Roscommon 2-12 Armagh 1-14
Roscommon snatched the Nicky Rackard Cup with a last-gasp Micheál Kelly goal helping them to beat Armagh in the final at Croke Park.
Armagh looked like claiming a record third title when the Westerners were reduced to 14 men with 12 minutes remaining, following a straight red card for substitute Cathal Kelly.
However, Roscommon finished strongly, with captain Kelly firing a 72nd-minute goal from a free to ensure victory by the minimum.
Earlier, Armagh led by 1-08 to 1-05 at half-time, with Cathal Carvill netting their goal in the 29th minute.
Armagh moved five points clear on the restart, but Roscommon never gave up with Jerry Fallon (0-04), John Moran (0-03) and Kelly impressive on the way to their first title since 2007.
Both teams came into this encounter unbeaten, with Armagh accounting for Louth, Tyrone and Donegal while Roscommon had disposed of Fingal, Monaghan and Tyrone on the the way to the decider.
Roscommon were keen to make up for their four-point loss to Donegal in their last appearance at Croke Park in 2013, while Armagh were aiming for revenge with their only Rackard Cup final loss to Roscommon coming back in 2007.
Both sides started strongly with Galway native Keith Kilkenny handing the Westerners an early lead, before free-taker Gaffney pushed Armagh 0-02 to 0-01 aged by the fifth minute with a brace of frees.
However, Murphy’s sixth minute goal for Roscommon largely set the tone for the opening half, after he finished past the advancing Simon Doherty, following a pass from Ronan O’Meara.
The Connacht sides green flag half kept them on top for the most part, and after 15 minutes they extended their lead to three points with scores from Cillian Egan and former M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada champion Jerry Fallon.
Roscommon had plenty of chances to add to their tally, but mis-fired in front of the posts as Armagh then took control.
A fourth Gaffney point brought the Orchard County within two points, and although Eoin McGuinness and David Carvill were denied goal chances by Roscommon keeper Noel Fallon, Armagh held Roscommon to just one-point between the 15th to 32nd minutes.
John Moran became Roscommon’s fifth scorer, for a 1-04 to 0-05 scoreline after 22 minutes but Armagh responded with points from Nathan Curry and David Carvill to level the tie for just the second time at 0-07 to 1-04.
Momentum was now with Armagh, with Conor Corvan pushing them ahead, before a Cathal Carvill goal after a McGuinness pass close to the end-line.
Roscommon were gifted possession in the closing stages of the half, but fired three wides during this spell, and only managed a point from goal-scorer Murphy, as Armagh took a 1-08 to 1-05 interval advantage.
Rossie's manager introduced Jionni Coyne on the restart in a bid to strengthen his sides defence but it was Armagh who began brightly as scores from McGuinness and Gaffney pushed them five points clear after 38 minutes.
Armagh had further chances to add to their tally but were kept at bay with John Moran claiming Roscommon’s first score of the second half with a fine effort from a tight angle in the 44th minute.
Newly introduced Roscommon substitute Cathal Kenny was keen to make an impact, and quickly put Armagh keeper Doherty under pressure.
The Oran clubman saw a 45th-minute effort dip into the hands of the Orchard custodian, before forcing a save from a goalbound shot two minutes later.
Roscommon continued to put the Armagh defence under pressure, and cut the gap to two points by the 52nd minute with a brace of Jerry Fallon frees.
Armagh restored a three-point lead, after Declan Coulter hit their first score in 15 minutes, but this was quickly cancelled out by an excellent score from substitute Coyne.
Roscommon were reduced to 14 men after substitute Cathal Kelly picked up his second card inside two minutes - this time a straight red.
Fallon continued to show well from dead balls, and slotted over his third pointed free of the half, and fourth overall to cut the gap to the minimum with 12 minutes remaining.
Goalscorer Murphy was called ashore, and replaced by Eamon Flanagan after 60 minutes, with Armagh taking a 1-13 to 1-10 advantage, as Gaffney brought his tally to 0-07 from placed balls.
Roscommon never gave up and fine scores from play from John Moran and Coyne, followed by another Gaffney free left a two-point gap with a minute left.
However, Roscommon kept motoring, with Coyne winning a free, after a foul by Nathan Curry, and captain Micheál Kelly smashed it to the back of the net to send the Roscommon faithful into raptures.
Roscommon: N Fallon; I Delaney, P Kellehan, L Kilcline; D Leonard, M Kelly (1-00, 1-00f), T Seale; C Dolan, J Kilkenny; J Moran (0-03), R O’Meara, J Fallon (0-04, 4f); C Egan (0-01), K KIlkenny (0-01), A Murphy (1-01).
Subs: C Kelly for Dolan (33); J Coyne (0-02)for Seale (HT); C Kenny for Egan (43); E Flanagan for Murphy (60); G Fallon for J Fallon (64).
Armagh: S Doherty; S Renaghan, C Clifford, C Devlin; K McKernan, N Curry (0-01, 1 65), S Gaffney; J Corvan, D Coulter (0-02); R Gaffney (0-08, 8f), C Carvill (1-00), D Carvill (0-01); M Moan, E McGuinness (0-01), C Corvan (0-01).
Subs: C Gorman for M Moan (52); C McKee for E McGuinness (63); A McGuinness for D Carvill (65).
Referee: John O’Brien (Tipperary).
