Danielle O'Leary nailed the super substitute role with an incredible Croke Park cameo to help clinch the Lidl National Football League Division 2 title for Kerry.
Trailing by two points at the second water break, and behind for much of the game, the Kingdom reeled off five points without reply in the final quarter to seal the win and secure promotion.
O'Leary scored 1-2 in total in the second-half having only come off the bench after 37 minutes while she also won two frees that Louise Ní Muircheartaigh converted and, late on, drew a foul that led to Armagh midfielder Niamh Marley being sin-binned.
It was a day to remember for the 19-year-old Rathmore star whose heroics helped Kerry to return to the top flight for the first time since 2018.
It was a case of third time lucky for the Munster side having previously lost the 2019 and 2021 Division 2 finals, either side of the cancelled 2020 campaign.
It was tough on Armagh, the 2020 All-Ireland semi-finalists and Ulster champions, who will remain in Division 2 for another season despite a spirited display and strong performances from Aimee Mackin and Catherine Marley.
A stiff wind increased the chill factor but the players produced a high quality, ultra intense game with consistent passages of real quality.
The Mackin sisters, Aimee and Blaithin, were to the fore initially and between them accounted for half of Armagh's first-half tally of 0-08.
Marley was terrific too and the number 10 got through a tonne of good work over the hour, popping up in her own full-back line on occasions before being substituted late on after a huge hit.
She also kicked an eighth minute point and was involved in setting up points for Eve Lavery and Aimee Mackin with her high work rate paying off in spades.
Armagh led for the most part in the opening half and were 0-05 to 0-03 ahead at the first water break though Kerry briefly tied it up following back to back Ní Muircheartaigh points.
Kerry were then dealt a hammer blow when Ní Muircheartaigh, with 2-34 to her credit at that stage in the campaign, was sin-binned for a high tackle on Niamh Marley.
Armagh took advantage of the greater numbers to outscore Kerry by 0-03 to 0-01 in the run in, leaving them 0-08 to 0-06 ahead at the break.
They just about deserved the lead though Kerry rued their failure to convert at least 2-01 in decent chances.
The in-form Erica McGlynn hit the crossbar and the post for Kerry in separate attacks while Niamh Ní Conchuir drew a decent stop from Armagh 'keeper Anna Carr.
Armagh made a significant half-time substitution, bringing on Caroline O'Hanlon for corner-back Grace Ferguson, necessitating a positional shake up with O'Hanlon going in at midfield.
Aimee Mackin kept Armagh in control in the third quarter with three points in a row though O'Leary's introduction was a game changer for Kerry, the student bursting through for a brilliant 44th minute goal.
She powered down the right before cutting back inside Armagh full-back Clodagh McCambridge and firing an unstoppable shot to the net at the Hill 16 End.
Armagh still led 0-12 to 1-07 at the second water break but Kerry had precious momentum and kicked on with a brilliant final quarter display.
Cait Lynch, O'Leary and O Muircheartaigh were all on the mark as Kerry first levelled the game again and then kicked on clear for a landmark win.
Kerry: Ciara Butler; Ciara O'Brien, Kayleigh Cronin, Julie O'Sullivan; Aishling O'Connell (0-01), Cait Lynch (0-01), Ciara Murphy; Lorraine Scanlon, Emma Costello; Niamh Carmody, Caoimhe Evans, Anna Galvin; Niamh Ní Conchuir (0-01), Erica McGlynn (0-02), Louise Ní Muircheartaigh (0-05, 0-03f).
Subs: Danielle O'Leary (1-02) for Evans 37, Mary O'Connell for Carmody 48, Paris McCarthy for Ní Conchuir 56, Rachel Dwyer for McGlynn 58, Meadhbh Johnston for Murphy 60.
Armagh: Anna Carr; Shauna Grey, Clodagh McCambridge, Grace Ferguson; Tiarna Girmes, Lauren McConville, Cait Towe; Niamh Marley, Blaithin Mackin (0-01); Eve Lavery (0-01), Niamh Coleman (0-01), Catherine Marley (0-02); Aimee Mackin (0-06, 0-03f), Aoife McCoy (0-01), Niamh Reel.
Subs: Caroline O'Hanlon for Ferguson h/t, Kelly Mallon for Reel 42, Fionnuala McKenna for Coleman 46, Sarah Marley for Lavery 53, Megan McCann for Catherine Marley 57.
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
