Mayo 2-16

Armagh 1-15

Mayo scored the last four points to edge out Armagh in an exciting Nicky Rackard Cup final at Croke Park.

The sides were level at 2-12 to 1-15 with two minutes of normal time remaining, but late points from top-scorer Kenny Feeney and Sean Regan saw the title head West as Mayo celebrated a rare Croke Park triumph. Feeney had an afternoon to remember by helping himself to 1-9, with his goal inside the final quarter having a crucial bearing on the outcome.

The winners got off to a dream start when Darren McTigue rattled the net in the third minute with a sweet ground strike. Allianz League Division 2B champions Armagh replied with points from Davy Carvill, Ryan Gaffney, Cahal Carvill and Declan Coulter to take the lead, but Mayo replied with scores from Joseph McManus, Regan and Feeney to go into the break on level terms, 1-6 to 0-9.

The second half was barely 30 seconds old when the Orchardmen put themselves in the driving seat when Eoin McGuinness goaled after a penetrating run by Coulter. Mayo battled back to regain parity again through Fergal Boland with 15 minutes remaining before Feeney raised their second green flag.

Armagh rallied with points from Conor Corvan, Coulter and McGuinness to level proceedings with five minutes remaining. But JP Coen's charges finished with a flourish to ensure themselves of an instant return to the Christy Ring Cup.

Mayo: D O'Brien; B Hunt, G McManus, E Collins; C Freeman, K Higgins, A Lyons; D Kenny, C Charlton; J McManus (0-1), K Feeney (1-9, 0-6f), S Regan (0-2); S Boland (0-1), P O'Flynn, D McTigue (1-0). Subs: P Connell for Lyons (h-t), F Boland (0-2) for McTigue (42), C Scahill (0-1) for O'Flynn (54), K McDermott for Hunt (61), G Nolan for S Boland (69).

Armagh: S Doherty; C Clifford, A McGuinness, C Devlin,;J Corvan, N Curry, C Toner; K McKernan, S Renaghan; R Gaffney (0-4, 3f, 1 '65), C Carvill (0-1), D Carvill (0-2); D Coulter (0-5), E McGuinness (1-1), C Corvan (0-2). Subs: J King for Renaghan (54), P McKearney for J Corvan, O Curry for Coulter (66).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).

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