ARMAGH, who botched their recovery against Louth a fortnight ago, improved on their timing in yesterday's Church and General National Football Leaguer Division Two meeting with Dublin at Parnell Park.

Damien Horisk's injury time equaliser triggered disgruntled mutterings among, the Dublin supporters, but the home support should have been grateful that a sharing of the points had been the extent of the visitors' comeback.

Far more dangerous in attack, the northerners could have won the match comfortably but for the wastefulness of their forwards. They always looked to have the Dublin defence under pressure when they ran with the ball, but the attacking aggression and finishing were below par.

Dublin, with a far less coherent plan of attack, still managed to more chances but weren't notably impressive about taking them. Their experimental line up flashed intermittently but never really delivered on the promise.

Ian Robertson was industrious Ciaran Whelan physically enthusiastic and the newest face of all, Ray Cosgrove, returned a tally of 1-1, making him the teams top scorer. The goal was a simple matter and the point came from a free, but the Kilmacud youngster was one of the more hopeful indicators that manager Mickey Whelan can take from a dismal afternoon.

Armagh started the match with a plethora of changes. Kieran McGeeney moved to the forwards while Martin McQuillan, a late call up for the forwards dropped back to his more familiar wing back berth. Horisk replaced McGeeney at centre back and Colm Hanratty filled the vacant full back position.

All of the visitors first half scores came from Oisin McConville, who kicked two frees and a 45 from the left corner forward position. This would have been enough to keep, the match evenly balanced bad it not been for a goal conjured up in 24th minute.

Paul Clarke dispossessed Tony McEntee and dropped a long, inviting ball into his full forwards, Dessie Farrell took the ball, turned his marker and slipped the ball to Cosgrove who dispatched to an empty net.

It was a good break for the home team who hadn't hitherto looked remotely likely to cut through Armagh's defence. For whatever reason, Farrell had an unhappy afternoon. Despite consistently beating, Hanratty to the ball, the Dublin full forward never managed to drive home his advantage and, consequently, Dublin benefitted nothing from his imperium.

The advantage of the goal was enhanced five minutes later when Paul McGrane ran around the edge of the Dublin defence and squared a ball for Martin Toye, who drew a fine response from David Byrne, making the most of his opportunity to displace John, O'Leary in Dublin's goal.

Dublin's defence was very uncertain. Paddy Moran and Ciaran Walsh knew their way around in the corners, but Darren Homan, the new full back, frequently risked the referee's displeasure before finally having his name taken in the 41st minute.

That uncertainty at the back, was underlined by an incident, early in the second half when McGrane's punch was only scrambled free after an intervention from midfielder Brian Stynes.

Play meandered aimlessly for most of the first three quarters with neither side managing to impose much of a pattern on proceedings, but with Armagh definitely the more capable of doing so.

This promise bore fruit in their most productive - and most needy spell. Trailing by five points shortly into the second half, Armagh were failing to rise to the challenge by squandering a succession of close in frees and in general play, not making best use of their reasonably substantial amount of possession losing or giving away the ball at important moments.

Nonetheless, into this unhappy environment was injected a burst of life, and within the 42nd and 45th, minutes Armagh had closed to within a point.

Another McConville miss was obligingly returned by the Dublin defence to McGeeney, who happily popped it over. Then Cathal Short - originally named in the team but not brought on until after 43, minutes took, the field and reinvigorated the visitors by scoring with his first touch and firing up his colleagues to the extent that the error prone McConville shot over a point from 40 metres.

By now, Dublin were there for the taking. But two rosy opportunities to push home an advantage were blown by Armagh.