Armagh 3-11
Kerry 1-13

By Dan Kearney

An outstanding second half from champions Armagh, in which they outscored Kerry by 3-6 to 0-6 , saw them claim the spoils against a Kerry side that ran out of legs in the finish at a windy Austin Stack Park in Tralee in the first round of the Lidl National Football League.

The introduction of substitutes Blaithín Mackin, who struck for 1-1, and Rebecca Cunningham, with a goal, made all the difference, whilst Anna Carr in the Armagh goal was also in superb form. 

TG4 All-Ireland Senior champions Kerry had the advantage of the wind in the first half but It was Armagh, the Lidl NFL Division 1 holders, that made the brighter start when late replacement Eimear McGeown popped over in the first minute, although Kerry were soon on level terms when Síofra O’Shea slotted a free following a foul on captain Anna Galvin.

In a repeat of last year's top-flight decider, and in the first competitive game between the sides since the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland semi-final, O’Shea put the Kingdom 0-2 to 0-1 to the good in the fifth minute but Niamh Reel showed her abilities when she replied two minutes later for the visitors to level matters.

Lavery then slotted a free that she earned herself and Armagh went two to the good with Reel once again doing the damage, although Rachel Dwyer did get one back for the hosts after a fine run and assist by the marauding Aoife Dillane.

Eve Lavery stretched Armagh’s advantage to two in the 18th minute but from here on Kerry dominated the half, with Síofra O’Shea striking for a brilliant goal in the 20th minute after excellent approach play from the impressive Niamh Ní Chonchúir and Jadyn Lucey.

Lucey followed up with a score of her own, but Armagh were still dangerous and Mary Ellen Bolger was forced into a brilliant one-handed save from Eimear McGeown as her shot was destined for the top corner

The rest of the half belonged to Kerry and Siofra O’Shea with two (one free) and Anna Galvin saw them take a 1-7 to 0-5 lead in at the half time break.

Galvin went on a fine run and score from the second half throw-in but Armagh struck for three points on the trot from Eve Lavery, Eimear McGeown and Blaithín Mackin, fresh off the bench, made it a 1-8 to 0-8 game.

Carr made a fine double save from Síofra O’Shea and Jadyn Lucey, but Lucey saw yellow straight afterwards for a high challenge.

When O’Shea pointed for Kerry in the 45th minute to make it 1-13 to 0-9, it proved to be Kerry’s last score of the game, as Carr made another fine save from Ní Chonchúir.

It was all Armagh from here on in. Reel with a brace of points was followed by a splendid goal from Mackin before Rebecca Cunningham struck for a scorcher in the 53rd minute.

The last goal of the contest came from Roisin Mulligan as Armagh had too much in the finish for a Kerry team that faded in the last quarter.

Scorers - Kerry: S O’Shea 1-6 (0-4f), A Galvin 0-2, J Lucey, R Dwyer, K Cronin, C Evans & N Ní Chonchúir 0-1 each. 

Armagh: N Reel 0-5 (1f), B Mackin 1-1, R Cunningham & R Mulligan 1-0 each, E Lavery & E McGeown 0-2 each, C O'Hanlon 0-1.  

Kerry: M.E. Bolger; R Smith, D Kearney, F O’Donoghue; A O’Connell, K Cronin, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin (capt.); N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; J Lucey, S O’Shea, R Dwyer. Subs: J Gill for C Evans 44, C McCarthy for R Smith, K Brosnan for R Dwyer (both 47), K O’Connor for N Ní Chonchúir 49, M Higgins for J Lucey 55, N Ní Chonchúir for M O’Connell 56, R Rahilly for F O’Donoghue 58

 Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, L Kenny, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville (capt.), R Mulligan; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; A McCoy, M Feehan, E Lavery; N Reel, M Lennon, E McGeown. Subs B Mackin  for L Kenny 33,: C McNally for M Lennon, M McGann for E Lavery (both 40), R Cunningham for E McGeown 52, N Henderson for N reel 55,  C Garvey for M Feehan 56.

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).

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