Down and Armagh's senior clash produced plenty of intrigue on Sunday afternoon, as the two sides fought it out right to the final whistle at Pairc Esler.
Securing their first Championship win over neighbours Armagh in 25 years wasn't an easy task either. 12 minutes into stoppage time, Jamie Clarke stood over the ball with just three points between the sides, but put it over the bar rather than going for goal.
The meeting between the two Minor sides produced much more drama however, as well as all three nominees in the vote for your Electric Ireland Minor Player of the Week. You can cast your ballot every week on Electric Ireland's Facebook page, and get involved in the conversation through #GAAThisIsMajor.
Jack Hazard - Down
Hazard (no relation to Chelsea star Eden, as far as we know), was the difference maker for his side, in particular late on as the game entered the closing stages.
With the last kick of the game, Tiernan Kelly had a penalty that would have levelled matters, and having come back from being five points down at one stage, the momentum seemed to be swinging Armagh's way. Up stepped Hazard to produce a brilliant save and deny Kelly, who could only produce a point as he tried to connect with the loose ball.
minor result down 2-13 Armagh 2-10. penalty missed last kick pic.twitter.com/sozhCwThLo
— Aodhán Nutley (@aidan_nutley) June 4, 2017
Conor McCrickard - Down
Another of the Down men on the list is Conor McCrickard, but this time it was his goal scoring - not goal stopping - efforts that earn him the nomination. The forward was on target after 10 minutes as he found the back of the net, and put three points over the bar to boot as his side took an early lead.
Well done to Down minors on a long overdue championship victory. Liam Kerr and Conor McCrickard superb for wee James' men. ?⚫️
— Michael Kane (@MichaelKane10) June 4, 2017
He started brightly again in the second half, netting his second of the game and showing great accuracy from the dead ball to add to his tally. The scores all proved vital in the end, as Armagh piled on the pressure to close the gap and set up a nail-biting finish.
Liam Kerr - Down
Kerr put in a star performance up front alongside McCrickard, with the two men accounting for almost all of Down's scores on the day - McClements being the only other man on the park to put a point over the bar.
In the second half in particular, he showed his mettle at a vital stage after Tiernan Kelly scored a goal to bring Armagh right back to life.
Kerr put two frees over and scored three from play, ensuring that his side never let the game slip away from them as the second half ticked by. His eight points on the day proved as vital as Hazard's last gasp penalty save, but Down look to have found two gems up front in this impressive pairing.
You can cast your vote for the player of the week nominees every week on Electric Ireland's Facebook page.
