ARMAGH MARCH ON WITH WIN OVER MAYO
ARMAGH 2-14 MAYO 1-10
Richard Bullick at the Athletic Grounds
Player of the Match Niamh Henderson scored a cracking goal in either half as Armagh made it four wins from four in their National League title defence with a convincing victory over Mayo in the Athletic Grounds on Saturday.
There was a spread of nine different scorers for Armagh on a night when no fewer than 24 players in orange got game-time including a welcome return to county colours by Catherine Marley and first Orchard appearance for Clann Eireann forward Eimear McConaghy.
While Henderson stole the show by bagging a brace of goals, Derrynoose young gun Caoimhe McNally produced another eye-catching cameo, continuing the exceptionally encouraging start to her Orchard career with two more confidently-taken points.
There were also two points each for Armagh’s top-scorer so far this season, Niamh Reel, along with the Shane O’Neills pair of Blaithin Mackin and Moya Feehan, while Eve Lavery converted a couple of left-footed frees for Joe Feeney and Darnell Parkinson’s side.
Clann Eireann captain Henderson, clearly none the worse for her club’s big awards dinner the night before, raised a white flag to go with her two majors and there was a point apiece from fellow Lurgan woman Niamh Coleman, skipper Lauren McConville and Aoife McCoy.
Stalwarts McCoy and McConville, the latter despite taking a couple of facial knocks which caused stoppages, got through a mountain of work in a game where they were among just six orangewomen to play the full hour as Armagh beat Mayo for the sixth time in a row.
So too did goalkeeper Brianna Mathers, deputising in nets for Anna Carr, Blaithin Mackin, Cait Towe and Louise Kenny, who had come into the published line-up in place of Maeve Ferguson for her first outing since the away win against Kerry in last month’s opening game.
Youthful livewires Roisin Mulligan and Emily Druse were called ashore early after herculean efforts for Queen’s in the O’Connor Cup 48 hours earlier, replaced by 2024 All Star Grace Ferguson and the very experienced Catherine Marley respectively.
Unlike rugby’s Celtic Challenge clash in Scotland earlier in the day where Wolfhounds, with an interval lead of 31-5, withdrew Ireland lynchpin Aoife Dalton at the break and lost the second half 17-0 to Edinburgh, the Orchard depth proved very reassuring.
Considering that the 24 players Armagh used didn’t include captain Clodagh McCambridge, her predecessor Kelly Mallon, star forward Aimee Mackin, top keeper Carr, Dearbhla Coleman, Sarah Quigley or Maeve Ferguson this win sad a lot about squad strength.
With the plethora of Orchard changes, a spirited display from Mayo – wearing their navy change kit – enabled them to outscore their hosts 1-6 to 1-3 in the second period after trailing by double digits at the break but Armagh’s deserved victory never felt in much doubt.
Having arrived in the cathedral city still seeking their first points of the campaign, Mayo may have sensed a hint of opportunity after reducing the arrears to six points but Henderson’s second goal midway through the second half shut the door again.
Mayo are admittedly the county hardest hit by the AFLW factor with no fewer than six representatives – sisters Niamh and Grace Kelly, Sarah Rowe, Aileen Gilroy, Rachel Kearns and Dayna Finn – now plying their trade professionally Down Under.
But it says so much about the incredible commitment to the Orchard cause among our leading lights locally that Armagh haven’t been hit by a similar exodus despite the lure of Oz, so it is frustrating that this side don’t get the public backing they deserve.
It was somewhat heartbreaking that the majority of the crowd who attended the men’s match between the respective counties earlier in the evening weren’t willing to stick around and get behind the magnificent McConville and her fantastic team.
They were already there and had paid for a ticket covering both games but, rather than stay to watch the ladies National League champions chasing their fourth consecutive victory of the season in perfect conditions, most simply left after the first fixture.
That was a shame but the more significant cloud on what was a beautiful evening for football was the worrying sight of Orchard ace Caroline O’Hanlon hobbling off early in the second half after falling to the ground unchallenged clutching her lower right leg.
The evergreen veteran’s dramatic collapse came in the lead-up to a great goal by Mayo full back Saoirse Lally – a Dublin housemate of Ireland rugby star Aoife Wafer – who was understandably delighted after delivering a wonderful finish following a surging run.
Lally’s glee was in contrast to the home concern about O’Hanlon, who had played every minute of the current campaign up until now, though the fact she was able to leave the field unaided may be a cause for optimism.
Next up for Armagh is a match against newly-promoted Kildare in Crossmaglen this Sunday (2pm) followed by a trip to Waterford on March 22 and two wins would book the Orchard’s ticket to the Croke Park final ahead of the last regular league game against Meath.
While Armagh are aiming to retain their National League title, Mayo are in real relegation trouble now after four defeats from four matches, including a disastrous slip-up at home to Tyrone, and it will be difficult for Liam McHale’s side to retain their top-flight status.
With away wins against All Ireland champions Kerry and traditionally dominant Dublin either some of a home victory over newly-promoted neighbours Tyrone, Armagh came into this Mayo match confident following a fixture-free weekend.
There were three changes from the starting line-up at Parnell Park last time out, with Ballyhegan’s Lavery and the Shane O’Neills pair of Kenny and Mathers coming in for Maeve Lennon, Maeve Ferguson and Carr respectively.
