TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals
Armagh v Galway; Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford, 3.15pm – Live on TG4
ARMAGH’S approach to their All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final clash will reflect the contrast between being one step away from the decider and a much more challenging experience in 2025.
The Orchard County girls’ very status in senior football was on the line when they had to overcome Donegal in a relegation play-off 12 months ago. While a semi-final might be less pressurised it does bring a certain pressure of its own.
Armagh fell short in 2024 when they were beaten at the last four stage by Kerry and this time Galway stand between them and a massive Croke Park date on Sunday August 2.
If, however, there is pressure then it’s not showing on the Armagh players, who are still riding on the high of overcoming Kildare 3-9 to 1-12 to get to this stage, without being overconfident.
With the firepower of sisters Aimee and Bláithín Makin, Kelly Mallon and Caroline O’Hanlon, who hit 3-7 of the total against Kildare, there is a reason why Armagh can go into battle with Galway in Longford on Saturday believing they can go further than they managed in both 2024 and 2020.
“You have players like Aimee and Bláithín Mackin, Aoife McCoy, Lauren McConville, all those girls know how to play the game,” said Mallon.
“Obviously you have game plans, but there’s that element of freedom as well.”
Aimee Mackin’s return from injury has been a major factor in Armagh’s revival. Not only did the three-time All-Star and 2020 Ladies Footballer of the Year score 2-3 against Kildare, she hit a hat-trick against Cork and another goal against Waterford, taking her personal tally to 5-8 on the run to the semi-final.
Mallon has been a regular in the Armagh ranks for 17 years and after recently celebrating her 37th birthday she knows that there may not be many more opportunities to reach an All-Ireland final.
“Obviously it would mean a lot to get there,” said Mallon. “It would mean a lot to myself and to the group.”
Remarkably, this is a first Senior Championship meeting between the counties since 2006, when Armagh won a dramatic semi-final encounter by a point.
While Armagh were getting the better of Kildare at the quarter-final stage, Galway were comfortable winners over Connacht rivals Mayo.
Armagh have opted for an unchanged starting line-up as they aim to make it back to the Brendan Martin Cup decider for the first time in 20 years.
Could history repeat itself, with Armagh getting the better of Galway to reach Croke Park?
All will be revealed at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, with Galway looking to make it back to the showpiece final for the first time since losing to Kerry two years ago.
Galway were senior champions once before, back in 2004, and the Connacht champions, who are also unchanged, will feel they have a good chance of ending a 22-year famine.
They were close last year, losing out against Dublin in a thrilling semi-final after extra-time, and they have All-Star forward Olivia Divilly in free scoring form, with 2-20 to date in the All-Ireland series.
ARMAGH: B Mathers; A Donnelly, C McCambridge, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville (capt.), G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O’Reilly; L Marsden, A McCoy, C Marley; A Mackin, C O’Hanlon, K Mallon.
GALWAY: L O’Halloran; B Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty (capt.); H Noone, N Ward, E Power; N Divilly, S Divilly; O Divilly, K Slevin, K Thompson; E Noone, L Coen, R Leonard.
