Oisín Conaty, Armagh, and Finnian Ó Laoí, Galway, in Allianz Football League action at Pearse Stadium. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division One
Galway 1-12 (1-3-6) Armagh 0-9 (0-0-9)
By Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium
Ultimately, this game was decided by a second half Galway burst.
Three two pointers on the spin ensured Pádraic Joyce's charges went from one ahead to seven clear, and there was no way back for the All-Ireland champions.
Galway were 1-5 to 0-7 in front with 17 minutes remaining, but distance efforts from Cillian Ó Curraoin, Shane Walsh (free), and Paul Conroy gave the locals a commanding advantage. Suddenly, Galway were 1-11 to 0-7 in the ascendancy.
Finnian Ó Laoi added a Galway point before Armagh terminated a 25 minute search for a score when Rory Grugan converted a free. By that stage, only five minutes were left, and Galway closed out the deal with the minimum of fuss.
Initially Galway had encountered some bother against Armagh, who were prompted by the electric Oisín Conaty. Kieran McGeeney’s outfit assumed a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 17th minute with Conaty contributing three points from play.
As the first half wore on, though, Galway began to convert opportunities. Ó Curraoin stroked over two frees before being fouled by Aidan Forker in the 32nd minute which resulted in a Galway penalty.
Matthew Tierney supplied an ice cool finish and when Ó Curraoin subsequently tapped over a free, Galway were 1-4 to 0-5 to the good at the turnaround.
Immediately after the restart Tierney kicked a free for Galway. Armagh substitute Conor Turbitt (free) and Conaty narrowed the gap, 1-5 to 0-7.
Then Galway seized control with an important flurry yielding two pointers for Ó Curraoin, Walsh, and Conroy.
Armagh’s Niall Grimley was sent off in the 60th minute and Galway claimed the full complement of spoils.
Solid defensively, Galway eventually were able to deliver the scores that ensured the first official match under the gleaming new Pearse Stadium floodlights culminated in a maroon and white victory.
Scorers for Galway: Cillian Ó Curraoin 0-5 (3fs, 1 2pt), Matthew Tierney 1-1 (1-0 pen), Paul Conroy (2pt) and Shane Walsh (2pt free) 0-2 each, Finnian Ó Laoi and Daniel O’Flaherty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Armagh: Oisín Conaty and Rory Grugan (3fs) 0-4 each, Conor Turbitt 0-1 (f).
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Seán Kelly; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Cathal Sweeney, Céin D’Arcy, Finnian Ó Laoi; Sam O’Neill, Matthew Tierney, Cillian Ó Curraoin.
Subs: Shane Walsh for Ó Laoi (10-15), Shane Walsh for McDaid (42), John Maher for Tierney (45), Liam Silke for O’Neill (54), Kieran Molloy for Kelly (62), Johnny Heaney for Ó Laoi (67).
Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Tomas McCormack, Aidan Forker, Barry McCambridge; Connaire Mackin, Greg McCabe, Jason Duffy; Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley; Stefan Campbell, Shane McPartlan, Darragh McMullan; Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin, Oisín Conaty.
Subs: Callum O’Neill for Crealey (5-9), Conor Turbitt for McPartlan (HT), Ross McQuillan for Forker (38), Cian McConville for Duffy (49), Jarly Óg Burns for McCormack (60), Ethan Rafferty for Hughes (60).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).
