Clann Eireann captain Niamh Henderson and her niece Cassie with the Armagh and Ulster Senior Club Championship trophies
BY RICHARD BULLICK
YOUNG Clann Eireann ace Cassie Henderson, who captained Armagh Under 16s to the All Ireland B title this summer, goes into this weekend’s Orchard county final against Crossmaglen on the back of claiming an astonishing SEVENTH national title in boxing.
The precocious Cassie, a double European medallist, stopped her opponent in the second round of the 70kg final at the Irish Under 17 Championships in Dublin last Friday night before representing Clann Eireann at the county finals launch early the next morning!
It was another power-packed, polished performance from Ireland U17 team captain Henderson, who fights out of Pheonix ABC in Lurgan, and the outstandingly dedicated teenager didn’t treat herself to a lie-in afterwards.
Despite not getting home from Dublin until the early hours, Henderson had made it back from Lurgan to McKeever Park beyond Newry before 9.30am for the launch of the Armagh LGFA’s Buttercrane Championship finals.
The fact that the 16-year-old Henderson, set to be the youngest member of a starting team packed with senior county stars, was the player asked to fly the flag for Clann Eireann at the event speaks volumes for her maturity and the regard in which she is held.
The launch came in the middle of a hectic weekend for the St Ronan’s College schoolgirl, who was also due to line out for Clann Eireann against Dromintee in the following lunchtime’s Armagh Under 16 Division One Championship final.
But the exceptional Cassie, who carries herself so impressively, takes it all in her stride and, rather than being daunted by her busy schedule, is grateful for a lack of direct clashes as she juggles commitments in two sports at which she excels.
Boxing starlet Cassie Henderson after winning her seventh Irish national title in the ring in Dublin last weekend (Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile)
Henderson skippered Armagh to victory in July’s All Ireland Under 16 B final against Galway in Longford just before heading to Florida as captain of the Ireland U17 boxing team for the World of Havoc tournament.
Last month, she helped Clann Eireann to another Armagh Minor Championship showpiece win in the Athletic Grounds and will be back at Orchard headquarters this weekend with her club’s senior side after securing fresh success in the ring at national level.
Cassie came off the bench in Silverbridge last September as Clann Eireann defeated their regular rivals Carrickcruppen in the final for a third year running, all achieved under the captaincy of her aunt Niamh Henderson.
However, the then 15-year-old subsequently started all four fixtures in the Ulster series as Orchard champions Clann Eireann went on to retain the provincial crown won for the first time ever the previous season.
She delivered an imperious performance in the deserved victory over familiar foes Moneyglass in the last four tie, when arguably player of the match, and then kicked three points in the first half of the final against Cavan club Lurgan in Omagh’s Healy Park.
Clann Eireann were later beaten by reigning champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway in the All Ireland semi but will hope to get another crack at national honours this autumn if they can retain the domestic crown and make it a hat-trick of Ulster title triumphs first.
Cassie Henderson (right) won her first county final last season alongside aunt and club captain Niamh, who was Player of the Match
Manager Greg McGonigle helped lift the team’s horizons two seasons ago by boldly declaring the objective of winning Ulster for the first time, but Clann Eireann won’t be disrespecting Crossmaglen in Sunday’s Orchard decider (4pm) either.
Henderson wasn’t even born until the best part of a couple of years after Crossmaglen’s last appearance in the county final way back in 2007 so she knows this weekend’s opponents will come with real hunger which Clann Eireann must match.
“Cross are a very strong side, and they’ll definitely not be under-estimated by us. It will be a very high-intensity game on Sunday and a hard-fought win if we can get over the line. They’ll be buzzing to be back in a final but this is a special occasion for us too.
“For me it was brilliant being involved last year, but this time it’s in the Athletic Grounds which is another added dimension. You don’t often get to play there in club colours so it’s something everyone is looking forward to.
“Despite past success, Clann Eireann never take county finals for granted, getting to them or winning them. The Marie Hoye Cup means an awful lot to our club and we’ll be putting our best foot forward, doing everything we can to retain the trophy.
