All-Ireland champions Armagh booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with a 0-24 to 0-19 victory against Dublin in their second round-robin game at Croke Park.
Playing for the first time at Croke Park since beating Galway in last year’s decider, Armagh led 0-13 to 0-9 at the break after a strong end to the half.
The efficiency shown by the Orchard County going forward ultimately proved crucial in the second half as Dublin finished with 17 wides.
The five-point victory helped the Sam Maguire holders to claim top spot in Group Four and progress straight through to the last eight at the end of June.
Dublin were without influential captain Con O’Callaghan, who was injured in the victory against Galway last time out, but they made a bright start at Croke Park.
Cormac Costello was key to them moving three points clear on 17 minutes after the sides had exchanged early scores.
They lost their way midway through the half however due to their wastefulness in front of goal.
The Dubs had 19 shots in the first period but only nine points to show for it, while Armagh were much more clinical at the other end and scored five points from Dublin’s kickout.
Rory Grugan’s two-pointer on 18 minutes brought Armagh back to within one point before a fine solo run and finish from Jarly Og Burns drew the holders level.
Stephen Cluxton then made two good stops to deny Oisin Conaty and Andrew Murnin but Dublin went 11 minutes without scoring as the Orchard County took control.
Grugan added a free while Rian O’Neill, on his second start of the season, nailed a super two-pointer as did Conor Turbitt to put Kieran McGeeney’s side ahead for the first time.
Conaty, who was named player of the match in last year’s final weaved his way through to fire over before a Costello free reduced the deficit to four ahead of half-time.
Armagh did not relent after the break and O’Neill got his second two-pointer to extend their advantage.
Dublin continued to be the architects of their own downfall as three times in a matter of minutes they were penalised for not keeping three players up in the other half, allowing Grugan to stroke home three easy frees.
Costello missed a two-point free off the ground before making amends a few minutes later with a fine two-pointer to bring Dublin back within five.
Points from Ethan Rafferty and Darragh McMullan steadied Armagh, but another two-pointer from Sean Bugler kept the hosts believing they could fight back.
Bugler, Costello and John Small were all guilty of adding to Dublin’s wide count, with such misses proving costly in the end.
Substitute Stefan Campbell tagged on a point while O’Neill got his third two-pointer by kicking a free off the ground to widen the gap further.
Dublin kept coming back with another two-pointer, this time from Paddy Small again cutting the deficit.
Another point from a substitute, this time Joe McElroy, kept the scoreboard ticking over and Dublin failed in a late push to get back in the game as Armagh saw out the win.
McGeeney’s side will face Galway in their final game while Dublin take on Derry on the weekend of 14/15 June, knowing a win would secure their passage to the next round.
