'The atmosphere in the dressing room will live with the girls for a long, long time' says Armagh U16 manager Declan McBennett

The Orchard side had too much firepower for their Connacht counterparts, and manager Declan McBennett, says that the win was the culmination of eight months of hard work.

“It was lovely for the group of girls,” he said.

“They've been working hard since we started trials on the 1st of November last year, so most of the squad have been together for eight months, and for it all to come together and the nature of the performance was lovely for the group.

“It was a lovely feeling and the atmosphere in the dressing room, the hotel afterwards and on the bus home, I think that will live with the girls for a long, long time.

“It was also great for the families involved who had obviously invested a lot of time, energy, effort and money in terms of driving the girls up and down across Armagh.”

Not only was winning the All-Ireland final a delight, but the manner of the win had to please McBennett, as his girls showed ultimate composure in saving their best stuff for the big day.

McBennett referenced the 2024 win, and says that the experience from past teams made for a relaxed build-up to the game.

“We were very fortunate in the sense that we had a group on the team that won the title last year,” said the Dromintee man.

“I think six of the girls started and one or two of them would have come on as subs last year, so when you put that together with the fact that the under-14 team reached an All-Ireland final last year as well, the nerves weren't a huge issue and the girls were very relaxed.

“If you see some of the pre-match photos from the evening, the girls were very relaxed and managed themselves very well.

“Then, with the exception of a very early goal that we conceded, they settled down and the first half performance essentially laid the foundation for the win.”

Success at underage bodes well for the future of Armagh LGFA, and McBennett says that he expects the girls to ‘excel in sport’ in the coming years.

“There are a number of very, very talented players within the squad,” he said.

“We've seen it over the last year with the U16 team and then this year's U16 team, so there is the potential. A lot of football at underage level is about player development even more so than winning, but if the experience within the environment of Armagh LGFA is good, and there is the benefit of winning trophies, that augurs well for the future.

“I have no doubt that these girls will excel in sport in the years to come.”

Not only was it a special win for the team, but it was a special evening for the McBennett’s family. The manager’s daughter Lily played a starring role, and picked up the Player of the Match award.

“Yeah, it's obviously nice. You try not to treat anybody any differently, in terms of the group," he said.

“Lily missed an Ulster final two years ago with an injury and she broke her thumb a couple of weeks ago down in Clann Eireann, so she played the semi-final and the final with a broken thumb.

“But thankfully she managed to take to the field and together with the rest of the forward line, they all had a good night and thankfully it all came good for her.

“It was a nice night for her and her grandfather was there and I think that was nearly the most important thing to her, never mind who the coach was! So, it was brilliant.”