Wicklow 3-19
Armagh 3-13

Wicklow needed a late 1-1 salvo from Mikey Lee to kill off Armagh's challenge in today's do-or-die Christy Ring Cup encounter at the Athletic Grounds.

While Casey O'Brien's charges advance to the quarter-finals, it's the end of the road for the Orchard County who now face a relegation playoff against neighbours Down.

Favoured by the wind in the opening half, Armagh took a 1-8 to 0-8 lead into the break with Declan Coulter scoring a 10th minute penalty. Lee narrowed the gap to two before Ryan Gaffney's point left a goal in it at the short whistle.

The sides traded points on the restart before Andy O'Brien's first goal levelled proceedings at 1-9 apiece. Buoyed by that score, the Division 2B champions surged into a 1-14 to 1-10 lead through points from Christy Moorehouse, Jonathan O'Neill, Daniel Staunton and O'Brien before John Lennon's side got themselves back into it when Conor Corvan netted in the 55th minute.

O'Brien replied with a similar score to give the Garden County a 2-16 to 2-11 advantage with 10 minutes remaining, but the hosts had the margin back down to two points when Coulter converted his second penalty.

But Lee made sure of Wicklow's win late on.

Wicklow - T Kennedy; G Bermingham, S Kelly, L Moloney; G Byrne, J Henderson, B Cuddihy; E Kearns, R Keddy; C Moorehouse (0-2), M Lee (1-7, 0-4f), J O'Neill (0-3); A O'Brien (2-5), S Byrne, D Staunton (0-2). Subs: E Dunne for L Moloney, P Doran for J O'Neill.

Armagh - S Doherty; C Devlin, C Clifford, M Garvey; S Renaghan, N Curry, C McAnallen; F Bradley (0-2), P Gaffney; D Coulter (2-6, 2-0pens, 0-4f), J Corvan (0-2), K McKernan; C Corvan (1-0), R Gaffney (0-2), P Hughes (0-1). Subs: D Mone for C Devlin, L McKee for M Garvey, A McGuinness for N Curry.

Referee - S Keane. Tweet

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