Mayo comeback falls just short against high-flying Armagh
Armagh have reached their first ever Lidl National League Division 1 final as a result of their 2-9 to 2-8 victory over Mayo in James Stephens Park, Ballina, this afternoon.
It took a late free from sharp-shooter Aimee Macken to seal victory on a 2-9 to 2-8 scoreline and in reality, the league leaders were a shade fortunate to leave north Mayo with all three points as a resurgent home side were left to rue a number of missed opportunities in the second half.
The Orchard County hung on, however, and pounced with that late free, but they must have been stunned with Mayo's second-half comeback after they went in at the break with a nine-point (2-5 to 0-2) advantage.
“Very disappointed. Had loads of opportunities to win the game in the last 10 minutes and really, really had them on the rack – they couldn't get out past their 45. But we kicked wide after wide,” said Mayo manager Liam McHale following the contest.
He added: “It's disappointing because we worked so hard at that, turning down a good shot for a great shot. We were just snatching at things there. I think we kicked about 12 or 13 wides and had three or four really good goal chances.”
Going into the game with five wins from five, Armagh were strong favourites against a Mayo team that has had a mixed campaign to date. They wore that favourites tag well, content to soak up pressure and hit Mayo on the break, which they did to great effect.
Mayo, by contrast, found it difficult to penetrate the Orchard County's rearguard and struggled to cope when Armagh turned defence into attack with rapid-fire counters.
Scores were slow to materialise early on with just two frees – one apiece – inside the opening 10 minutes, Kelly Mallon on target for the visitors and Maria Cannon replying in kind for the home side.
Another free, this time by Aimee Macken, had Armagh ahead again on 11 minutes, and Armagh soon took control on the scoreboard.
They did survive a scare as Mayo, for once, cut through the rearguard, Hannah Reape and Aoife Geraghty combining to set up Kathryn Sullivan, whose shot on goal was well saved by the Armagh goalkeeper, Brianne Mathers.
Armagh made them pay as the impressive Aoife McCoy went on a surging run from the middle before setting up Macken who applied a low finish beyond the advancing Mayo 'keeper, Laura Brennan.
After Mallon followed up with another free, Macken then turned provider for McCoy for goal number two, and Mayo were reeling.
Sinead Walsh stopped the rot but Armagh had the last say as Niamh Coleman scored with some ease, leaving her side in a commanding 2-5 to 0-2 lead at the break.
Right from the start of the second half, Mayo – now with the aid of the breeze shooting into the the town end – fired over three points in a row, and while McCoy settled Armagh with her first point of the afternoon, the game was enlivened when Sinead Walsh found the back of the net following Sinead Cafferky's perceptive pass, making it a four-point game (2-6 to 1-5).
Aimee Macken put five between the teams again but Mayo surged again, Walsh nipping in for a point before impressive substitute Saoirse Delaney executed a superb finish after a pass from Cannon, leaving the minimum between the teams. In addition, Armagh were down to 14 players after a yellow card for Caroline O'Hanlon.
Cannon made it a tied game with a great effort from wide on the left. Macken and Aoife Geraghty swapped scores to still leave it level approaching injury time, but the ever-reliable Armagh free-taker had the final. It was a difficult free on the wrong side for a left-footed shooter but Macken guided the ball over superbly, sealing Armagh's place in the decider with a round to spare.
It was an extra special occasion for Armagh’s Lauren McConville, who racked up her 100th outing in the county colours since making her debut without being injured or dropped.
“Whenever I started out playing for Armagh I never thought I'd reach 100 games. I've been around the block a while now and I'm probably bringing that bit of experience to the team. I've been fortunate enough with injuries so I'll keep going as long as the body allows.
“It's just extra special that we've made it to the league final. Greg (McGonigle, manager) was saying at the end there that we've made history, so that's special for the county.”
Mayo: L. Brennan; D. Caldwell, N. O’Malley, S. Lally; K. Sullivan, E. Murray, J. Mortimer; A. Geraghty (0-1), H. Reape; F. McLaughlin, A. Fitzpatrick, M. Cannon (0-3, 2f); S. Cafferky, L. Cafferky (0-1), S. Walsh (1-2).
Subs used: C. Needham for Mortimer (HT), S. Delaney (1-1) for Fitzpatrick (HT), C. Durkan for Sullivan (45), E. Ronayne for Murray (45), A. Staunton for L. Cafferky (50).
Armagh: B. Mathers; G. Ferguson, C. McCambridge, R. Mulligan; C. Towe, L. McConville, D. Coleman; N. Coleman (0-1), C. O’Hanlon; E. Lavery, A. McCoy (1-1), C. Doyle; A. Mackin (1-5, 3f), N. Henderson, K. Mallon (0-2f).
Subs used: S. Quigley for Mallon (41), E. Druse for Lavery (41), M. Ferguson for D. Coleman (53), C. O'Hagan for Doyle (60+1).
Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).