Armagh 3-11 Down 5-4:ARMAGH PROVED generous to a fault when they conceded four first-half goals before regaining their composure after the break to grab a one-point victory in this dramatic, almost surreal, match.

Buoyed by a brace of goals from Shay McCartan and one each from Caolan Mooney and Shea McArdle, Down led at half-time by 4-1 to 0-5. And when McArdle grabbed his second goal two minutes into the second-half, Armagh were seemingly on their knees.

Yet they managed to dig deep to mount the most unlikely of comebacks. Substitute Paul Óg Grant sparked it with a 35th-minute goal and when Michael McKenna powered home their second goal they were in touch at 5-3 to 2-8.

In a thrilling climax Armagh grabbed victory when Paul McGeown coolly glided a 58th minute penalty home.

ARMAGH: D O’Hagan; B McCarron, C White, D O’Neill; M Murphy (0-1), C Hoey, D O’Hagan; A Findon, E Rafferty (0-2); M Carson, C O’Hanlon, M McKenna (1-0); C McNally, P McGeown (1-8, 1-0 pen, seven frees, one 45), C Comiskey. Subs: S Hughes for White (20 mins), P Grant (1-0) for Carson, (24 mins), C Gough for Rafferty (h-t), P Burns for O’Hagan (46 mins).

DOWN: R Miskelly; D Turley, G McGovern, R Lively; M Hughes, C McCartan, P Murdock (0-1); S Harrison, R Johnston; D O’Hanlon, J Scannell (0-2, one free), C Mooney (1-1, one free); D Doyle, S McArdle (2-0), S McCartan (2-0). Subs: S Cochrane for Lively (50 mins), R Burns for Scannell (55 mins), R McAlinden for Doyle (59 mins).

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).

In the first provincial minor football semi-final, set for June 19th, Fermanagh will play Armagh. The second semi-final, on June 26th, will be between Tyrone and Cavan.