Roscommon blazed into the Super 8s with a 2-22 to 1-19 win over Armagh in a thrilling Round 4 qualifier tie at Portlaoise.
Despite the searing heat, two totally committed sides, with championship survival at stake, laid on a brilliantly entertaining contest.
In the end, two goals from Rossies talisman Enda Smith carried his side into the All-Ireland quarter-final round robin series.
The beaten Connacht finalists led by four points at the break, but Armagh cut the deficit back to a single point going into the final five minutes.
It was Kevin McStay’s side that displayed the superior staying power, and Smith’s second goal in stoppage time sealed their passage.
Armagh’s direct approach saw them pick off points through Aidan Forker, Jemar Hall and Andrew Murnin, but they were always vulnerable in the face of Roscommon’s counter-attacking.
The Rossies were able to pick holes in the packed Orchard cover to strike for scores through Diarmuid and Ciaran Murtagh and Donie Smith, but it was Ciaran McGeeney’s side which eased ahead late in the opening quarter, skipper Rory Grugan and Murnin both hitting superb points.
Roscommon put the Armagh kick-out under pressure, but failed to turn openings into scores, going three points behind as Grugan steered over a free.
Despite Brendan Donaghy’s experience as sweeper, Roscommon found a variety of ways through their defence, with long range scores from Ciaran Murtagh and Cathal Cregg narrowing the gap.
Enda Smith’s influence was increasing as the game wore on, and it was in the 28th minute that he struck for a classic counter-attacking goal.
Sweeper Niall Daly launched the move from deep, with the ball moves swiftly through the hands of Conor Devaney and Diarmuid Murtagh, and Smith arrived at pace to smash his shot to the bottom corner of the net past a helpless Blaine Hughes.
They added points through Diarmuid Murtagh, Smith and Ciaran Murtagh to take a 1-11 to 0-12 lead into the break, and with Enda Smith and CAthal Cregg making power and pace, they continued to press a tiring Orchard defence.
Check out the full-time highlights between Armagh and Roscommon! pic.twitter.com/dHsOuesKQr
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 7, 2018
Cregg thumped over a couple of inspirational scores, and the incisive running of Conor Devaney and Ciaran Murtagh exposed Armagh’s frailties at the back.
But Armagh weren’t prepared to allow their season to melt away in the burning Midland sun, and they set about getting themselves back into the game.
Grugan blazed the ball over the bar when the goal was gaping, but referee Joe McQuillan, allowing an advantage, brought play back to ward a penalty, which Grugan also missed, his shot saved by Colm Lavin.
The Ulster men did get the goal they so badly needed, however, two minutes later, Ryan McShane sending Mark Shields in for a clinical finish to the bottom corner of the net, and with just ten minutes of a fast-moving second half played two points separated the sides.
Going into the final ten minutes, Armagh, trailing by four, committed extra men forward, and almost paid the price as Cathal Cregg collected Cathal Compton’s pass, but pulled his shot wide when a second goal would almost certainly have killed the game off.
GOAL Roscommon! Fantastic finish by Enda Smith! pic.twitter.com/0HnLle0CRR
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 7, 2018
Armagh were still very much alive, cutting the gap with a couple of Niall Grimley efforts. He also steered over a ’45 to leave just a point between the sides with five minutes to play.
But it was the Rossies who had another gear to carry them through, hitting 1-3 in injury-time, with Smith smashing home his second goal to send them int the last eight.
Roscommon: C Lavin; D Murray, N McInerney, S McDermott; J McManus, P Domican, C Devaney (0-01); E Smith (2-01), T O’Rourke; C Murtagh (0-06, 2f), C Cregg (0-03), N Kilroy; D Smith (0-03), N Daly, D Murtagh (0-06, 5f).
G Patterson for Domican (41), F Cregg (0-01) for C Murtagh (54), C Compton (0-01) for D Smith (58), C Daly for McDermott (60), F Cregg for Kilroy (64), I Kilbride for N Daly (72)
Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, B Donaghy, G McCabe; M Shields (1-00), R Owens, A Forker (0-01); C Vernon, C Mackin; R Grugan (0-05, 2f), J Hall (0-01), N Grimley (0-05, 3f, 1 ’45); R McShane (0-01), A Murnin (0-04), S Sheridan (0-01).
Subs: J McElroy for McCabe (33), R McQuillan for Sheridan (41), N Rowland for Donaghy (47), G McParland (0-01) for Mackin (51), J Duffy for Hall (61), K Dyas for Murnin (64)
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).
