Armagh 4-9 Laois 2-10
The Armagh Ladies earned promotion to the top tier, along with the Division Two title, with a five-point win over Laois.
Armagh were relegated from Division One in 2017 and have been battling their way back ever since and have been knocking on the door over the past few years.
And from the start of the game, the ladies were determined there would be no more hard luck stories in Croke Park.
Aimee Mackin, as usual, starred for the Orchard County and nailed three first half goals to give her side the initiative.
Armagh didn’t raise a white flag until the 16th minute of the game, but by that stage, they’d four goals on the scoreboard.
Laois opened the scoring through Sarah Anne Fitzgerald before Aoife McCoy tucked away the game’s first goal.
Hat trick hero
Moments later, Mackin rattled off two goals in two minutes, the second coming from a brilliant pass from her sister Blaithin.
Erone Fitzpatrick grabbed a second for Laois, but Mackin nailed her third to fire Armagh into a ten-point lead.
For the rest of the game, it was fairly even, but the damage had been done. Mackin scored a free while McCoy traded scores with Ellen Healy.
Blaithin Mackin got a well-deserved point while Eva Galvin and sharpshooter Mo Nerney tagged on scores for Laois.
Nerney slammed home a penalty before the break to close the gap to seven points. Shane McCormack’s ladies ahead 4-3 to 1-5.
Laois claimed the first two scores of the second half before Mackin got Armagh up and running.
Laura Nerney netted a second goal for Laois, narrowing the gap to just three-points heading into the final quarter.
Armagh dented any fears of defeat however with five on the trot. Kelly Mallon, the tow Mackin’s, Niamh Reel and Aoife McCoy all scoring.
Laois tagged on the final three scores of the afternoon, but it was too late for them to get something from the game.
The league title is just rewards for Armagh’s performances throughout the season. They’ll now target a fourth Ulster title on the trot.
