Armagh Ladies just one victory away from the All-Ireland Final
TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-final. Saturday July 18 (3.15pm) at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford: Armagh v Galway
Armagh Ladies have the opportunity to reach a first All-Ireland SFC Final since 2006, when they take on Galway in Saturday's Semi-final.
The Orchard County come into the game in a rich vein of form, having won four straight. However, manager Gregory McGonigle cautioned that his team still has room to improve after their quarter-final win over Kildare.
“We wouldn't be completely happy with our performance, with regards to the fact we made a lot of silly mistakes,” he said, but the main thing was getting over the line.
The Mackin sisters have been key to Armagh's success this year, with Aimee hitting a hat trick against Cork and 2-3 against the Lilywhites, whilst Blaithin picked up Player of the Match honours against Donegal and Waterford for her exploits in midfield.
Team captain Lauren McConville has been dependable as ever at centre half back, and isn't afraid to make direct runs and help her team on the attack. Furthermore, wing back Emily Druse continues to go from strength to strength, and she covered every blade of grass in Armagh's most recent win.
Impact subs
McGonigle's side are getting punch off their bench this season, with 17-year-old Cassie Henderson making her mark consistently, whilst Roisin Mulligan has continued to come back to full fitness, and she chipped in with a crucial point off the bench last time out.
Of course, every player wants to start every game, but the Armagh boss emphasised the importance of having a strong bench.
“A big thing for us is knowing your role, and the psychology side of it, which is accepting that is your role,” said McGonigle.
“Everybody wants to start, but we stuck to the tried and tested. We brought Cassie in against tired legs, and a big thing she gives us is that she is so comfortable on the ball.
“At the start of the year, I said that there are three things: county board, players and management, everybody has to be aligned. If there is one person who is askew and not doing what they should for the group, you'll never be successful.
“We lost one or two players who maybe couldn't commit. That's fair play to them, but we have 37 players who all believe in what we're about.
“Are they happy? No, but you're never going to be happy if you're not playing, and that's the big thing.
“We're lucky in Armagh, that we have seen the blueprint from the men's team, in regards to the likes of Oisin O'Neill coming in off the bench. That's the mantra that you have to buy into. You're buying into the group, not the individual.”
A chance to right the wrongs of 2024
McGonigle was previously Armagh manager in 2024, and he led a successful campaign, which saw them lift the Lidl NFL Division 1 title for the first time in the county's history, win the Ulster title, and reach a first All-Ireland Semi-final since 2020.
However, the last four was as far as they got, and with star forward Aimee Mackin side-lined with injury, Kerry ended their campaign.
McGonigle says that upon returning to the helm at the beginning of the 2026 season, the main goal was to get over the hurdle where they fell two years ago.
“People asked me at the start of the year why I was coming back, and it was to right the wrong from where we finished up in 2024 and that's our job no matter who we play,” he said.
“It's massive for Armagh football to be looking forward to an All-Ireland semi-final.”
Tough test ahead
McGonigle didn't know at the time who Armagh would be facing, but the following day Galway comfortably dispatched their Connacht rivals Mayo 2-20 to 1-6.
The Tribeswomen's forwards were in fine form during that encounter, with Olivia Divilly hitting 0-8, Kate Slevin finishing with 1-5, and Kate Thompson amassing 1-3.
Galway are the bookmakers' favourites to go all the way and win the All-Ireland title – in what would be a first since 2004 – but Armagh have enough quality in their team to beat any side in the country on their day.
And, if last Sunday's 'Big Orange Breakfast' at the Carrickdale Hotel is any indication, the Orchard girls certainly have the support of the county behind them.