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Armagh held off a late Waterford rally to book a home quarter-final in the race for the Brendan Martin Cup after a thrilling encounter at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Waterford, caught at the death by Cork last weekend, almost snatched a draw in the final play of this TG4 All-Ireland Group 1 clash but a free from Chloe Fennell was tipped off the crossbar by Niamh Reel and Lauren McConville and Armagh survived.
Armagh led by 2-13 to 0-12 with nine minutes remaining but Waterford fought back bravely having been down to 13 players at one stage during the second half after picking up a couple of yellow cards.
Armagh led by 2-7 to 0-8 at the end of an exciting opening half which began with a flurry of scores as Aine O’Neill and Kellyann Hogan landed two-pointers for Waterford in the opening four minutes either side of a goal from Lara Marsden after a Kelly Mallon free dropped short.
Points from captain McConville, Mallon and Blaithin Mackin pushed Armagh 1-3 to 0-4 in front after nine minutes.
But Waterford hit back with two points from Bríd McMaugh and one from Maeve Daly to edge them 0-7 to 1-3 in front at the end of the opening quarter.
the LGFA TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship round 3 match between Armagh
and Waterford at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Aoife McCoy got in for Armagh’s second goal after a good passing movement after 16 minutes, while at the other end goalkeeper Brianna Mathers did superbly to block an effort from Clare Walsh.
Armagh outscored Waterford by 0-4 to 0-1 in the closing eleven minutes of the half to lead by five at the interval.
Hogan kicked three points for Waterford after the restart but Armagh remained in front as Aimee Mackin and McCoy found the range. They extended that lead to seven points with nine minutes remaining but Waterford hit back with points from Katie Murray and Lauren McGregor before Maeve Daly blasted to the net after being set up by McGregor.
That left two points between the sides and Chloe Fennell cut that to the minimum when she pointed a free.
Caroline O’Hanlon hit back with a couple of points but Waterford almost snatched a draw only to be denied by the woodwork.
They will now go into the relegation while Cork advance to the last eight as runners-up in the group.
Final score Armagh 2-15 Waterford 1-15
Scorers: Armagh: A McCoy 1-1, K Mallon 0-4 (2f), C O’Hanlon 0-3, L Marsden 1-0, A Mackin 0-3 (2f), L McConville 0-1, B Mackin 0-1, E Druse 0-1, C Henderson 0-1.
Waterford: K Hogan (0-5, 2f), M Daly 1-1, A O’Neill 0-3, B McMaugh 0-2, K Murray 0-2, L McGregor 0-1, C Fennell 0-1f.
Teams
ARMAGH: B Mathers; A Donnelly, C McCambridge, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville (capt.), G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O'Reilly; L Marsden, A McCoy, C Marley; A Mackin, C O'Hanlon, K Mallon. Subs: C Henderson for O’Reilly (37), C McNally for Marley (44), N Reel for Mallon (53),E Melanophy for Marsden (56), M Ferguson for Donnelly (59).
WATERFORD: K Gardner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Casey; L Cusack, K McGrath, R Browne; E Power, A O’Neill; B McMaugh, K Hogan, K Murray (capt.); M Daly, C Walsh, L McGregor. Subs: C Fennell for McMaugh (44), J Queally for Walsh (44), C Power for Cusack (52),
Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).
