The Armagh squad ahead of last Saturday’s match in Ballinasloe (Pic: Colin Molloy)
Richard Bullick
ARMAGH will be aiming to rekindle the spirit of a decade ago when they host Dublin in a crunch clash at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday (2pm) with both teams badly needing points in their quest to avoid the drop from NFL Division One.
All Ireland champions Dublin lost their first three matches before getting off the mark last Sunday with a 3-5 to 1-8 victory over Kildare, who were bottom of the table on only one point after four fixtures before springing a surprise by beating Meath on Saturday evening.
That solitary previous point came from an away draw with Cork in January’s season opener, since when the Rebelettes reeled off three consecutive victories and moved into first place thanks to Waterford’s first defeat of the campaign against Meath last weekend.
Cork consolidated top spot by edging Waterford 1-12 to 3-5 in Saturday night’s televised encounter, so they are now firm favourites to feature in next month’s showpiece, with the smart money maybe now being on Galway to reach the final also.
Both Armagh and Dublin’s sole victories to date have come against Kildare, who had lost three in a row before overcoming Meath, so they go into Sunday’s showdown level at the bottom on three points, albeit with the Orchard having a slightly superior scoring difference.
There are still two rounds of fixtures to come at the end of this month, but whoever loses on Sunday will be under real pressure, especially after Meath’s slightly surprising victory over Waterford last Sunday and especially Kildare’s upset of the Royals since then.
Orchard hopes of reaching a third consecutive NFL final have effectively gone thanks to losing three of their first four matches, including 3-11 to 0-15 against Galway in atrocious conditions in last Saturday evening’s televised game in Ballinasloe.
Maeve Lennon strides forward for Armagh at a wet Duggan Park (Pic: Colin Molloy)
Instead, the Orchard’s objective now is to avoid the drop to Division Two and having former All Ireland Player of the Year Aimee Mackin available again after injury would be a big boost for Armagh’s hopes.
Manager Greg McGonigle indicated in his interview before the Galway game that the elder of the Mackin sisters could be fit to feature against Dublin, and she was duly named in the Armagh starting team when it was announced on Friday.
If Armagh can build on the positive aspects of last weekend’s performance, there is no reason why they can’t claim a vital victory just under a decade on from their first-ever win over the Dubs when the then 18-year-old Mackin hit 1-7.
That historic triumph came at Orchard headquarters at the start of April 2016 in a double-header with a men’s match, Niamh Marley memorably scoring her first Armagh goal on her 24th birthday as a team managed by Ronan Clarke claimed a 2-10 to 3-6 victory.
Marley is now playing rugby, though she missed out on Wolfhounds selection this weekend so instead will spend her Sunday playing for Queen’s against Ballymena in the Ulster Premiership rather than facing the All Ireland champions with Armagh.
Offsetting the welcome comeback by Blaithin Mackin against Galway, Armagh were without Aoife McCoy in Ballinasloe, but the Dromintee dynamo has also been named in the team to take on Dublin though fellow 2024 All Star Grace Ferguson misses out due to injury.
Although Dublin won well last time they came to the cathedral city two years ago, McGonigle had rested most of his frontliners for what was a dead rubber as Armagh had already qualified for their first-ever NFL final.
But Armagh got an away win at Parnell Park last February and, although Dublin went on to win the All Ireland six months later, they have struggled in the early part of this season and been fielding quite a few relatively inexperienced players.
If Armagh are relegated from Division One by the end of this month, it certainly won’t be because they came up just short against Galway on a filthy evening in Ballinasloe when the women in orange actually scored more times than their hosts.
Kelly Mallon was top-scorer for Armagh for a third match running (Pic: Colin Molloy)
This looked like Armagh’s toughest fixture on paper coming into this campaign, perhaps the place the Orchard crew were most likely to drop points along the way even if they were to make a third consecutive NFL final.
As it transpired, Armagh arrived at Duggan Park on a very wet Saturday afternoon under pressure to get a result after a disappointing start to the season which had brought two defeats in their first three National League games.
They came away from muddy Ballinasloe deeper in the relegation mire mathematically after another loss, but with a sense of fresh hope after a much more encouraging performance, which certainly for those of us in attendance felt like Armagh’s best of the season so far.
That was to some extent an indictment on what had gone before, but also a nod to the quality of opposition and a proud Orchard display featuring plenty of fight, heart, hunger, urgency, intensity and decent enough football despite the difficult conditions.
For the third time in four matches this season, the Orchard outfit failed to raise a green flag, and Galway goals proved decisive in this cracking contest, but the visitors did score 15 times across the hour, to 14 by the hosts.
