Armagh 2-11
Dublin 2-11

by Elaine Ingram

An exciting battle at the Box-It Athletic Grounds which included penalties at both ends, saw the spoils shared between Armagh and Dublin in this Lidl National League Division 1 clash.

With relegation a real worry for both the reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions Dublin and last year's Division 1 finalists Armagh, a win was the desired outcome for both sides but a draw was probably a fair result.

Despite a strong wind at their back in the opening half, Armagh were quickly playing catch-up with a point from Ellen Gribbin followed by a goal drilled home from close range by Orlagh Nolan with just three minutes on the clock.

The Orchard County settled with Kelly Mallon getting them on the scorebord with a fifth minute point and she added a second from a free following traded scores between Laura Grendon and Lauren McConville.

Brianna Mathers denied Dublin a second goal when she bravely came off her line and saved Grendon's effort, but Nolan stretched Dublin's lead again with a couple of converted frees to make it 1-4 to 0-3.

The hosts managed to go into the break with just the goal between the teams with points from Aoife McCoy, Mallon and Blaithin Mackin while a couple of Nolan frees gave Dublin a 1-6 to 0-6 half-time lead.

McConville opened the second half scoring with a beauty, using all of her power and speed, and Mallon added a free to reduce the deficit to one but a penalty converted by Nolan followed by a free, wiped those scores out putting Dublin 2-7 to 0-8 in front.

It was game on again however, when Mallon netted from the spot midway through the half and despite Dublin replying with three points in a row. Mallon nailed a second penalty and Mackin tagged on a point to square proceedings at 2-10 apiece to with four minutes left to play.

A  frantic finish ensued with O'Hanlon pointing and Nolan doing likewise at the other end and when the hooter sounded the sides were tied at 2-11 each.

Scorers: Armagh: K Mallon 2-4 (2-0 pens, 0-2f), L McConville 0-2, B Mackin 0-2, C O'Hanlon 0-2 (1f), A McCoy 0-1.

Dublin: O Nolan 2-8 (0-7f, 1-0 pen), L Grendon 0-1, E Gribbin and K Sullivan 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; A Donnelly, L McConville, E Druse; C Marley, C O’Reilly; L Marsden, A McCoy, B Mackin; M Loughran, C O’Hanlon, K Mallon. Subs: C McNally for Loughran (24), L Kavanagh for Druse (h-t), M Lennon for Marsden (52)

DUBLIN: A Shiels; N Crowley, H Leahy, C Almeida; S McIntyre, H McGinnis, N Donlon; R Hartnett, O Nolan; E Gribbin, L Grendon, K Sullivan; M Davoren, N Hetherton, A Timothy. Subs: C Rowe for A Timothy (40), C O'Connor for Davoren (45), L Caffrey for Hartnett (48)

 Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)

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