Rob Finnerty free after hooter earns Galway precious points against Armagh

Liam Silke of Galway is tackled by Callum O'Neill of Armagh. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

AFL Division 1: Armagh 0-20 Galway 3-12 

Rob Finnerty’s converted 13-metre free after the hooter earned Galway two precious points in Division One after a helter-skelter clash against rivals Armagh.

Played in the Athletic Grounds it was an afternoon of gifted scores, non-more so than when Armagh gave away a free at the death, tackling a solo and go, to wrap a present up for Finnerty to open.

It was magnificent game of football, played a breakneck speed in front of 7,532 supporters at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

Galway led by a point at half-time, with the game taking a hand-break turn after Armagh’s breach.

The Orchard side had raced into a four-point lead in a frantic clash and looked on course to go further in front when they were caught on a breach gifting Galway a two-point free, but even the most optimistic Tribesman supporter didn’t foresee what happened with Rob Finnerty’s 33rd minute free landing into the net.

It was a sucker punch for Kieran McGeeney’s side but Galway kept the high press and grabbed the next two scores, with a Finnerty free and point from substitute Cillian McDaid on target.

Beforehand it was thrilling encounter with both sides fully embracing the new rules and going for the jugular.

Galway boss Padraig Joyce started the game with youthful charges but brought on the big guns to help turn the tide, whereas Armagh’s Kieran McGeeney stuck with mostly the senior players still fit and available.

It was a cracking opening 35 minutes of football, Armagh led 0-4 to 0-2 with ten minutes gone as Galway’s Finn McDonagh opened the scoring, with Ross McQuillan, Conor Turbitt, Jarly Og Burns and Oisin Conaty replying before Finn McDonagh grabbed his sides' second.

Silke in action against Ross McQuillan. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Then on 13 minutes young Kieran Molloy let fly with a rocket to edge Galway ahead, but each time Armagh had the answer with Ross McQuillan and Oisin O’Neill steering over before Finnian O Laoi levelled the score again.

It was end-to-end with some stunning play, although both sides will feel they left scores behind. Galway were reduced to 14 men for ten minutes when Ciaran Mulhern was blacked card for his challenge on Burns.

Burns and McConville tagged on points for Armagh and Turbit looked certain to bag a goal but for an intelligent last gasp block from Jack Glynn.

However, McQuillan’s third of the night had Armagh motoring nicely as the game passed the half-hour mark and then came that breach, which swung momentum firmly with Galway.

At half-time the sides went in Armagh 0-10 Galway 2-05.

It took nine minutes before Oisin Conaty grabbed the first score half to level matters and Jarly Og Burns fisted over edge Armagh but Finnerty squared matters up for the sixth time, in what was more ragged third quarter.

Cian McConville grabbed Armagh’s first point from a free on 51 minutes and his cousin Oisin O’Neill tagged on another before Galway hit back with substitute Shay McGlinchey and talisman Finnerty grabbing the needful scores as the game entered the last five and Finnerty’s fifth point put Galway back in the driving seat.

Shane Walsh made it a two-point game with less than13 minutes remaining and Burns’ third cut the deficit to a single point and Galway were caught with a breach on the hour with Oisin O’Neill steering over a two-pointer and Tierna Kelly fired over a point before Jason Duffy was on target on 61 minutes.

There was plenty of time for more twists and turns and Matthew Tierney’s clinical shot into the far corner of Blaine Hughes’ net swung the game Galway’s way – leading by a point.

However, Oisin O’Neill’s free levelled the score with 70-seconds remaining, which was enough time for Galway to clinch the winner.

ARMAGH: B Hughes, J McElroy, G Murphy, P McGrane, R McQullian (0-3, T Kelly (0-1), J Og Burns (0-3) , C O’Neill, A Murnin, F O’Brien (0-1), C Turbitt (0-1), G McCabe, C McConville (0-2, 0-1f), O O’Neill (0-6, 1tpf, 0-1f, O Conaty (0-2).

Subs: T McCormick for McElroy (32’), J Duffy (0-1) for Turbitt (61’), E Rafferty for O’Brian.

GALWAY: C Gleeson, J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, J McGlynn, F O’Laoi (0-1), D McHugh, K Molloy (1-0), S Kelly, M Barret, L Sike, C Mulhearn, D O’Flaherty, F McDonagh (0-1), R Finnerty (1-6, 1-0, 0-3f, O McDonagh.

Subs: C McDaid (0-1) for O’Flaherty (28’), M Tierney (1-0) for Molloy (27’), S McGlinchey (0-1) for Barrett (ht’), S Walsh (0-1) for Mulhearn (46’), B Cogger for (52’), S McGrath (0-1) for McDonagh (60’). 

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).