Galway find two-pointers to get past 14-man Armagh

Galway dished out revenge with a convincing Allianz Football League Division 1 win over All-Ireland champions Armagh after a superb second-half display.

The game was turned with three two-point scores in a four-minute period which transformed Galway's lead from one point to seven points and Armagh’s chances of coming back was hampered when Niall Grimley was sent off on the hour.

Before the game, the crowd were entertained with music and fireworks as the new €8m floodlights were officially lit at Pearse Stadium.

It is only six months since the last time the teams clashed against each other, with Armagh clinching the Sam Maguire Cup, and this contest also saw the new rule enhancements introduced.

Throw-in, which took place between Storm Eowyn and Storm Herminia, was delayed by 15 minutes. Armagh made late changes to the starting team with Jason Duffy replacing Tiernan Kelly and Shane McPartlan coming in for Crossmaglen’s Cian McConville.

Armagh dominated the opening quarter to race into a 0-05 to 0-01 lead before Galway wrestled back momentum to take the lead at the break, 1-04 to 0-05.

Matthew Tierney’s converted penalty on 33 minutes gave the Tribesmen the lead in game that perhaps didn’t hit the dizzy heights but did offer enough to entertain the crowd.

Both Armagh and Galway got caught out and penalised on the 3 v 3 rule and the solo and go sparked a few frantic attacks.

Kieran McGeeney’s men started brightly, with quick kicking from keeper Blaine Hughes and some quality passing from Rory Grugan and clinical finishing from Oisin Conaty.

Conaty opened the scoring with a fisted point, Grugan added another before Daniel O’Flaherty opened Galway’s account on 11 minutes. Conaty replied with a brace of points, including a fantastic