Blathin Mackin got the opening point of the evening with her left foot following a good run but Bree Hession quickly cancelled it out for Mayo and the same player levelled matters again in the fifth minute after a Lavery free had nudged Armagh back in front.
Lavery pulled a shot wide and O’Hanlon caught a Mayo free which she had given away before the visitors went in front through a point from Sinead Walsh after their previous shot had been off target.
After O’Hanlon broke up the middle from deep, the three Niamhs combined to get Armagh back on even terms, Reel regaining her feet and linking with Henderson who supplied the pass for her Clann Eireann clubmate Coleman to fist over.
The first quarter concluded with two well-taken points from centre half forward Feehan little more than a minute apart followed by a Henderson wide before Mackin’s second long-range effort of the evening gave Armagh a three-point advantage.
Druse then went scorching forward in trademark fashion from an O’Hanlon intercept and Henderson finished off a move in which she had already featured twice, with Reel getting the next point after a superb burst by McConville.
Lavery kicked her second free and Reel made it seven Armagh points in a 10-minute purple patch with a towering strike after being supplied by the typically tenacious, industrious Druse who has been one of the Orchard’s players of the season so far.
Kayla Doherty broke the scoring sequence with a much-needed point for Mayo but midfielder Anna Gough shot straight at Mathers and another attempt dropped into the Orchard keeper’s arms either side a narrow wide by Ciara Garvey.
Mayo were rocked by an Armagh goal, which came courtesy of Henderson chipping the keeper into the far corner and almost immediately McConville stretched her team’s advantage into double digits with her only point of the evening.
It remained 1-11 to 0-4 until half-time, at which juncture Feehan was replaced by Lennon, and both Lavery and Henderson spurned scoring chances for Armagh before Mayo registered the opening point of the half through midfielder Aoife Geraghty.
Grace Ferguson replaced Mulligan on 34 minutes but a sustained Armagh attack, which featured a prolonged period of patient approach play, ended with a Lavery shot which was deflected to goalkeeper Julia Gawalkiewicz.
O’Hanlon kicked a wide after breaking down a high ball in and taking the return from McCoy, and McConville was off-target with a left-footed shot but the referee brought play back for a Lavery free which fell short.
Lally’s glorious goal for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining was followed by a flurry of Armagh activity with Marley, Megan McCann and McNally coming on for Druse, O’Hanlon and Lavery respectively.
Teenager McNally quickly struck a sweet point on the run with her left foot from out on the left – already a familiar sight for Armagh fans – though Maria Cannon promptly replied for Mayo before Reel kicked the Orchard’s seventh wide after winning a turnover high up.
Fed by the busy Lennon, Henderson beat the keeper on her near post with a well-placed low shot for her second goal and then turned provider for fellow forward McCoy – the pair linked up effectively throughout – to register her only score of the match.
Mayo were to get four of the remaining five points, two by sub Ciara Whyte and a third for Hession before McNally struck another left-footed score on the run shortly after Mathers had clawed out an opposition shot from below her crossbar at the other end.
Killeavy teenager Rebecca Cunningham, who had netted with her very first touch for Armagh against Kerry last month, had taken over from Reel but McConville continued despite another bang in the face and an accidental poke in the eye didn’t put McNally off her game.
Newcomer McConaghy came on for her Clann Eireann club captain Henderson four minutes from the end, with two even later changes seeing Laura Kavanagh and Eimear McGeown replace Garvey and Coleman.
In between, another sub Riona Jordan had registered the last score of the evening for Mayo and Armagh spent the last couple of minutes keeping possession like they were practising trying to see out a tighter game.
It had been a job well done by the National League title holders and both Player of the Match Henderson and delighted joint manager Feeney declared themselves pleased with the evening’s work in their post-match interviews live on TG4.
ARMAGH: B Mathers; L Kenny, C Towe, R Mulligan; B Mackin (0-2), L McConville (capt; 0-1), C Garvey; N Coleman (0-1), C O’Hanlon; E Druse, M Feehan, E Lavery (0-2; 2f); N Henderson (2-1), A McCoy (0-1), N Reel (0-2). Subs used: M Lennon for Feehan (ht), G Ferguson for Mulligan (34mins), C Marley for Druse (40), M McCann for O’Hanlon (40), C McNally (0-2) for Lavery (40), R Cunningham for Reel (49), E McConaghy for Henderson (56), L Kavanagh for Garvey (59), E McGeown for Coleman (59).
MAYO: J Gawalkiewicz; L Wallace, S Lally (1-0), E Brennan; D Caldwell (capt), J Mortimer, H Reape; A Geraghty (0-1), A Gough; B Hession (0-3), M Cannon (0-1), E Sheridan; S Walsh (0-1), C Keane, K Doherty (0-1). Subs used: N O’Malley for Gough (ht), S Delaney for Walsh (33), R Jordan (0-1) for Brennan (36), C Doherty for Sheridan (40), C Whyte (0-2) for Keane (44), C Durkan for K Doherty (48), S McNulty for Mortimer (54), S Touhy for Hession (59).
Referee: Brendan Rice (Down).
