Armagh ladies can hold their heads high despite Kerry defeat

Armagh manager Greg McGonigle has said his team deserve great credit following their All Ireland  semi final defeat by Kerry on Sunday. Armagh rallied after the break but were unable to catch Kerry during a low-scoring second half.

“We have to give great credit to the girls,” said Armagh manager Greg McGonigle after a season where they captured their Lidl National League title for the first time after being promoted, and continued that great form into the TG4 All-Ireland championship.

“Obviously when we came in Armagh were in Division 1 for the first time since 2017. To go and win seven out of eight games and to win their first ever national league final, you’d be happy enough with that.

“Obviously winning back an Ulster title, which they’d lost the previous year after extra-time, and getting over the quarter-final stage. There’s three ones, but at the same time, I didn’t come into Armagh to be beaten in a semi-final. I came in to try and get them to an All-Ireland final and see where we go from there.”

Kerry joint manager Declan Quill said their greater experience was key as they saw off the challenge of an Armagh side bidding to reach the TG4 All-Ireland final for the first time since their sole appearance back in 2006 when they went down to Cork.

This will be Kerry’s third appearance in the final in a row as they bid to lift the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time since they won it for the eleventh time in 1993 — they are top of the roll of honour with Cork — and Quill believes the trials and tribulations of the last couple of seasons has strengthened their resolve.

“I think we just used all our experience. This is a very experienced bunch, it’s their third All-Ireland final in-a-row going to now. We’ve been in Croke Park a few times with Division 2 and Division 1 titles. They used all their experience in the second half. Just cool heads and bringing on the likes of Lorraine Scanlon there and Hannah O’Donoghue, it just really drove it home.”

This will be a first ever TG4 All-Ireland final between the counties — it will be Kerry’s 15th appearance in the decider — and Quill is hoping the Kingdom will come out in force as they bid to end their famine.

“It’s going to make for one great final. There’s nothing between the teams. There is a massive scramble in Galway for tickets for the men’s final and I’m sure it will be the same for the ladies.
“They always bring great support. We’ve no men’s final to go to, so I hope that the Kerry public will get behind the ladies and turn up in huge numbers for the All-Ireland final.”

Niamh Ní Chonchúir’s 16th minute goal was the key score at Glenisk O’Connor Park on Saturday evening as Kerry advanced to the final where they will hope to make amends for final defeats to Dublin and Meath in the past two seasons.

During a lively start to the contest, Armagh popped over points via the boots of Eva Lavery (two), Blaithin Mackin and Dearbhla Coleman. While Kerry attacker Siofra O’Shea added a score to compliment an earlier free from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Niamh Henderson split the posts on the run to give the Ulster side a 0-5 to 0-2 cushion on the first-quarter mark.

Yet team captain Clodagh McCambridge was temporarily replaced with a blood injury around this juncture following a clash with Kerry’s Aishling O’Connell, who was also forced off for a five-minute period, and in her absence Ní Chonchúir got on the end of an excellent move to drill a fierce strike past Armagh netminder Anna Carr.

This added a spark to the Kerry challenge and with Danielle O’Leary, Ní Mhuircheartaigh (free) and the returning O’Connell finding the target to supplement a 0-2 salvo from skipper Niamh Carmody, the Munster champions were 1-7 to 0-5 in front at the break.

Final score was: Kerry 1-8 to Armagh 0-7

Scorers - Kerry: N Ní Chonchúir 1-0, D O’Leary 0-2 (1f), N Carmody 0-2, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-2 (2f), A O’Connell, S O’Shea 0-1 each.
Armagh: E Lavery 0-2, B Mackin 0-2 (1f), D Coleman, N Coleman, N Henderson 0-1 each.
 
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, D O’Leary, N Ní Chonchúir; S O’Shea, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: A Harrington for A O’Connell (13-18), H O’Donoghue for Ní Mhuircheartaigh (46), L Scanlon for Carmody (49), K Brosnan for Ní Chonchúir (58).
 
ARMAGH: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge, R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; E Druse, A McCoy, B Mackin; E Lavery, N Henderson, M McCambridge. Subs: L Kenny for C McCambridge (13-18), K Mallon for Lavery (38), N Reel for Henderson (50), L Kenny for Druse (54), M Feehan for O’Hanlon (58).
 
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).