“These are two big clubs in Armagh, there’s a rivalry in men’s football in recent years and now the ladies sides are meeting in our county final so it should be a good occasion. I’d know a few of their girls, like Jessica McCreesh and the Lenaghans, from underage county.
“Obviously Lauren McConville is outstanding, she’s an unbelievable player. Everyone knows what she’s done with Armagh but the way she gives everything for her club too is admirable. It will be a proud day for her and no doubt they’ll be well up for the game.
“But they’re far from a one-woman team, they’ve plenty of other threats too and good players we’ll have to look out for, but we’ve a lot of useful experience in our ranks and we’ll be ready to go. It’s still a week away, and I’ve the Under 16 final first, but the excitement is building.”
Around two thirds of the Clann Eireann team have been involved with Armagh in the past couple of years, including Orchard captain Clodagh McCambridge and her fellow 2024 national All Star nominee, Cait Towe.
The multi-talented Cassie Henderson captained Armagh to victory in this summer’s All Ireland Under 16 B final against Galway
Classy club captain Niamh Henderson picked up an Ulster All Star last season along with McCambridge and the Coleman sisters, Niamh and Dearbhla, while Roisin Mulligan was crowned the Orchard’s County Player of the Year.
Five of them picked up Gaelic Life Ulster Club All Star awards for 2024 – Niamh Henderson, McCambridge, Mulligan and Niamh Coleman along with Towe, who won the Ladies Footballer of the Year gong at the same event.
Like prolific forward Niamh Murray and Clodagh’s younger sister Meabh McCambridge, Tiarna Grimes has opted out of county football but remains a top player, and the evergreen McAlinden sisters – goalkeeper Catherine and defender Grainne – bring great experience.
Megan McCann got a lot of game-time for Armagh this summer, while Cassie Henderson heads a list of promising prospects who are emerging, like Erin Melanophy, Anna Lavery and Aoife McDonald, though Minor county captain Aoibhin Donohue is sidelined by injury.
With such quality in their ranks and an outstanding track record – Clann Eireann have won 13 county titles and been beaten finalists three other times since dethroning Crossmaglen back in 2006 – the holders will rightly go into Sunday’s decider as firm favourites.
Clann Eireann went through their league campaign unbeaten once again and began their latest county title defence with a resounding 8-11 to 0-4 away win against Intermediate champions Derrynoose before beating Ballyhegan 3-10 to 1-1 in the semis.
It has been a stop-start season at club level, with relatively few fixtures and big gaps, but Henderson says Clann Eireann are really starting to gel now with all their county stars back on board.
Even at an early age, she has already achieved so much in sport but Cassie says that Ulster Club final in Omagh stands out as a highlight – “it was very special, probably one of the favourite moments of my career.
“Even just being able to play out there alongside some of our county girls who I’ve always looked up to. That’s an honour in itself, never mind getting to represent your club in an Ulster Senior final while still very young and then winning was a great feeling.”
Coming off the bench in Silverbridge a few weeks earlier for her first taste of county final action is another memory which Henderson still savours – “that was a class experience” – though hopefully she will have many more big games to come.
Looking fresh and sounding bright last Saturday morning despite her exertions the night before, Henderson spoke with respect about her vanquished Dublin opponent Gianna Duffy and paid tribute to Ireland’s new world amateur champion Aoife O’Rourke from Roscommon.
There’s a fair chance Clann Eireann will continue their domestic dominance in the Orchard county by landing a metaphorical knockout blow on their opponents this weekend, leading to Cassie’s aunt Niamh Henderson lifting the trophy for a fourth year running.
A 13-year-old Cassie Henderson receives her Armagh U14 jersey from Lauren McConville, who she will face in Sunday’s final
Double European medallist Cassie Henderson (right) in action against Dublin girl Gianna Duffy last Friday night (Photos by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile)
Irish champion Cassie Henderson has her arm raised in victory after the 70kg final at the national stadium in Dublin
