Armagh edge Kerry to move out of LGFA league Division 1 relegation zone

Despite Siofra O'Shea scoring 2-2, the Orchard County held on to win by two points.

STAR PLAYER: Armagh desperately needed a win and they managed to get it in a tight tussle against Kerry. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Armagh 1-13 Kerry 2-8

Armagh desperately needed a win to move out of the Lidl National Football League Division 1 relegation zone and they managed to get it in a tight tussle against Kerry with a two-point victory.

While there was no breeze in Silverbridge, Kerry were playing into the sun as it dipped low in the sky after the 5pm thow-in.

Armagh avoided the blinding light as it had sunk below the treeline for the second half.

The Orchard County led 1-6 to 1-2 at the break, thanks to a free from Aimee Mackin, who was a welcome returnee to the field from injury, and a brace from the dead ball converted by Kelly Mallon.

Before that the sides there was just one score in it with the home side leading 1-3 to 1-2 as after Kerry battled back from a five-point deficit.

The Kingdom almost had the ball in the net twice in the first quarter, but it was the Orchard County who rattled it first with a goal from Blaithin Mackin, well set up by Lauren McConville in the tenth minute.

A couple of points followed and the home side led 1-3 to 0-1 but Leah Boyle socre the next point and on 20 minutes Siofra O'Shea drilled the ball to the roof of the net for the Kingdom.

The aforementioned Armagh frees concluded the half in a close contest between these two familiar foes. Kerry were reduced to 14 players when Aoife Dillane was sinbinned before the break and that certainly helped Armagh's cause as they came out strong in the second half.

They went nine points clear after Mallon put two over the bar and Aimee Mackin, McCoy and Marley made it 1-11 to 1-2.

Kerry were struggling to find the target, while Aimmee Mackin sent another beauty between the sticks before Niamh Ni Chonchuir and sub Maeve Mulvihill responded.

Kerry continued to chip into Armagh's lead and a second goal from O'Shea made it a two-point game 1-13 to 2-8 with minutes remaining.

Armagh gained possession and tried to keep it as the clock wound down and they managed to do just that to win 1-13 to 2-8.

Scorers for Armagh: B Mackin 1-0, K Mallon 0-5 (2f), A Mackin 0-4 (1f) A McCoy 0-2, C Marley 0-2.

Scorers for Kerry: S O'Shea 2-2, (0-1)f, K Enright, N Carmody, L Boyle, N Ni Chonchuir, M Mulvihill, N Carmody 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; A Donnelly, L McConville, G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O'Reilly; C McNally, A McCoy, E Druse; A Mackin, C O'Hanlon, K Mallon.

Subs: M Lennon for Mcnally (40,) E Reid for Marley (42), E Druse for McCoy (55), E McConaghy for Mallon (55).

KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; E Ní Laighin, A Dillane, L Boyle; N Carmody, A Galvin; K Enright, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; S O'Shea, D O'Leary, R Dwyer.

Subs: M Mulvihille for Evans ht, L McMahon for Dwyer h-t, J Lucey for O'Leary (36), N Quinn for Enright (42), K Ryan for Boyle (49).

Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan).