Armagh 5-12 Mayo 2-5
Armagh got their season up and running with an impressive 16-point win over Mayo, in Middletown on Saturday.
They sides played out an even enough affair in the opening half, but the hosts pushed on after the turnaround.
All five of Armagh’s goals, with five different scores, came in the second half to see the Orchard ease over the line.
Joint captains Jennifer Curry and Michelle McGuigan combined for the opening score of the game while Eimear Smyth added a second.
Ellie McKee traded scores with the away side before Smyth set up McGuigan for her first score.
A terrific Rachael Merry point from near the sideline stretched Armagh’s lead before Mayo hit back with a goal.
Merry, Katie Comiskey and Smith all split the posts to hand Armagh a 0-8 to 1-2 advantage at half time.
Merry added another early in the second period while Ciarrai Devlin pulled off a fine save at the other end.
Ellie McKee knocked home Armagh’s first goal while McGuigan raised another green flag minutes later.
Comiskey played through Merry for another three-pointer while Smyth chipped in with two points.
Substitute Sinead Quinn also bagged a goal after entering the action, all before Mayo got up and running.
It took the Westerners 21 minutes to add to their tally and they rattled off 1-3, but it wasn’t enough to really close the gap.
A goal line scrambled ended with Eimear Smyth burying the ball to the net while Smyth also followed it up with the final score of the game.
It’s a terrific start for Armagh and they face a top of the table clash with Kildare, away from home, next week.
Armagh: Ciarrai Devlin, Siodhna Woods, Tierna Maguire, Nicola Woods, Gemma McCann, Aislinn Harvey, Cara Crilly, Eabha Lennon, Leanne Donnelly, Jennifer Curry, Michelle McGuigan 1-1, Ellie McKee 1-1 (1f), Katie Comiskey 0-1, Eimear Smyth 1-6, Rachael Merry 1-3 (1f). Subs: Aife Crilly for N. Woods, Sinead Quinn 1-0 for E. McKee, Caoimhe O’Kane for K. Comiskey, Grace Gaffney for S. Woods, Eimear Smyth for C. Crilly, Caitlinn Murray for M. McGuigan.
