Laois Ladies beaten in Division 2 final by Armagh

The Laois Ladies football team have been defeated in the Division 2 decider by a strong Armagh side in Croke Park this afternoon. 

Laois will look at their sluggish start as their major downfall as Armagh fired in four goals in the first 10 minutes with Aimee Mackin getting an early hatrick of goals.

Armagh 4-9

Laois 2-10

Lidl National League Division 2 Final

Laois opened the scoring as Sarah Anne Fitzgerald set up Mo Nerney split the posts. Armagh first three scores of the contest would all be goals as Niamh Coleman slipped the ball into Aoife McCoy to get their first green flag. Mackin's first goal was from a long ball that missed everyone in the square as it bounced into the net.

The Armagh sharpshooter would soon get her second as she sauntered through the Laois defence before drilling the ball beyond Eimear Barry in the Laois net. Erone Fitzpatrick got Laois' next score with a fine point from play. Mackin completed her hatrick as she made no mistake in raising her third green flag.

Fitzpatrick raised her second white flag as the Park-Ratheniska woman scored another good point. Armagh hit the next two scores as Mackin pointed a free while McCoy added to her goal with a point. Portlaoise's Ellen Healy opened her tally with Blaithin Mackin replying for the eventual winners.

Laois ended the half on a high as they fired in 1-1 to leave seven points between the sides at half-time. Nerney finished off a superb Laois move as Sarah Anne Fitzgerald won the ball on her own 14-yard line before Laois broke up-field with Nerney pointing for the second time. She would soon add a goal to her tally as Laura Marie Maher was fouled in the square and the Timahoe woman made no mistake in tucking the ball into the bottom corner from the spot.

Donie Brennan's side came out firing in the second half as Fitzpatrick got her third point while Sarah Anne Fitzgerald pointed a free. Mackin added to her tally with a score from play. Laois would soon make it a four-point game as Laura Nerney went on a wonderful run before finishing into the back of the net.

Kelly Mallon and Mackin (free) both added to Armagh's tally as Laois began to miss frees from scoreable positions. A further three points went over for Armagh as substitute Niamh Reel and McCoy raised white flags. Blaithin Mackin scored a wonderful point as she played a one-two from a 45' before receiving the ball back and dissecting the posts. Fitzgerald got a point back for Laois with a free. 

Fitzpatrick scored the point of the contest as she kicked a wonderful point from an acute angle. Fitzgerald pointed a late free as Laois went in search of goals with Mo Nerney firing just wide. Armagh winning out by five points in the end as the early goals came back to haunt Laois.