Former skipper Kelly Mallon again led the way, this time with 0-6, the longest-serving county footballer in history Caroline O’Hanlon weighed in with four points – both veterans kicked three frees – and there were two for Blaithin Mackin on her seasonal debut.
Armagh got the first four scores of the evening and also had the better of it on the board in the final 10 minutes, getting four of the last five points until Galway converted a free one second before the hooter that had been awarded for a three-up breach.
That was despite Galway being able to introduce some of the county’s biggest stars as subs, with Olivia Divilly, Lynsey Noone and the renowned Ward sisters, Nicola and Louise, being eased back in after helping Kilkerrin-Clonberne to yet another All Ireland club title triumph.
By contrast, Armagh manager Greg McGonigle, had a threadbare bench to turn to in terms of experience, with last season’s exciting newcomer Caoimhe McNally probably the only recognised game-changer available.
Galway’s purple patch towards the end of the opening period, including a late goal, sent them in four up at the interval despite having trailed until the 23rd minute and two more majors in the second half by the Tribeswomen left Armagh with too much to do.
Given Armagh’s predicament near the bottom of the table and the pressing need for points, the result here was important obviously, but the improved performance provided grounds for optimism that the Orchard can avoid the drop.
Caroline O’Hanlon scored the first four points of her 25th season (Pic: Colin Molloy)
It was a confidence boost going into Sunday’s showdown with Dublin, who are arriving at the Athletic Grounds as All Ireland champions but, like Armagh, with just that solitary victory over Kildare to their name from the first four rounds of NFL fixtures.
After a break of 20 days from the home game against Dublin, Armagh host National League title holders Kerry at Silverbridge before travelling to take on last season’s All Ireland runners-up Meath in their last fixture on March 29.
Albeit the way they fell away towards the end of the opening game against Waterford at the Athletic Grounds was still disappointing, as was the error-strewn defeat to Cork in Crossmaglen, Armagh have been badly hit by absenteeism so far this season.
The injury jinx continued for the Galway game, with 2024 All Star duo McCoy and Grace Ferguson withdrawals from the published line-up and that season’s Armagh Player of the Year Roisin Mulligan not lasting until half-time for a second Sunday running.
There was a typically industrious display by Armagh’s Emily Druse (Pic: Colin Molloy)
On the positive side, there was that welcome comeback by Blaithin Mackin along with a first start of the season for the iconic O’Hanlon and seeing that formidable pair striding to centre-field for the throw-in raised spirits.
That said, the two nominated midfielders in terms of the number on their backs, stalwart Catherine Marley and Cavan native Tina O’Reilly on her first start in the orange jersey, were also heavily involved as Armagh began brightly.
An early block by Brianna Mathers in the Armagh goals was followed by skipper Lauren McConville being fouled in defence. The Orchard captain took the free quickly, Emily Druse played a first-time ball long for O’Hanlon and she laid it off deftly for Marley.
A great run by Marley was ended by a shocking high tackle which rightly resulted in the culprit Aisling Madden being sinbinned by referee Maggie Farrelly but, had this been rugby, it would have gone to a bunker review for possible upgrade to red.
Galway were also punished on the scoreboard, Mallon notching the game’s opening point from the resulting free, and Armagh registered four without reply during their period of numerical advantage.
Armagh’s Blaithin Mackin impressed on her comeback from injury (Pic: Colin Molloy)
It took Blaithin Mackin just over three minutes of her comeback to get on the scoreboard, going up the right after visiting vice-captain Cait Towe had snuffed out a Galway attack, then cutting in-field, checking back and kicking a nice point with her right foot.
The orangewomen were three up by the seventh minute, the industrious O’Reilly scoring a great first point of her Orchard career – making a good run, seeing off a challenge and striking confidently after a blistering burst from deep by Druse, carried on by McConville.
Armagh’s commitment was typified by some murderous but legal physicality by the combative McConville, who later joined in the attack – also featuring Druse, Maeve Lennon, O’Reilly, Alanna Donnelly and Lara Marsden – which led to a lovely point by Blaithin Mackin.
Compared to the team which had started against Cork the previous Sunday, Blaithin Mackin, O’Hanlon and O’Reilly came in for Grace Ferguson, McCoy and Laura Kavanagh, though Grace Ferguson and McNally were actually listed to start rather than Mulligan or Mackin.
Mathers made a brilliant save with her legs to prevent a Galway goal after two Orchard defenders had collided but, having earlier missed with a free and also kicked a wide, the hosts opened their account in the 12th minute through a free from captain Roisin Leonard.
