Allianz FL D1: Galway defeat Armagh

Allianz Football League Division One

Galway 3-12 Armagh 0-20

By Steve Malone at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

It was a game played at breakneck speed, with plenty of twists and turns, but in the end it was decided by a 13-metre free, which Rob Finnerty converted to secure a valuable victory for Galway.

It was magnificent game of football, played at a frantic pace in front 7,532 supporters, with both teams dominating at various periods.

In the end Galway grabbed three goals, while Armagh opted to fist seven points over the bar, when perhaps it was worth having a crack at goal.

It was a stunning opening 35 minutes of football. Armagh led 0-4 to 0-2 with 10 minutes gone as Galway’s Fionn McDonagh opened the scoring, with Ross McQuillan, Conor Turbitt, Jarly Og Burns and Oisin Conaty replying before Finn McDonagh grabbed his sides second.

Then on 13 minutes young Kieran Molloy let fly with a rocket to edge Galway ahead, but each time Armagh had the answer with Ross McQuillan and Oisin O’Neill steering over before Finnian Ó Laoi levelled again.

It was end-to-end with some exciting play, although both sides will feel they left scores behind. Galway were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes when Ciaran Mulhern was blacked card for his challenge on Burns.

Burns and McConville tagged on points for Armagh and Turbit looked certain to bag a goal but for an intelligent last gasp block from Jack Glynn.

However, McQuillan’s third of the night had Armagh motoring nicely as the game passed the half-hour mark and then came that breach, which swung momentum firmly with Galway, following Finnerty’s two-point free landing in the net. Galway led 2-5 to 0-10 at the break.

It took nine minutes before Oisin Conaty grabbed the first score half to level matters and Jarly Og Burns fisted over edge Armagh but Finnerty squared matters up for the sixth time, in what was more ragged third quarter.

Cian McConville grabbed Armagh’s first point from a free on 51 minutes and his cousin Oisin O’Neill tagged on another before Galway hit back with substitute Shay McGlinchey and talisman Finnerty grabbing the needful scores as the game entered the last five and Finnerty’s fifth point put Galway back in the driving seat.

Shane Walsh made it a two-point game with less than13 minutes remaining and Burns’ third cut the deficit to a single point and Galway were caught with a breach on the hour with Oisin O’Neill steering over a two-pointer and further scores from Tiernan Kelly and Jason Duffy sent Armagh ahead.

However, there was plenty of time for drama as Matthew Tierney’s clinical shot into the far corner of Blaine Hughes’ net then swung the game Galway’s way – leading by a point.

Again, Armagh came back as Oisin O’Neill’s free levelled the score with 70-seconds remaining, which as it turned out, was enough time for Galway to clinch the winner.

Galway: Connor Gleeson, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack McGlynn, Finnian O’Laoi (0-1), Dylan McHugh, Kieran Molloy (1-0), Sean Kelly, Mattius Barret, Liam Sike, Ciaran Mulhearn, Daniel O’Flaherty, Fionn McDonagh (0-1), Rob Finnerty (1-6 (1-3fs), Oisin McDonagh.

Subs: Cillian McDaid (0-1) for O’Flaherty (28’), Matthew Tierney (1-0) for Molloy (27’), Shay McGlinchey (0-1) for Barrett (HT’), Shane Walsh (0-1) for Mulhearn (46’), Brian Cogger for (52’), Shane McGrath (0-01) for McDonagh (60’).

Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Joe McElroy, Gareth Murphy, Peter McGrane, Ross McQullian (0-3), Tiernan Kelly (0-1), Jarly Og Burns (0-3) , Callum O’Neill, Andrew Murnin, Fergal O’Brien (0-1), Conor Turbitt (0-1), Greg McCabe, Cian McConville (0-2, 1f), Oisin O’Neill (0-6, 1tpf, 0-1f), Oisin Conaty (0-2).

Subs: Tomas McCormick for McElroy (32’), Jason Duffy (0-1) for Turbitt (61’), Ethan Rafferty for O’Brian.

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).