Ulster SFC final: Derry beat Armagh 3-1 on penalties after riveting decider ends level after extra-time

Derry secured back-to-back Ulster Senior Football titles for the first time since 1976 by beating Armagh 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a riveting decider at Clones ended 1-15 to 0-18 after extra-time.

Ciaran McFaul scored the winning penalty at the end of a dramatic shootout in which Derry keeper Odhran Lynch saved three Armagh efforts.

Shane McGuigan and Conor Glass also scored penalties for Derry with Armagh's Rian O'Neill, Aidan Nugent and Ethan Rafferty all denied by Lynch.

It was the first time an Ulster Championship final - or indeed any senior provincial showpiece - was decided by penalties but it was a familiar feeling of heartache for Armagh having also lost last year's All-Ireland quarter-final in a shootout to Galway.

Hunting a first Ulster title since 2008, the Orchard men led by two points in the second half of extra-time only for Derry to fight back and edge ahead.

With the holders leading by a point in the dying seconds, Rian O'Neill landed a free to keep Armagh's hopes alive, but they fell short in heartbreaking fashion as McFaul's successful kick sparked jubilant scenes among the Derry fans at a sold-out St Tiernach's Park.

• Derry beat Armagh on penalties to retain Ulster title - as it happened

The build-up to Sunday's final was dominated by serious allegations of domestic violence made against Derry manager Rory Gallagher by his wife Nicola Gallagher.

On Thursday, he said the allegations against him have been investigated and dealt with by the relevant authorities. On Friday, Gallagher said in a statement that he was stepping back from his role with immediate effect.

Ciaran Meenagh stepped in to take on the role of Derry manager for Sunday's final.

Under Meenagh, Derry secured another provincial title and will take their place in the All-Ireland round-robin stages alongside Monaghan, Donegal and Clare. Armagh will face Galway, Tyrone and Westmeath in their group.

Derry break Armagh hearts

Rian O'Neill forced the shootout with a last-gasp free but saw his penalty saved by Derry keeper Odhran Lynch

It was a thrilling final in which Derry managed to keep their noses in front until O'Neill tapped over an easy free to level the score in injury-time and force extra-time for the second year running in the Ulster final after Rogers was shown a black card for a foul on Jarly Og Burns.

Derry settled into the game quicker, dominating early possession before Shane McGuigan kicked their opening score. While O'Neill responded with a free for Armagh, Rogers scored the game's only goal when he jumped to meet Paul Cassidy's high ball, punching it past stranded Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty and Aaron McKay on the line.

Armagh relied on placed balls for their early scores with Jarly Og Burns and Greg McCabe scoring marks before Rogers split the posts with a superb effort to put Derry 1-2 to 0-3 ahead.

Rogers - deployed in his now-familiar midfield role after starring at full-back last year - scored another fine effort from play, ending the first half with 1-2 from play.

Armagh ace O'Neill also showcased his finishing talents with two brilliant kicks from distance that rode the wind and curled inside the post, the second of which left Armagh a single point behind the holders.

The second half was a tit-for-tat affair with the sides exchanging scores, with McGuigan's long-range effort to put Derry 1-8 to 0-10 ahead the standout in a period of high-quality scores.

McGuigan's fourth score of the afternoon put Derry 1-10 to 0-11 ahead but two late scores from Rian O'Neill - a '45 and the free after Rogers' black card forced extra-time.

Rory Grugan could have won it for Armagh in the dying seconds but his mark dropped short into Odhran Lynch's hands.

Despite Grugan's failed attempt, Armagh appeared rejuvenated at the start of extra-time with substitute Ross McQuillan's score putting them ahead for the first time within a minute of the restart.

After McGuigan's free restored parity, Jarly Og Burns and Stefan Campbell - who impressed after coming off the bench - put Armagh two clear.

Orchard keeper Rafferty's drilled effort restored the two-point cushion after another McGuigan score but Derry refused to give in, with Niall Toner and McGuigan converting frees to level before Lachlan Murray edged the holders ahead in injury time at the end of extra-time.

There was still drama left, however, as Rian O'Neill held his nerve to land a last-gasp free and earn Armagh the chance in the shootout.

O'Neill was thwarted by Lynch in the shootout, the Derry keeper producing three excellent saves before McFaul - who missed Derry's triumphant campaign last year - sent his kick high into Ethan Rafferty's net to spark an ecstatic pitch invasion from the Oak Leaf fans at the end of a remarkable final.

Derry came out on top in another dramatic final having beaten Donegal after extra-time in last year's decider

Armagh: E Rafferty (0-2); C O'Neill (0-1), A McKay, A Forker; Ciaran Mackin (0-1), G McCabe (0-1m), J Og Burns (0-2, 1m); J Morgan, S McPartlan; J Duffy, B McCambridge, R Grugan (0-2); A Murnin, R O'Neill (0-6, 3f, 1 '45), C Turbitt.

Subs: S Campbell (0-2) for Grugan, A Nugent for McPartlan (45), R McQuillan (0-1) for McCambridge (57), O Conaty for Murnin (63); Grugan for Duffy, C Cummiskey for Forker (70); Connaire Mackin for Ciaran Mackin (77).

Derry: O Lynch; C McKaigue, E McEvoy, C McCluskey; C Doherty, G McKinless (0-1), P McGrogan; C Glass (0-1), B Rogers (1-2); Benny Heron, Paul Cassidy, E Doherty; N Toner (0-2f), S McGuigan (0-7, 3f), N Loughlin (0-1).

Subs: C McFaul for Heron (47), L Murray (0-1) for Loughlin (60), P Cassidy for C Doherty (64), Heron for Murray (70), Loughlin for McGrogan (82), Murray for Heron (84).

Referee: David Gough (Meath)

Brendan Rogers was named man of the match while Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch saved three Armagh penalties in the shootout

Ciaran McFaul, who missed last year's Ulster triumph, kicked the winning penalty for Derry

Clones held its breath as McFaul ran up to take his penalty

Shane McGuigan kicked 0-7 for Derry and succumbed to cramp immediately after scoring his penalty in the shootout

Derry will now face Monaghan, Donegal and Clare in the All-Ireland round-robin stages