Mackin goals key in Orchard win
ARMAGH sharpshooter Aimee Mackin said the impact made by substitutes off the bench in each game has played a big part in their brilliant start to life back in the top flight of the Lidl National Football League. Mackin scored two late goals to seal a 3-14 to 1-13 win over Kerry in a battle of the Lidl Division 1 and Division 2 champions at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. ‘You can never win with just the 15 you have on the pitch, you’re looking for impact off the bench and our girls have been doing that since the first league game. The girls have been ready to go and have been doing that in training and have been pushing starting places, so whenever they’re called upon, they’re ready,’ said Mackin. ‘At the start of the second half, they pressed pretty heavy on our kickouts, and when you get that and you don’t win a few sometimes you can go into your shell a bit, but girls stood up when they needed to.’ A goal from Caroline O’Hanlon helped Armagh lead 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval, before reigning league champions Kerry rallied after the restart. A goal from Katie Brosnan helped them get back on level terms but while Kerry edged in front, it was Armagh who finished strongly, with Mackin shooting two goals to maintain their perfect start to the season. They were good value for their 3-14 to 1-13 victory. Kerry forward Niamh Ní Chonchúir said they would need to take the learnings from their first defeat of the season. ‘We just have to regroup and get back to training, learn from the mistakes and why we didn’t push on when we got that lead towards the end. So just back to training, focus on our next game against Meath.’ Meanwhile, Galway got their first win of the campaign when they defeated Meath by 1-12 to 0-7 at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe, while Dublin made their trip to Fraher Field a winning one to leave Waterford sweating on topflight status ahead of the final two rounds of top-flight fixtures. Hannah Tyrrell landed a couple of late points to see off a brave Waterford side by 2-10 to 2-7 in Dungarvan. The Division 4 semi-final pairings were confirmed yesterday: Fermanagh will play Carlow and Leitrim will take on Kildare on Sunday, March 24.