Tyrone transformed their Sam Maguire group qualification chances tonight, emerging two-point winners in a thriller against fourteen-man Armagh. 

An incident-fuelled first half commenced with Tyrone’s Darren McCurry pointing a forty-five which Andrew Murnin swiftly cancelled out.

In a fiery encounter that bristled with needle, some yellow cards were dished out as Armagh’s counterattack brought the best from home goalkeeper Niall Morgan, making some stunning, crucial saves.

His side profited further from those by seizing the points initiative, Darragh Canavan giving them the lead before McCurry took his tally to three with a quickfire brace.

Rian O’Neill replied with a score but an exchange of points between Conn Kilpatrick, Conor Turbitt and Matthew Donnelly kept the home lead at three points. 

Armagh then survived a scare when Peter Harte, ghosting through their defence, struck the post from close range as the goal gaped.  Then came a transformative moment. 

O’Neill shown red for a strike off the ball, endangering an opponent.  Bookings for Canavan and Jarlath Og Burns either side increased the spikiness of a high-octane game.

After the interval, Armagh attacked with renewed emphasis, but Rory Grugan struck a post when perhaps taking a point was the better option.

Jarlath Og Burns slotted the second half’s first point, McCurry added his fourth before Turbitt fluffed his lines from a free, O’Neill’ absence being felt.

Breathing space was established for Tyrone after Michael McKernan and Conor Meyler slotted well-taken points as they looked to wrestle their way back into group qualification contention.

Grugan and Oisin Conaty scored as Armagh wrenched themselves back to within four with home nerves starting to jangle. 

Turbitt increased the nail-biting amongst home fans but two vital points from Canavan, sandwiching Grugan’s third point, took Tyrone beyond a goal buffer as they entered seven additional minutes.

Grugan pointed his fourth hauling Armagh back within goal-territory and Conaty scored with the last kick, Armagh mystifyingly going for a point instead of a goal. 

As the players went hell for leather under the sunlight, Tyrone were ferociously supported over the line.

This result sets up a massive final weekend of Sam Maguire games for both with second place (and knockout places) in the balance, both Tyrone and Armagh will be keeping tabs on their respective results. 

But the momentum has shifted Tyrone’s way tonight despite Armagh’s admirable, fourteen-man, endeavours.