GALWAY issued an orange warning to Armagh as they reversed the outcome of last year’s All-Ireland final on a typically wet and windy night in Salthill.
Pádraic Joyce’s side yielded a rich harvest from football’s new landscape, killing off the game in the final quarter by landing a trio of two-pointers in quick succession.
Thanks to Shane Walsh, 2024 Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy and man of the match Cillian Ó Curraoin, the umpires’ new orange flag was raised three times in as many minutes as the Tribesmen stretched their advantage from one point to seven.
Armagh’s hopes of forcing their way back into the contest faded with ten minutes left to play after Niall Grimley was dismissed by referee Conor Lane for an off-the-ball strike on Daniel O’Flaherty.
Galway boss Joyce admitted: “Obviously the two-pointers were a huge thing.
“I think we both got caught for having two up top for the handy frees in.
“People probably expected a more fast-paced game but unfortunately the conditions and the pitch didn’t help that.
“We probably didn’t see the best of the rules.”
The weather was wretched at times for Galway’s first game under the new floodlights at Pearse Stadium, where throw-in was delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy traffic.
Despite having only a fine point from O’Flaherty on the board with 27 minutes played, the home side managed to head for the dressing room at the interval two points to the good.
Galway trailed by 0-5 to 0-1 until the deficit was reduced by a brace of Ó Curraoin frees.
And they edged ahead in the 33rd minute through an expertly taken Matthew Tierney penalty.
The hosts broke at pace after Finnian Ó Laoi was fouled deep inside their own half.
Seán Kelly and Cillian McDaid had Armagh scrambling before Aidan Forker was booked for dragging down Ó Curraoin as he prepared to pull the trigger.
Tierney sent Blaine Hughes the wrong way to fire Galway into an unlikely lead following a largely listless first-half display from Joyce’s men.
Ó Curraoin then converted a 20-metre free after Armagh were pinged for failing to keep three players in Galway’s half.
With Oisín Conaty looking primed to maintain his All-Star form of last season, Armagh were much sharper for most of a first half that saw Galway kick eight wides.
The star of the sides’ Croke Park tussle last July, Conaty bagged three points from play inside the opening 16 minutes here.
His second was only a couple of metres shy of earning a bonus point, while the third was a goal chance that kissed the crossbar following a sublime Rory Grugan delivery.
Grugan was central to the early inroads made by Armagh as he pointed after availing of a delightful kick-pass from Stefan Campbell.
And Grugan also added a free when Galway fell foul of the three-up rule in the 17th minute.
However, the visitors failed to register another score for the remainder of the half and trailed by 1-4 to 0-5 at the change of ends.
With a strong wind at their backs, Galway then made the most of the opportunities on offer outside the new 40-metre arc.
Conroy and Ó Curraoin kicked two-pointers from play, with Walsh acing one after Armagh were whistled for the three-up rule for the second time.
Orchard gaffer Kieran McGeeney said: “Silly stuff like discipline cost us dearly.
“It cost us about 1-2 and with no need for it.”
As demonstrated by Walsh, players can kick their free from outside the arc instead of the 20-metre line when the three-up rule is breached.
Yet McGeeney insisted that Armagh were led to believe that this was not an option.
Armagh, who replaced goalkeeper Hughes with Ethan Rafferty late on, were back to within a point five minutes after the restart thanks to Conaty.
Yet that proved to be only their score from play in the second half.
O’NEILL UPDATE
Rian O’Neill was a notable absentee for the All-Ireland champions as the All-Star forward is currently being afforded a break, according to McGeeney.
The Armagh boss explained: “He’s taking a bit of time out for himself at the minute.
“I don’t know whether it’s weeks or months. We said we’d give it to him.”
Asked if O’Neill will be involved this season, McGeeney said: “When it’s personal, I try not to ask any questions.
“He was in for a while and he’s training. He’s just taking a bit of time for himself. That’s it.”
A home game against Ulster rivals Tyrone on Saturday is next on the agenda for Armagh as the Sam Maguire holders look to get their 2025 off the ground, with Galway heading for a fierce provincial battle of their own in Mayo on Sunday.
Tribe chief Joyce added: “I wouldn’t be happy with a lot of stuff.
“We missed a good few there at the end, probably two or three good goal chances, a few scores when we were maybe just over-elaborating a bit too much.
“But it’s the first game of the league and I’d be very, very happy if someone told me this morning that we’d beat Armagh and get two points.”
GALWAY: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, D O’Flaherty 0-1; D McHugh, J Daly, S Kelly; P Conroy 0-2tp, C McDaid; C Sweeney, F Ó Laoi 0-1, C Darcy; C Ó Curraoín 0-5, 3f, 1tp, M Tierney 1-1, 1-0pen, 1f, S O’Neill.
Subs: S Walsh for Ó Laoi 10-15 mins; Walsh 0-2, 1tpf for McDaid 42; J Maher for Tierney 45; L Silke for O’Neill 54; K Molloy for Kelly 63; J Heaney for Ó Laoi 67.
ARMAGH: B Hughes; T McCormack, B McCambridge, A Forker; C Mackin, G McCabe, J Duffy; B Crealey, N Grimley; S Campbell, S McPartlan, D McMullan; O Conaty 0-4, A Murnin, R Grugan 0-4, 3f.
Subs: C O’Neill for Crealey 5-8 mins; C Turbitt 0-1 for McPartlan h-t; R McQuillan for Forker 38; C McConville for Duffy 49; J Óg Burns for McCormack 60; E Rafferty for Hughes 60.
REFEREE: C Lane (Cork).
