THREE wind-assisted two-pointers in a five-minute spell meant Galway won the rematch of last year’s All-Ireland finalists with a six-point victory at Pearse Stadium.
After three points from Oisin Conaty and two from Rory Grugan, Armagh were 5-1 up at the midway stage of the first half. But Galway took over from there.
Aidan Forker did well to block a Sean Kelly shot but, after a pair of frees from Cillian O Curraoin, the Armagh skipper pulled down O Curraoin after a Galway counterattack. Matthew Tierney stroked home the penalty and Galway led 1-4 to 0-5 at the interval.
The wind picked up in the second half and a series of two-point shots from outside the 40m arc saw the Tribesmen race into a 1-11 to 0-7 lead.
A red card for Niall Grimley – after an off-the-ball incident with O’Flaherty – left the Orchardmen with a mountain to climb. Ethan Rafferty replaced Blaine Hughes and won a free for Grugan but the hooter confirmed a first defeat for Armagh in normal play since last season’s Division Two final.
Galway: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, D O’ Flaherty (0-1); D McHugh, J Daly, S Kelly; P Conroy (0-2, 2pt), C McDaid; C Sweeney, F O Laoi (0-1), C Darcy; C O Curraoin (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-2pt), M Tierney (1-1, 1-0 pen), S O’Neill
Subs: S Walsh (0-2, 2pf) for McDaid (40), J Maher for Tierney (40), L Silke for O’Neill (54), K Molloy for Kelly (62), J Heaney for O Laoi
Yellow card: O Curraoin (56)
Armagh: B Hughes; T McCormack, B McCambridge, A Forker; Connaire Mackin, S McPartlan, G McCabe; B Crealey, N Grimley; O Conaty (0-4), R Grugan (0-4, 0-3 frees), D McMullan; J Duffy, A Murnin, S Campbell
Subs: C Turbitt (0-1 free) for McPartlan (HT), R McQuillan for Forker (38), C McConville for Duffy (54), J Og Burns for McCormack (60), E Rafferty for Hughes (60)
Yellow cards: Grugan (27), Forker (32), McQuillan (53)
Red card: Grimley (60)
Referee: C Lane (Cork)
