Finnerty's free at the death sees Galway snatch both points in Armagh

January 31, 2026

Matthew Tierney of Galway celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Armagh ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Galway got up and running in Division 1 of the Allianz Football League with a hard-fought 3-12 to 0-20 win over Armagh at the Box-It Athletic Grounds this evening.

After having fallen by a goal to Mayo on opening weekend, the Connacht champions bounced to claim both points in this one with Rob Finnerty’s free at the death proving the difference between the teams in the end.

Points from Conor Turbitt and Oisin Conaty had helped Armagh hold an early 0-4 to 0-2 lead, but it was wiped out once Kieran Molloy hit their net in the 12th minute.

The home side got motoring again thanks to the points of Jarly Og Burns, Cian McConville and Ross McQuillian ahead of a fortuitous goal from a Finnerty free hitting their net.

Substitute Cillian McDaid struck a point which was the difference between the sides at half-time (2-5 to 0-10) and the second-half would be tit for tat, with the teams going on to level the tie for a seventh time ahead of Tiernan Kelly’s point making it 0-17 to 2-10 with five minutes remaining.

Jason Duffy and Kelly pushed the advantage out to three points for Armagh, but Galway were in front again after Shane McGrath’s point was backed up by a Matthew Tierney goal and, while Oisin O’Neill squared things up again, Finnerty would have the final say with his free after the hooter to clinch two crucial points for Padraic Joyce’s side.


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