Armagh see off Laois challenge in Clones
A strong spread of scorers stood Armagh in good stead as they eased past the challenge of Laois in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC qualifiers in Clones this evening.
The Orchard County had six different players scoring more than once, with Aimee Mackin and powerful midfielder Caroline O’Hanlon each notching 1-4 while Kelly Mallon and Lauren McConville both got five points.
While it took them a while to get away from the challenge of Laois, Aoife McCoy’s 23rd-minute goal put them 1-9 to 0-2 in front and by half-time it was 1-12 to 0-4.
Goals in the second period from Mackin and O’Hanlon put the outcome beyond doubt, though Laois did keep battling and were rewarded through goals by Noirín Kirwan, Ellen Healy and Laura-Marie Maher.
Armagh asserted themselves at midfield from the off, ensuring a constant supply of possession in the final third.
Fionnuala McKenna, McConville and Mallon were all among the scores early on, though Martina Dunne and Noirín Kirwan kept Laois in touch.
The middle section of the half saw Armagh pull away though and McCoy netted after Mackin’s pass put her in. Dunne and Martha Kirwan had Laois points in response, but Armagh continued to take their scores and retired with an 11-point advantage.
McConville kicked three points inside the first six minutes of the second half, with Mallon adding a free, but a foul on Maher resulted in a Laois penalty, which Noirín Kirwan converted.
Armagh responded emphatically as Mackin got a fine goal after Mallon’s superb pass and in the 47th minute O’Hanlon made it 3-17 to 1-6 following a marauding run.
Laois’s Ellen Healy did get a goal in response for Laois and then Maher profited after Alice Malone picked her out, but Armagh were never going to allow their lead to slip.
Scorers for Armagh: C O’Hanlon (0-2f), A Mackin 1-4 each, K Mallon (0-3f), L McConville 0-5 each, A McCoy 1-1, F McKenna 0-3, C Murray 0-1.
Scorers for Laois: N Kirwan 1-2 (1-0 penalty), M Dunne (0-2f) 0-2, M Kirwan, L-M Maher 0-1 each.
ARMAGH: K Daly; M Tennyson, C Morgan, S Marley; S Reel, S McCleary, N Marley;
C Malone, C O’Hanlon; A McCoy, K Mallon, L McConville; T McCoy, F McKenna, A Mackin.
Subs: M Sheridan for Reel (38), C Marley for A McCoy (40), R Murphy for T McCoy (45), S Finnegan for S Marley (46), C Murray for Malone (48).
LAOIS: C Dollard; A Loughman, G Dunne, C Dunne; A Harberlin, M Young, E Healy; J Dunne, M Murphy; L-M Maher, N Kirwan, F Dooley; M Kirwan, Martina Dunne, M Dunne.
Subs: A Malone for Meaghan Dunne (29), R O’Connell for M Kirwan (41), L Brophy for Martina Dunne (50) L Daly for Dollard (54).
Referee: G Chapman (Sligo).
