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Goals proved decisive as Galway secured a five points win over Armagh in round four of the Lidl National Football League on Saturday evening at Duggan Park.
An Andrea Trill strike and two goals from Leanne Coen powered the Tribeswomen to their third victory of the campaign, strengthening their push for a place in the league final.
Armagh made the brighter opening and led 0-4 after ten minutes. Inside two minutes, Caroline O’Hanlon set Catherine Marley away on a surging run before she was fouled by Galway midfielder Aisling Madden, who was sent to the sin bin by referee Maggie Farrelly.
Round 4 match between Galway and Armagh at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe,
Galway. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Kelly Mallon, Christina O’Reilly and Blaithin Mackin were all on target to hand the Orchard county early control.
Róisín Leonard and Mallon exchanged scores as Galway trailed 0-5 to 0-1 by the end of the first quarter. Gradually, the home side found their footing and reeled off four unanswered points through Hannah Noone, Aoife O’Rourke, Kate Thompson and Coen to draw level.
The turning point arrived before the break when Leonard’s close-range free dropped short. Armagh goalkeeper Brianna Mathers punched clear, but the ball fell to Trill, who finished to the net. Leonard added a point from play to give Galway a four points half-time lead.
Coen struck for a second goal on 36 minutes to stretch the advantage, and after Mallon replied, she netted again following a precise pass from Leonard to leave Galway 3-8 to 0-9 ahead by the 40-minute mark. Armagh responded with points from Lauren McConville and O’Hanlon to stay in contention.
Lynsey Noone helped Galway maintain breathing space as O’Hanlon and Mallon kept Armagh within reach. In the closing stages Slevin sealed a deserved five-point victory for Daniel Moynihan’s side.
Final score: Galway 3-11 Armagh 0-15
Scorers: Galway: L Coen 2-1, A Trill 1-0, R Leonard (0-4, 0-2 f), H Noone 0-2, A O’Rourke (0-1, 0-1 f), K Slevin (0-1, 0-1 f), L Noone and K Thompson 0-1 each.
Armagh: K Mallon (0-7, 0-3 f), C O’Hanlon (0-3, 0-2 f), B Mackin 0-2, L Marsden, L McConville and C O’Reilly 0-1 each.
Galway: L O’Halloran; R Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, B Quinn; H Noone, C Trill, A Molloy; N Divilly, A Madden; A O’Rourke, K Slevin, K Thompson; A Trill, L Coen, R Leonard (capt.). Subs: S Divilly for Madden (Half-time), O Divilly for O’Rourke (48), L Noone for Thompson (48), L Ward for Molloy (57), N Ward for N Divilly (57), E Smith for Leonard (60).
Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; R Mulligan, L McConville (capt.), E Druse; C Marley, C O’Reilly; L Marsden, A Donnelly, B Mackin; M Lennon, C O’Hanlon, K Mallon. Subs: E Reid for Mulligan (29), C McNally for Lennon (40), L Kavanagh for Donnelly (42), M Loughran for O’Reilly (52).
Referee: Margaret Farrelly (Cavan).
Report by Paul Shaughnessy
