NFL Division One: Galway 1-12 Armagh 0-9
In a way the most encouraging thing you could say about the FRC rules amendments was that 20 minutes into Saturday’s opening Allianz Football League Division One encounter between Galway and Armagh in wintry Pearse Stadium, you were concentrating on the contest rather than looking out for individual provisions of the new code.
Yes, there was some puzzlement that the home side was so lacking in inspiration or intent to harness something like the two-point score from outside the 40-metre arc – that would come later – but other measures like the ‘solo-and-go’ and the requirement to hand back the ball for frees, a topic of much foreboding, were enacted naturally and blended into the game.
Even the complex 3v3 and its imperative to keep at least three outfield players in each half of the field was generally well observed and well refereed. Just three frees for its breach were awarded, none of them terribly controversial.
In the first weekend of implementation, it was encouraging that both sides in this re-enactment of last year’s All-Ireland football final were so comfortable with the change.
There was an injection of controversy when the champions’ manager Kieran McGeeney said that his team had been given different advice on the rule governing 3v3 breaches. A 20m free is awarded when it happens. In the second half, Galway’s Shane Walsh moved the ball to outside the 40m arc and kicked it over the bar.
Earlier Rory Grugan had just taken a point from a similar award. His manager said they were unaware that the ball could be taken back.
“The 3v3 thing, it’s hard to say, but there is a clarification needed. We were sent a thing last night that said in the 3v3 rule, it’s a 13m penalty. But the one the referees get, they have a different rule, in red, (saying) they can take it out for two points.”
He also complained that Armagh’s Andrew Murnin should have been awarded a penalty late in the match instead of a close-in free.
“Listen, Galway used the conditions better in the second half than we did. Three two-pointers in the second half, an extra three points, a penalty going one way and not the other. It wasn’t a great game for us. Loads to improve on.”
McGeeney was asked about the team’s All Star Rian O’Neill, who wasn’t named to play on Saturday.
“He is taking a bit of time out for himself at the minute. I don’t know whether it is weeks or months. We said we’d give it to him.” He then parried a question as to whether the player would be available at all this year.
“When it is personal I try not to ask any questions. He was in for a while and he was training. He is just taking a bit of time for himself. That is it.”
Galway revived at the end of the first half. A couple of frees from Cillian Ó Curraoin followed by a penalty when the same player was brought down by Aidan Forker. Matthew Tierney expertly converted.
From looking becalmed at 0-1 to 0-5, the All-Ireland finalists were now improbably leading by 1-4 to 0-5 as the whistle went for the break.
Armagh’s early dominance had been expressed by All Star Oisín Conaty kicking 0-3 from play, as the team looked sharper and livelier, prioritising getting scores rather than moving the ball ponderously back and forth, as their opponents did for much of the half.
After the break, having looked a little inhibited by some early inaccuracies, Galway embraced the two-pointers: three in as many minutes from Ó Curraoin, Walsh and his ambitiously adjusted free, and long-distance specialist Paul Conroy. Those six points, as McGeeney indicated, put the match out of sight at 1-11 to 0-7.
There was time for a couple more points to be exchanged and a couple of incidents, including a red card for Niall Grimley, who had hit lively opposing corner back Daniel O’Flaherty and the Murnin penalty claim – “stonewall,” according to McGeeney.
The winners’ manager Padraic Joyce was delighted to have opened with a win.
“We kind of saw the game out in the second half. The twos were crucial. We got three in a row, which gave us a huge gap then on the scoreboard so we were able to just sit back and play the game on our terms. But 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.”
Asked what his league ambitions were, Joyce reiterated a view he has unhesitatingly held since taking over.
“We have 40 players training as well so we’re not going to hold back in the league. We’re going to go at it and if we end up in a final, we’ll try to win it and take it from there. And if we do have a poor Championship, it won’t be because the league was so successful.”
GALWAY: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, D O’Flaherty (0-0-1); D McHugh, J Daly, S Kelly (capt); P Conroy (0-1-0), C McDaid; C Sweeney, F Ó Laoi (0-0-1), C Darcy; C Ó Curraoin (0-1-3, 3f), M Tierney (1-0-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free), S O’Neill. Subs: S Walsh (0-1-0, tpf) for McDaid (42 mins); J Maher for Tierney (45); L Silke for S O’Neill (54); K Molloy for Kelly (63); J Heaney for Ó Laoi (67).
ARMAGH: B Hughes; T McCormack, B McCambridge, A Forker (capt); C Mackin, J Duffy, G McCabe; B Creeley, N Grimley; D McMullan, S McPartlan, S Campbell; O Conaty (0-0-4), R Grugan (0-0-4, 3f), A Murnin. Subs: C Turbitt (0-0-1, f) for McPartlan (h-t); R McQuillan for Forker (38 mins); C McConville for Duffy (39); E Rafferty for Hughes, J Óg Burns for McCormack (both 60).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to the Counter Ruck podcast for the best rugby chat and analysis
