Armagh are out of the 2007 championship after suffering a shock 0-10 to 0-9 defeat to reborn Derry in a senior football qualifier at Clones. With extra time looking ominous, rookie Colin Devlin won the day for the Derrymen with a point in the third minute of added time. Moments earlier, Armagh should have been awarded a close-range free but they will know deep down that they didn't do enough to merit victory in this match. In truth, this was a very poor Armagh display. Apart from the third quarter, Big Joe's team never found their form. The story of Armagh's '07 championship is two defeats from two outings, both inflicted by late, late scores. While Derry played with great character and grit, the football on show in this game was of a poor standard from both sides and they'll have to improve considerably if they're to involve themselves in the business end of the premier knockout competition. The Sperrin boys came out of the blocks with a totally different attitude than that displayed in their provincial semi-final defeat to Monaghan and they were full value for a two-point half-time lead. Armagh's long lay-off since they relinquished the Anglo-Celt Cup seemed to affect them adversely and they never got into their stride at all in the opening 35 minutes. They could have considered themselves fortunate not to be further adrift at the short whistle. Derry started brightest and both Barry McGoldrick and Mark Lynch almost got in for goals. In between, Paddy Bradley had opened the scoring from a precise free. Armagh, in contrast, seemed anxious and Aaron Kernan's free had been struck with an uncharacteristic lack of confidence. When Sean Martin Lockhart robbed Steven McDonnell, it sparked a Derry counter attack which culminated in a good Collie Devlin point. Oisin McConville struck a wonderful score to get the Orchard County on the board but Joe Kernan's charges were sluggish and Andy Mallon's mistake presented the underdogs with their third score on 16 minutes. Paul Murphy claimed that point after Bradley pounced on Mallon's slip. Placed by Devlin, McGoldrick slotted over a majestic score to make it 0-4 to 0-1 with quarter of the match elapsed. It could have been worse for the 2006 Ulster champions if the referee had awarded McGoldrick a free when he appeared to be hauled down close to goal. A bad Shane O'Kane kick-out put the Derry defence under pressure and McDonnell was on hand to double Armagh's tally and offer them some much-needed encouragement. The gap was back to one after Diarmuid Marsden floated over his side's third point. Marsden missed a chance to draw the Orchard level before Lynch stretched the gap at the other end. McConville's optimistic penalty appeals were turned down and - for the second time - McDonnell benefited from O'Kane's generosity. The Derry 'keeper gifted possession to the Armagh attacker and he dissected the posts. Bradley closed the first-half scoring in stoppage time and Derry held a 0-6 to 0-4 interval advantage. McDonnell (free) and Stephen Kernan - with a stunning point - had rejuvenated Armagh level shortly after the restart and McDonnell then fired then ahead for the first time with an accurate high kick after great approach play from the raiding Aaron Kernan. With the Crosmaglen contingent starting to come to the fore, McConville claimed his second point as Armagh transformed their two-point interval deficit into a two-point lead, 0-8 to 0-6. But they would only score once more in the 2007 championship. Bradley lifted the siege when he clipped over a free 15 minutes into the second half but Armagh had upped the intensity rate and were starting to command exchanges. Derry were visibly wilting in the face of the Orchard County's power but Bradley's frees were keeping them in touch. He notched his third point after Stephen Kernan sent one between the posts. A disappointingly low quality affair was still in the melting pot with ten minutes left and it was Derry who found the final two scores. There were hits aplenty but little footballing action of note. Armagh should have stretched their lead but Martin O'Rourke was guilty of an unexpected miss. McGoldick had an opportunity to equalise but he dropped a free into the grateful Paul Hearty's arms. However, Aaron Kernan's foul on Devlin presented Bradley with another chance, which he happily accepted with five minutes left. Amazingly, Derry seemed to have had a second wind and they were now finishing strongest. McConville won a 40-yard free in the 69th minute but the Cross' attacker sent his kick wide and the sides were level as two added minutes were signalled by linesman Pat McEneaney. Armagh were denied a blatant free in the first added minute and Devlin struck the winning point in the third. An incredible victory for the Oak Leaf County and a very low-key performance from Armagh. Derry - S O'Kane, M McGoldrick, K McCloy, G O'Kane, L Hinphey, SM Lockhart, F McEldowney, F Doherty, J Conway, P Murphy (0-1), C Gilligan, M Lynch (0-1), C Devlin (0-2), P Bradley (0-5), B McGoldrick (0-1). Subs - R Wilkinson for Gilligan, J Diver for Conway, J Keenan for Hinphey, G Donaghy for Lynch. Armagh - P Hearty, E McNulty, B Donaghy, A Mallon, A Kernan, K McGeeney, K McKeever, P McGrane, K Toner, P McKeever, S Kernan (0-2), M O'Rourke, S McDonnell (0-4), D Marsden (0-1), O McConville (0-2). Subs - K Dyas for McKeever, J Lavery for Toner, P Keenan for McKeever Referee - E Murtagh (Longford) Tweet

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