McCleary to the fourfor Armagh Ladies

The midfielder has been taking the right-footed frees in the injury-enforced absence of her clubmate and county captain Mags McAlinden and has thrived upon the added responsibility.

At Markievicz Park she was the Orchard outfit’s main scoreboard contributor for the second away match in a row, albeit a distinction this time shared with goal-scorer Mairead Tennyson, a colleague from the 2006 All Ireland final team.

Kelly Mallon missed a penalty but netted Armagh’s other goal, captain Caroline O’Hanlon hit two points and full forward Caitlin Malone plus subs Siobhan Mackle and Caroline O’Hare chipped in with a score apiece.

With full back Laura Brown unavailable due to a christening, teenager Niamh Henderson’s return to the team merely maintained Clann Eireann’s representation in the starting line-up at an uncharacteristically low two.

However McCleary’s significant contribution has helped get Armagh’s promotion bid off to a satisfactory start with two wins following that opening day draw with Down.

Faced with a strong wind in the first half on Sunday, James Daly’s side went into the interval trailing by a point but kept Sligo scoreless in the second period to run out comfortable victors on a 2-10 to 1-5 scoreline.