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Armagh have continued their National Football League campaign with a two point win over Cork at Páirc Ui Rinn.
It was their second win in the Lidl Ladies NFL and the visitors went in front after just three minutes from a penalty and they were never behind from there. Cork got level a number of times but they never took the lead as the visitors deservedly held on for the win.
“It’s a big thing coming from Division Two to Division One,” said Armagh manager Gregory McGonigle. “Work rate is going to be the key for a lot of games, especially in winter football. We had to dig in, but defensively I thought we played very well.
“I've been involved with too many teams coming down to Cork and come away with a loss. It’s never easy to get the three points here and we had to earn them.”
Armagh took the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Libby Coppinger on Louise Kenny.
Aimee Mackin duly dispatched to the top corner of the net giving Sarah Murphy no chance of saving.
However, their lead didn’t last long with Hannah Looney playing in Daire Kiely for the game’s second green flag to make it a goal apiece.
Mackin put the visitors back in front with a well-taken free and she increased their lead with their first score from play, to make it 1-2 to 1-0.
Katie Quirke, who got all Cork’s scores against Galway, got off the mark after 12 minutes to put one between the sides.
From the restart Armagh had a chance for a goal when Lauren McConville drove forward from centre-back. She looked to play Kenny in, but Murphy was quickly off her line to intercept the pass and clear the danger.
But Cork were finding it hard to stop Mackin as she hit another outstanding score from distance to make it 1-3 to 1-1.
Sadhbh O’Leary got Cork’s second point to put only one between them again, before Quirke had the sides level after 20 minutes.
Just before half time Murphy made another great save, this time denying Kelly Mallon, before Caroline O’Hanlon got the last score of the half to see Armagh lead by one, 1-4 to 1-3 at the break.
Emily Druse increased Armagh’s lead three minutes into the second half as they started brightly.
Cork wasted several chances to get back on level terms, hitting three wides in the first five minutes after the restart. With 40 minutes gone Armagh had the chance for another goal, but this time Melissa Duggan blocked Kenny to deny her a green flag.
This seemed to wake Cork up as they worked the ball down the pitch and Quirke made no mistake this time, to make it 1-5 to 1-4.
McConville made it a two points game again as Cork were finding it difficult to get back on level terms.
Quirke pointed from a free for the home side with 10 minutes to go but Armagh worked the ball straight down the pitch to put two between them again as Niamh Murray split the posts.
They were denied another goal when Murphy pulled off the save of the game to deny Mallon what looked like a green flag. McCoy rounded off the scoring as Armagh came out on top by 1-8 to 1-6.
Scorers for Armagh: A Mackin 1-3 (pen, 1f), C O’Hanlon, E Druse, L McConville, N Murray, A McCoy 0-1 each.
Cork: D Kiely 1-1, K Quirke 0-4 (1f), S O’Leary 0-1.
ARMAGH: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge, R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; E Druse, A McCoy, S Quigley; A Mackin, L Kenny, K Mallon. Subs: N Murray for L Kenny (45), E Lavery for S Quigley (55), M Feehan for E Druse (59).
CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, L Coppinger, D Kiniry; A McDonagh, M O’Callaghan, D Kiely; A Healy, S Leahy; E Jack, K Quirke, S O’Leary; L McDonagh, H Looney, E Cleary. Subs: S Cronin for L McDonagh (41), E Hurley for S O’Leary (52), K O’Driscoll for S Leahy (56).
Referee: Patrick Smith (Waterford).
