TG4 All-Ireland Ladies’ SFC semi-final
Armagh v Kerry (7.15pm) (today, Glenisk O’Connor Park, live on TG4)
THE destination is within sight; Armagh can see Croke Park and this year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final calling, but there is one final push required to get there.
Kerry, All-Ireland finalists for the last two years, stand in their way, full of the same hunger and hope that fills the Orchard county. This game has all the makings of a mouth-watering battle, just like the men’s semi-final between the same counties seven days ago.
Emulating their male counterparts is not the only incentive for Armagh, though, because reaching next month’s decider would also go a long way to making up for disappointing seasons of quarter-final and semi-final exits.
This is just the fourth time since Armagh came up from intermediate in 2012 that they have reached the last four and on each of those four occasions they came up short
Given their dominance in Ulster – four provincial titles in five years – and their league successes – Division Two runners-up in 2022, Division Two winners in 2023 and Division One winners this year – and the calibre of players they have, there are expectations that this Armagh team should be contesting All-Ireland finals at the very least.
Captain Clodagh McCambridge knows they need to take advantage of the opportunity before thembecause they do not come about too often.
“All-Ireland semi-finals haven’t come around too often for us as a group, so we’ve been preparing really well for it and we’re just ready to go out and hopefully put in a really good performance,” she said.
“There have been a number of years now that we have fallen short at the quarter-final stages, so to get over that was a huge positive for the group, and there is a real opportunity for all four teams left to get to an All-Ireland final.”
Armagh have already beaten Kerry this year, twice, including in the Division One final, to land that title for the first time, and Kerry were defending champions.
There is little these sides do not know about each other and there is even less between them, so it will come down to fine lines, margins and work rate.
It is the latter that McCambridge honed in on in the men’s semi-final and she believes that if they can show that same high level of workrate and hunger they will not be far away.
“It’s always difficult coming up against Kerry. They’re a brilliant side with quality forwards and a solid defence, but we’ll be really looking forward to the challenge. I suppose with every game, we’re probably getting that bit more familiar with each other, but past results won’t mean too much and there’s always a chance they’ll throw something new at us that we’ll have to be ready for,” said the full-back.
“I think we can take a lot from the men’s semi-final in this case. They were able to sustain really high levels of workrate right to the end of the game, and I think if we were able to bring that level of intensity, we’d put in a performance that would hopefully see us over the line.”
Kerry defeated 2021 and 2022 champions Meath in the quarter-finals, 0-16 to 0-8, in a game that saw Siofra O’Shea make her return from injury, scoring two points, to add to the Kingdom’s scoring threat that also includes Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Anna Galvin, Danielle O’Leary, Mary O’Connell, Emma Dineen and Niamh Carmody.
Armagh’s defence against Mayo in their last-eight win was very impressive, led by McCambridge with Dearbhla Coleman, Roisin Mulligan and Caroline O’Hanlon making vital interventions, while goalkeeper Anna Carr also kept any goal chances at bay.
Blaithin Mackin put in a player-of-the-match performance, Eve Lavery who was a late replacement to the starting line-up was excellent, as was Niamh Henderson, Aoife McCoy and Lauren McConville.
There is no doubt Armagh have the players to get them into an All-Ireland final, they just need to put in their biggest performances to date.
McCambridge is hoping there will another couple of All-Ireland finalists in the house come tonight, her and her sister Meabh joining brother Barry, which will certainly make for a memorable few weeks for the family!
“It would be brilliant if that was the case. Our parents are definitely proud, and we’re just delighted for Barry and his team, but obviously we’ve our own aspirations this year too, and it would be great to have our team there on All Ireland final day as well as the men.”
