Mayo comeback derailed by Armagh sharp-shooter Aimee Mackin

Armagh 2-9

Sport can be cruel sometimes and that was certainly the case in Ballina on Sunday when Mayo recovered from being nine points adrift only to be beaten by a last-gasp converted free from Armagh sharp-shooter Aimee Mackin.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the young Mayo side as against the undefeated Armagh women and so it proved. The victory left Armagh in the league final and Mayo going into the last round next weekend looking to secure their status in the top division.

Sunday’s game was played at break-neck pace. Both teams worked the ball excellently through their hands and looked dangerous whenever they were on the attack. Despite Mayo having the majority of possession in the opening period, it was Armagh who led 0-2 to 0-1, after the first ten minutes.

Mayo captain Saoirse Lally had the task of marking the league's top scorer, and 2020 Player of the Year Aimee Mackin. Despite Lally’s best efforts, each time Mackin did get the ball, she managed to do something special, which proved evident in the 18th minute, when she raised the green flag for the Orchard County after a superb run from deep from Aoife McCoy.

Although Mayo were still playing excellent football around the middle of the pitch, they hit four successive wides, while Armagh tagged on another free through Katie Mahon.

The Orchard County frustrated Mayo by dropping multiple players behind the ball and each time a Mayo attack slowed down, Armagh were quick to fall back into their defensive set-up, which the home side struggled to break down.

Westport’s Fionnuala McLaughlin stood out for Mayo, taking on the Armagh defence whenever the opportunity arose. 

However, with 28 minutes on the clock, McCoy and Mackin teamed up once again. This time it was McCoy's turn to raise the green flag.

Mayo still had a lot of possession but were unable to make use of it. It took some brilliant individual play from Sinead Walsh to score Mayo's second point of the day.

Armagh managed to tag on two more points of their own before the halftime whistle was blown, which meant that they led at the interval 2-5 to 0-2.

However, the second half was a different story. Mayo came out with a new lease of life. There was a slight breeze aiding the home team and they kicked three points without reply to kickstart the comeback.

The Green and Red began to reap their rewards for playing more direct football. After a quick delivery from Sinead Cafferky, Sinead Walsh, from MacHale Rovers, read the ball to perfection and found herself one-on-one with the Armagh keeper. Walsh showed her class, by calmly, slotting the ball into the back of the net, reducing the deficit to four points

Mayo manager Liam McHale began to introduce some substitutes at that stage and the new arrivals made a real impact on the game, bringing a lot of energy. 

With ten minutes remaining, Armagh midfielder Caroline O’Hanlon was sin-binned, after receiving a yellow card and Mayo utilised the extra player.

In the 51st minute, Burrishoole’s, Maria Cannon made an excellent turnover and managed to get the ball to substitute Saoirse Delaney who shook the net with a sublime finish. Suddenly it was a one-point game and the momentum was with the home side.

Mayo fight-back but no happy end

The score of the day arrived next and it balanced matters. Maria Cannon judged the wind to perfection to kick her third of the day and Mayo's nine-point deficit had been wiped out.

The teams exchanged scores in the following minutes and as the game approached injury time, the sides could not be separated.

Mayo kicked a string of whites in an attempt to secure victory, but it was not to be. That left the door open for Mackin to win it and she did just that.

Armagh were awarded a free, which she guided straight between the posts to secure Armagh victory and a place in their first National League final.

Mayo face Waterford in the final round of the league, and although relegation is unlikely they will want to finish off a successful league campaign with a victory.

Mayo Manager Liam McHale said after the match: 'I've never been as disappointed after a game in a long time.'

MAYO

L Brennan; D Caldwell, N O’Malley, S Lally; K Sullivan, E Murray, J Mortimer; A Geraghty (0-1), H Reape; F McLaughlin, A Fitzpatrick, M Cannon (0-3, 2f); S Cafferky, L Cafferky (0-1), S Walsh (1-2)

Subs; C Needham, S Delaney (1-1), C Durkan, E Ronayne, A Staunton

ARMAGH

B Mathers; G Ferguson, C McCambridge, R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman (0-1), C O’Hanlon; E Lavery, A McCoy (1-1), C Doyle; A Mackin (1-7, 0-5f), N Henderson, K Mallon

Subs used; S Quigley, E Druse, M Ferguson, C O’Hagan 

Ref: A Clogher (Roscommon)