Armagh sealed their return to Division Two with a hard-fought 0-10 to 0-8 victory over neighbours Louth at the Athletic Grounds.
This typical derby match was played out in dreadful conditions, with driving rain and howling wind making quality football impossible.
Late pointed frees from Aidan Forker and Ciaran O'Hanlon finally broke the Wee County's resistance in a game where Ryan Burns stroked over six points for the stubborn visitors, who had Dessie Finnegan sent off in the 47th minute for a second yellow card offence.
The sides shared ten points in the first half, with Tony Kernan's injury-time free ensuring the hosts of parity at the break. Ethan Rafferty and O'Hanlon edged the winners ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 after Jamie Clarke and Declan Byrne traded the opening scores.
Clarke had a tame penalty saved by Neil Gallagher before Burns fired over three frees in a row for the away team. Clarke and Burns ('45') swapped scores and Kernan had the last say of an even first half.
O'Hanlon edged Armagh ahead after the restart but a brace of Burns frees set Colin Kelly's men up for a shock win with twelve minutes left. Substitute Gavin McParland equalised and Forker put Armagh back in front but back came the 14-man underdogs through Derek Maguire.
The result means Kieran McGeeney's men have guaranteed themselves promotion with a game to spare while Louth will be looking at results elsewhere nervously as they are threatened by possible demotion to the bottom rung.
Armagh - P Morrison; M Shields, C Vernon, J Morgan; C McKeever, F Moriarty, A Mallon; A Findon, C O'Hanlon (0-4, 2f); T Kernan (0-1f), M McKenna, A Forker (0-1); J Clarke (0-2), E Rafferty (0-1f), A Murnin. Subs: G McParland (0-1) for A Murnin, E McVerry for T Kernan, B Donaghy for F Moriarty, S Forker for M McKenna.
Louth - N Gallagher; K Toner, P Reilly, P Rath; A Williams, D Finnegan, J Stewart; B Duffy, E O'Connor; A Reid, D Crilly, D Byrne (0-1f); R Burns (0-6, 4f), C Grimes, D Maguire (0-1). Sub: T Durnin for E O'Connor.
Referee - C Branagan.
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