National GAA Leagues: Derry ended a barren spell with Down winning but Armagh fell to Galway

Rob Finnerty’s freedom at the death clinched a one-point win for Galway over Armagh to make up for their opening loss to Mayo.

Armagh posted an impressive 1-27 on the opening weekend last time out against Monaghan, and they are off to a fast start once again.

Ross McQuillan, Conor Torbett, Fergal O’Brien and Oisin Konate all pointed to give Kieran McGeeney’s side an early lead, but Fionn McDonagh split the posts at the other end and Kieran Molloy followed up with a goal to put the visitors ahead.

McQuillan scored another goal while Oisin O’Neill kicked either side of Finnian O Laoi’s point for Galway to keep Armagh in the lead.

Ciaran Mulhern was black-carded for the Tribesmen and Armagh took full advantage, taking a 0-10 to 1-3 lead.

Then the momentum shifted. Finnerty attempted a two-pointer to break through Armagh, and his kick ended up in the back of the net.

Fionn McDonagh’s attempted pass seemed to do enough to clear Orchard goalkeeper Blaine Hughes and the ball went through his legs.

Coach Kieran McGeeney’s team trailed 2-5 to 0-10 at the end of the first half, but regained the initiative at the beginning of the second half and scored four unanswered points.

The script flipped again with Galway then scoring four straight scores. Shane Walsh saw his return with a point to open up a 2-10 to 0-14 advantage.

Jarley Og Burns made a fist pump in response to Armagh and O’Neill’s free pass from beyond the arc — the only two-pointer of the game — giving Orchard County the lead down the stretch.

Tiernan Kelly and Jason Duffy scored the points, but the Clan struck back when Matthew Tierney fired home to put Galway back in front.

O’Neill brought Armagh level, but Finnerty’s last-gasp free kick – a 50-metre drive – stole the visitors’ win after a ding-dong battle.