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Goal-hungry Galway dig out vital win over Armagh

Updated / Sunday, 1 Feb 2026 00:27
31 January 2026; Liam Silke of Galway in action against Ross McQuillan of Armagh during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Armagh and Galway at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Galway edge out Armagh

Galway claimed two precious National League points from the cool shooting boots of Rob Finnerty with the last kick in a game that was hot, heavy and frantic against rivals Armagh.

Played in the Athletic Grounds, in front of 7532 supporters, it was an afternoon of gifted scores, none more so than when Armagh gave away a free at the death, tackling a solo and go, which Galway gladly accepted.

It was the Tribesmen who rattled three goals past Armagh and kept goals at bay at the other end, although much of that could be down to the Orchard opting to fist seven of their 20-points over the bar.

That said, it was played frantic and thrilling pace and the punters certainly got bang for their buck.

It was a cracking opening 35 minutes of football, Armagh led 0-04 to 0-02 with 10 minutes gone as Galway's Finnerty pened the scoring, with Ross McQuillan, Conor Turbitt, Jarly Og Burns and Oisin Conaty replying before Fionn McDonagh grabbed his side's second.

Then on 13 minutes, Kieran Molloy let fly with a rocket to edge Galway ahead, but each time Armagh had the answer with McQuillan and Oisin O’Neill steering over before Finnian O Laoi levelled the scores 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 Ciarán Mulhern was black carded for an off the ball body-check 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.

Joe McElroy was penalised for breaching the three-on-three after walking towards the bench to inform them he was injured, a detail that annoyed Kieran McGeeney no end in the aftermath.

Rob Finnerty took the free back outside the arc but failed to connect properly, dropping the ball short. However, Blaine Hughes, possibly decieved by McDonagh leaping in front of him, misjudged things and allowed the ball slip through his legs and into the net.

Another breach within a minute yielded a point as Finnerty was happy to avail of the simpler free and then Galway somehow led at the break after Cillian McDaid, introduced as first half sub, curled over a score on the stroke of half-time to leave it 2-05 to 0-10 at the break.

It took nine minutes before Oisin Conaty grabbed the first score of the second 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 15 and Finnerty’s fifth point put Galway back in the driving seat.

Shane Walsh, influential on his introduction, made it a two-point game with less than 13 minutes remaining before Burns’ third cut the deficit to a single point.

Galway were then caught with a breach on the hour with Oisin O’Neill steering over a two-pointer to put Armagh back in front, Tiernan Kelly and Jason Duffy adding fisted points to push the lead out to three in the closing 10 minutes, substitute Shane McGrath responding with a point to narrow it to two.

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: Blaine Hughes, Joe McElroy, Gareth Murphy, Peter McGrane, Ross McQullian (0-03), Tiernan Kelly (0-01), Jarly Og Burns (0-03) , Callum O’Neill, Andrew Murnin, Fergal O’Brien (0-01), Conor Turbitt (0-01), Greg McCabe, Cian McConville (0-02, 1f), Oisin O’Neill (0-06, 1tpf, 0-1f, Oisin Conaty (0-02).

Subs: Tomas McCormick for McElroy (32), Jason Duffy (0-01) for Turbitt (61), Ethan Rafferty for O’Brien (66).

Galway: Connor Gleeson, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack McGlynn, Finnian O’Laoi (0-01), Dylan McHugh, Kieran Molloy (1-00), Sean Kelly, Mattius Barret, Liam Sike, Ciaran Mulhearn, Daniel O’Flaherty, Fionn McDonagh (0-01), Rob Finnerty (1-06, 1-00, 3f), Oisin McDonagh.

Subs: Cillian McDaid (0-01) for O’Flaherty (28), Matthew Tierney (1-00) for Molloy (27), Shay McGlinchey (0-01) for Barrett (35), Shane Walsh (0-01) for Mulhearn (46), Brian Cogger for (52), Shane McGrath (0-01) for McDonagh (60)

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

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