Mackin's Aim-ee is perfect to derail Mayo
Mayo’s Sinead Walsh is tackled by Armagh’s Clodagh McCambridge. Picture: David Farrell Photography
In last week’s preview of this game, Mayo manager Liam McHale described Armagh forward Aimee Mackin as ladies football’s answer to David Clifford. Her stunning late free to win the game was something the Kerry man would certainly be proud of as Armagh held off a Green and Red wave int the second half to reach the Division 1 final.
For a left-footer, her free on the far left side from had to be something special but once it left her foot, it was going only one place. The defeat was a cruel blow to Mayo, who were the superior outfit in the second half but were made to pay for a plethora of wides when they had all the momentum.
Quite where that second half display came from for Mayo was anyone’s guess given how much they struggled to cope with the running power of Mackin, Aoife McCoy, Kelly Mallon, Laura McConville and midfield dup Niamh Coleman and Caroline O’Hanlon.
At the other end, Mayo’s attacks broke down time after time as they were guilty of running into tackles and giving the ball away cheaply, failing to trouble the Armagh rearguard over the first half hour.
It was a slow opening ten minute period, with the only scores coming from two frees, one for each side, through Mallon and Mayo’s Maria Cannon.
The Burrishoole star’s placed ball on eight minutes was Mayo’s only score until late in the half as Armagh took control following another Mackin free.
One of the few breakthroughs for Mayo arrived on 18 minutes as Aoife Geraghty and Kathryn Sullivan played a quick one-two to release the latter. The Castlebar Mitchels ace raced through the Armagh backline only for her shot on goal to be saved by Brianne Mathers.
Where Mayo failed, Armagh succeeded as Aoife McCoy danced her way past five Mayo defenders before she set up Mackin to cleverly slip it under the onrushing Laura Brennan’s for Armagh’s first major of the day.
The Orchard County’s workrate was far superior to Mayo at this stage and they punished them again after a Mallon free. The roles reversed on this occasion, Mackin’s ball in found McCoy and she slipped past two defenders for Armagh’s second green flag.
Sinead Walsh stopped the rot for Mayo on 29 minutes but the duo of Mackin, a free, and McCoy had the final say of a stunning half for the visit as they took a nine-point lead into the break.
The introductions of Saoirse Delaney and Ciara Needham gave Mayo added impetus and better their first half tally seven minutes into the second with Cannon, a free, Lisa Cafferky and Delaney bringing the gap back to six.
McCoy settled some growing Armagh nerves but the game came alive coming into the final quarter as Sinead Cafferky picked out Sinead Walsh who, while not making the cleanest of contacts, found the net regardless to bring back to four, 2-6 to 1-5.
Mackin struck back for Armagh with a fine point before Walsh was in again after good interplay between the Cafferkys to fire over the bar.
Mayo received a further boost after Caroline O’Hanlon was sinbinned on 49 minutes but some momentum for Mayo was lost after a trio of wides through Cannon and Walsh (two).
With seven minutes to go, Mayo were level when Saoirse Delaney superbly finished into the bottom of the net after a neat pass by Cannon, and the Burrishoole sharpshooter struck a lovely score to tie it for the first time since she did so in the first half.
Mackin and Aoife Geraghty traded points late on but further wides by Maria Cannon, Sinead Cafferky and Sinead Walsh would prove costly as Mackin curled over one of the best frees of the year to make it six wins from six for the visitors.
While Armagh now look forward to a Division 1 final, Mayo will now begin preparations for the championship. Before that, they welcome Waterford to Ballina this Sunday at 2pm for their final league game.
