Aimee Mackin, continued her excellent form with nine points as Armagh scored a comprehensive win in Donegal.
Armagh opened their TG4 Ulster senior championship campaign with a 1-15 to 2-4 win over Donegal 2-4.
Mackin kicked three frees into the wind and then six from play in the second-half. Kelly Mallon also playing a pivotal part with 1-3 in Lifford, Donegal had led by five points in the first-half.
The balance of power is certainly now in the orange corner, with Donegal and Armagh expected to meet in this year’s decider. Unless Cavan can pull off a win in Armagh.
Maxi Curran’s Donegal had opened their championship with a 1-6 to 0-4 win in Cavan. Against Armagh, Donegal scored two early goals through Tara Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr.
Armagh finished the half strongly, keeping in touch through frees from Mackin and Mallon. Plus an Eve Lavery point, and wouldn’t have been overly disappointed to go in 2-1 to 0-5 down.
The opening goal came on seven minutes, Hegarty slapped in at the back post having been set-up by Katie Dowds. On 12 minutes, Boyle-Carr sped into space, shooting herself to give the hosts a second goal and lead 2-0 to 0-1.
Armagh steadied themselves and kicked the last four points of the first-half. Then firing over five on the bounce to get going in the second. A superb long-ranger from Mackin on 39 minutes edged Armagh in-front and Cait Towe also got in on the act.
The inexperienced Donegal side saw their attacks break down frequently. Karen Guthrie finally broke the Armagh run with a 45th minute point.
Caitriona O’Hagan, the Armagh substitute, got in on the act, although she and fellow replacement Megan McShane picked up yellow cards.
Ciara McGarvey kicked two late frees for the hosts but with Mackin running the show, a clearance from goalkeeper Anna Carr went through to Mallon in the last minute with Mallon netting for the dominant visitors.
Donegal: C Friel, N Carr, A Temple Asokuh, Nicole McLaughlin, E Gallagher, S McGroddy, T Hegarty, K Herron, Niamh McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr, L Ryan, R Rodgers, K Long, K Dowds, K Guthrie.
Subs: S White and C McGarvey for Long and McGroddy (44).
Scorers: Tara Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr 1-0 each, Ciara McGavey 0-2 (2f), Katie Long and Karen Guthrie 0-1 each.
Armagh: A Carr, S Grey, C McCambridge,C Towe, G Ferguson, L McConville, E Druse, N Coleman, E Lavery, B Mackin, A Mackin, C Marley, N Marley, K Mallon, A McCoy.
Subs: T Grimes for Lavery (41), C O’Hagan for Coleman (48), M Lennon for C Marley (54), M Ferguson for N Marley (56), A McConville for McCoy (58)
Scorers: Aimee Mackin 0-9 (3f), Kelly Mallon 1-3 (3f), Eva Lavery, Cait Towe and Caitriona O’Hagan 0-1 each.
Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down)
