan are through to their second All-Ireland SFC semi-final in five seasons after defeating Armagh 9-8 on penalties in front of the Davin Stand after the game ended 0-12 apiece in normal time and tied at 0-14 each after extra time.
Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan finally got his side over the line by denying Armagh half-back Callum Cumiskey twice after two rounds of spot kicks.
Having missed his opportunity in the first set, Monaghan's Gary Mohan redeemed himself from the spot to tee up Beggan for the match-winning heroics.
The sides were level an incredible 14 times in total, the pulsating contest was on a knife edge throughout and would need penalties to separate them in the end.
Cruelly, this would be Armagh’s third penalties loss in a row since their exit at the same stage last season, with an Ulster final loss in between.
With the free weekend the week previous, Armagh used that extra energy to take an early lead right at the very beginning of the lengthy duel.
Aidan Forker had that pep in his step as he strode up from the back and fired over the opening score of the game. The rapid point disguised the measured affair that was to follow.
Both sets of supporters brought the noise, but the tenseness of the occasion allowed only for a couple of shrill cries from a misplaced pass or fumble in possession.
With the pace of the attacks slowed right down, Monaghan wing-back Conor McCarthy's duty was to add some pace and bring the ball up the field for Vinny Corey’s side.
McCarthy added to that with his side's opening score, and his presence on the left flank was a real avenue for Monaghan to not only get into the game, but on the scoreboard too. McCarthy added another point in the first half.
Neither team were capable of pulling away from each other. Rian O’Neill introduced himself back into the game after his suspension with three frees. His last of the half along the sideline was one of the highlights of the contest.
Monaghan’s lack of penetration was apparent but Gary Mohan punched in for a brace but through O’Neill, you felt Armagh’s platform was more sustainable. Yet a point was always the margin between the two.
Mohan was everywhere and he denied Stephen Campbell a goal with a block, moments later Rory Grugan plundered a chance by over-playing possession but an Andrew Murnin mark provided Kieran McGeeney’s side the slight edge, 0-06 to 0-05 going in at the break.
The second half played out in the same template as the first, neither able to dominate the scoreboard. Monaghan did come out on top in the possession stakes but were unable to convert their grip on things.
The introduction of Conor McManus looked to swing the quarter-final in Monaghan’s favour. The veteran pointed a free he won himself initially, but his presence alone was stretching Armagh’s defence.
With Armagh unable to flow going forward, they had to rely on Rory Grugan and O’Neill frees topped up a sweetly struck '45 but with Karl O’Connell punching holes, Monaghan looked the more likely to get over the line in normal time.
Michael Bannigan had a brace, but a rasping effort that flew over the bar showed how fine a line the game was hinged on.
However, Monaghan lost replacement Seán Jones to a black card and suddenly Armagh were pushing right at the death.
Andrew Murnin punched a short effort from Forker over to bring the game to extra time at 0-12 a piece, but not before Mohan put a huge and well timed hit on lively substitute Conor Turbitt.
Armagh took the early initiative from Ross McQuillan but failed to push on. Having chosen the tactic of soaking up the pressure they would be reeled in by the mercurial McManus.
With Hawk-Eye data unavailable for a Michael Bannigan shot and Rian O’Neill’s sublimely worked effort, similar to that of a rugby out-half in the pocket for the match-winning drop goal, Armagh looked to have broken their losing quarter-final record.
But up stepped McManus, firstly engineering the free and then under the utmost pressure in front of the Hill he brought the game to penalties, in which he himself would excel in.
Backed into a corner, Monaghan once again, found a way.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Aidan Forker (0-02), Aaron McKay; Jarly Óg Burns, Greg McCabe, Conor O’Neill; Ben Crealey, Ciarán Mackin; Jason Duffy, Stefan Campbell, Joe McElroy; Rory Grugan (0-02,0-01f); Rian O’Neill (0-06, 0-04f, 0-01’45), Andrew Murnin (0-03, 0-01m).
Subs: Conor Turbitt for Crealey (46), Callum Cumiskey for McCabe (51), Jemar Hall for Duffy (54), Ross McQuillan (0-01) for Hall (65), Shane McPartlin for McElroy(69), Barry McCambridge for Forker (74), Justin Kieran for Burns (ht et), Oisín Conaty for Campbell (90).
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Killian Lavelle, Ryan Wylie; Karl O’Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy (0-03); Gary Mohan (0-03), Darren Hughes; Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan (0-02), Dessie Ward; Ryan McAnespie, Karl Gallagher, Jack McCarron (0-02, 0-01f).
Subs: Conor McManus (0-04, 0-03f) for Gallagher (40), Ryan O’Toole for Lavelle (53), Seán Jones for McCarron (56), Shane Carey for McAnespie (61), Kieran Hughes for Ward (67), Lavelle for Carey (ft), Carey for Boyle (ht et), Colm Lennon for McCarthy (ht et), McCarron for O’Connell (84), O’Connell for O’Hanlon (88).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