Mallon restored Armagh’s four-point advantage with her second free after Lennon, who had been working back plenty on the left, was fouled, but Galway responded promptly with a point by Hannah Noone just before the quarter-hour mark.
As the rain hammered down again, Galway chalked up another wide, nothing came of the Armagh 45 which resulted from a dangerous ball dropped in by Blaithin Mackin and the home keeper Leah O’Halloran dealt well with a swerving shot by Marsden.
The home team drew level with a burst of three points in the space of two minutes, Kate Thompson and Leanne Coen both scoring from play after the former’s fellow wing forward Aoife O’Rourke had converted a free.
Leonard punished a foul by captaincy counterpart McConville to give Galway the lead for the first time in the 27th minute, but that was quickly cancelled out by a free from O’Hanlon, the first point of her record-extending 25th season of Orchard duty at adult level.
Clan na Gael newcomer Ella Reid came on for the injured Mulligan 76 seconds before the break but disaster struck as Mathers punched away a Leonard free to Andrea Trill, who turned and rifled to the net, and the Galway captain added another point before the break.
Mallon and Hannah Noone exchanged points early in the second half and Marsden fired over after McConville and Marley combined in attack, but Galway got their second goal in the 37th minute, Coen tucking it away well after being played in nicely by Kate Slevin.
Armagh replied immediately, with a confident, first-time strike by Mallon after an exchange between her and Lennon but Galway grabbed their second goal in the space of three minutes, with Coen again the scorer, this time slapping in a ball played to the far post.
The gap between the teams was now eight points as Lennon gave way to Derrynoose clubmate Caoimhe McNally, followed by Killeavy’s Laura Kavanagh taking over from Donnelly moments later.
With her team needing a lift, Armagh’s wonderful little captain McConville kicked a nice point under pressure after injecting into an attack begun by Druse using her pace from defence and also featuring O’Hanlon along with subs Reid and McNally.
O’Hanlon landed another free when Mallon, who had just pulled a shot wide moments before, was fouled by a defender, but Galway were boosted at the start of the final quarter by the introduction of Olivia Divilly and Lynsey Noone.
Lynsey Noone got on the scoreboard within three minutes of being brought on, a left-footed point from a tight angle, but Armagh showed their stomach for the fight by raising four of the next five flags under the Duggan Park lights.
Clady’s Mallaidh Loughan came on in place of O’Reilly for her first Orchard appearance just before O’Hanlon registered her first point from play after a trademark Druse burst forward from deep and her long ball to Mallon.
O’Hanlon landed her third free after a painful foul on McConville, who had shown her bravery by racing into a thicket of converging opposition players at full tilt, though the next Orchard chance went wide from McNally’s boot.
On came the Wards with seven minutes remaining but Armagh kept chipping away with two points from Mallon – a free and a wonderful left-footed effort from play – either side of another for Galway by Leonard.
That reduced the arrears to four with just over two minutes remaining, but Orchard hopes of an unlikely victory suffered a big blow when Blaithin Mackin – who had been ticked at least twice before – was sinbinned.
Galway had the last word, Slevin knocking over the free awarded right at the death for a three-up breach, an absolutely unnecessary contrivance taken from the men’s game and inflicted on ladies football this season.
Player of the Match Coen top-scored with 2-1 for Galway, Leonard’s four-point haul included two frees, the other goal came from Trill, Hannah Noone pointed twice from play, O’Rourke and Slevin kicked a free apiece. Thompson and Lynsey Noone raised a single white flag.
After the rather stodgy fare of earlier rounds, this was the most enjoyable game Armagh have been involved in this season and, if the Orchard can keep this edge for the rest of the campaign, they should avoid the dreaded drop two years after being crowned champions.
Talismanic captain McConville has led by example throughout and Druse brought great energy against Cork but Armagh served up a more complete team performance against Galway and, reasonably enough, McGonigle was taking the positives afterwards.
ARMAGH (v Galway): Brianna Mathers; Maeve Ferguson, Clodagh McCambridge, Cait Towe; Roisin Mulligan, Lauren McConville (capt; 0-1), Emily Druse; Catherine Marley, Christina O’Reilly (0-1); Lara Marsden (0-1), Alanna Donnelly, Blaithin Mackin (0-2); Maeve Lennon, Caroline O’Hanlon (0-4; 3f), Kelly Mallon (0-6; 3f). Subs used: Ella Reid for Mulligan (29), Caoimhe McNally for Lennon (40), Laura Kavanagh for Donnelly (40), Mallaidh Loughran for O’Reilly (49).
A muddied Catherine Marley in action for Armagh against Galway (Pic: Colin Molloy)
