McDonnell after his goal as Tony Blake wonders what went wrong

Armagh set up an All-Ireland Football decider against Tyrone by eventually subduing a brave Donegal challenge in Sunday's thrilling Semi-Final at Croke Park.

Joe Kernan's side won despite hitting 21 wides.

They dominated possession in the contest but errant shooting allied to some dogged Donegal resistance meant the outcome was in doubt until the final seconds when Oisin McConville hammered home a decisive penalty.

Donegal forward Christy Toye opened the scoring with a glorious left foot shot in the seventh minute.

However, Oisin McConville quickly levelled with a free and a great ball from Diarmuid Marsden then set up a goal chance for Paul McGrane but the midfielder was content to fist over the bar.

By that stage a pattern had been set with Armagh dominating in the crucial middle third of the field but unable to turn possession into the scores.

In the 16th minute, Raymond Sweeney picked up a harsh booking after a challenge on Diarmuid Marsden and Michael Monaghan's decision was to prove crucial later in the game.

Donegal had a lucky escape in the 18th minute after their goalkeeper Tony Blake appeared to have fouled Ronan Clarke in a goalmouth scramble.

The ball fell to Clarke after McConville's free had been tipped onto the bar and Steven McDonnell's close-range follow-up had also hit the woodwork.

Brendan Devenney's 27th minute free put Donegal 0-4 to 0-3 ahead but in truth, the St Eunan's player was making little impact in open play.

Brendan Devenney tries to get past Kieran McGeeney

Despite Armagh's superiority, Donegal's speed threatened the All-Ireland champions on a number of occasions and Brian McEniff's side put together a glorious move for their goal on the stroke of half-time.

McGonigle, Michael Hegarty and John Gildea were all involved with the ball eventually finished superbly to the net by Christy Toye.

In first half injury-time, Marsden replied for Armagh which left three points between the sides at the break.

Donegal made the perfect start to the second half with Adrian Sweeney striking a free to restore his team's four-point advantage.

Then came his brother Raymond's sending-off.

In fairness to referee Monaghan, it did appear a booking offence on this occasion with Sweeney almost forced to foul McConville after McGonigle had carelessly conceded possession in his own half.

Despite Sweeney's departure, his brother's magnificent 48th minute point meant Donegal were four ahead again at 1-7 to 0-6.

However within eight minutes, the All-Ireland champions were level.

Probably the crucial moment of the match was Steven McDonnell's 56th minute goal with the forward outfielding the pint-sized Niall McCready inside the Donegal '21 after a John McEntee long ball and coolly slotting past Blake.

To their credit, Donegal took the lead again thanks to another Devenney free but Armagh's greater physical strength was becoming apparent while McEniff's team were starting to labour.

Cool McConville

McConville levelled before a glorious free from near the sideline by substitute Paddy McKeever put Armagh ahead with seven minutes of normal time left.

The brave Sweeney levelled matters again as the match entered injury-time but there was going to be five minutes of injury-time - plenty time to decide the outcome.

Crucially Donegal then lost possession and midfield and with acres of space, Philip Loughran was able to go up the field and fist a crucial point.

In the final minute of injury-time, there was a suspicion that John Gildea should have been awarded a free in midfield but referee Monaghan waved play on and McKeever soon had the ball in the net.

In fact, Monaghan had blown up for a foul on the Armagh substitute but McConville kept a cool head to blast the spot-kick past Blake in what was the last action of the game.