ARMAGH'S Lauren McConville says this year's TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship is wide open and that the Orchard County are one of the contenders.
McConville picked up the player-of-the-match award in her side's enthralling 2-10 to 1-11 win over Mayo at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday in their final group game. With two wins from two, they are guaranteed top spot in the group and a home quarter-final to look forward to. While the eight quarter-finalists are confirmed, final placings are not and Armagh must wait until the draw on Monday to find out who their opponents will be.
Aimee Mackin converted a penalty to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with just 15 seconds left on the countdown clock. They had trailed by five points at half-time, Mackin missing a penalty late in the half, but they got themselves back into it in the second half to lead on two occasions but each time Mayo got their noses back in front and it looked like, with the game in the last minute, that they would hold on to their one point lead but Mackin, who herself was fouled, had the last say to fire past the Mayo net-minder to the back of the net.
"It's always great to get a win like that. We were behind for a large part of the game and were disappointed going in five points down at half time so it was great that we were able to turn things around in the second half and play a bit more to our potential. And thankfully, that hard work right to the end is what got us over the line," said McConville.
"It's tough looking up at the clock counting down with three minutes left and you are two points down. It does add some pressure but we knew not to panic and we knew what we needed to do. I was glad that we were able to push on and really go for it. It was very exciting at the end so great to come out on top," she added.
Not for the first time this season, Armagh showed that battling character, and that will stand to them as the champions closes in its business end.
"This will certainly stand to us going forward. There will be no easy games come the quarter-final stages so we know what to expect and know that we have it in us when we have to dig deep," she said.
The home support played their part as well and now with a home quarter-final guaranteed, even with Mayo to play Laois in the final group game, McConville hopes they will get behind them once again.
"While our goal was to top the group anyway and perform as well as we can, it's extra motivational knowing that a win would get you home advantage for the quarter final. It was amazing playing in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday. The crowd really got behind us, so it will definitely be an advantage next time around.
"I really feel that it is wide open this year and that it's there for the taking. There are lots of contenders and there won't be much between the teams going forward. I do believe that we are contenders. I feel that we have really improved over the course of the season and have learnt a lot from previous years."
TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship
FIVE teams have qualified for the All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-finals ahead of this week's final round of group games.
Armagh's last gasp win over Mayo sealed their place in the last eight with the added bonus of a home quarter-final after topping the Group 1. Mayo face Laois, last year's All-Ireland intermediate winners, in the final round game with the winner progressing the knock-out stages. The loser will enter the relegation play-offs.
In Group 2, Ulster champions Donegal and defending All-Ireland champions Meath have already qualified for the quarter-finals. They meet in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening to determine who finishes top of the group and gets that home advantage. Waterford find themselves preparing for a relegation play-off to save their senior championship status.
Leinster champions Dublin have already qualified for the next stage even by way of a much superior scoring difference regardless of the outcome of Kerry and Cavan in the final Group 3 game. Division One champions Kerry will join them, topping the group, if they beat Cavan. Cavan need to cause an upset by winning if they are to progress to the next round and avoid a battle against relegation.
In Group 4, Galway have also qualified, topping the group and will be at home for the quarter-finals. Cork and Tipperary play the final group game in a winner-takes-all clash for the other quarter-final place. The loser will have to lift themselves for a relegation play-off.
The relegation pairings will see a Group 1 team play a Group 3 team and Group 2 against Group 4. The losers of both with then face off in a relegation decider that will see the winner stay in senior and the loser move down to intermediate for next season.
TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship
THE quarter-finalists are known with Antrim facing Monaghan at home, Tyrone away to Kildare, Clare against Westmeath and Wexford take on Leitrim.
Louth will face Roscommon and Offaly will play Longford in the relegation qualifiers. The winner in each game will continue to play intermediate football next season with the losers battling for survival in a relegation play-off.
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship
THERE is still plenty of football to be played in the All-Ireland Junior Championship with only the second of three rounds taking place this weekend.
Following the completion of this weekend's round, the semi-finalists may be known. In Group A, Ulster champions Down and Limerick are in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages having won their opening round games against Sligo and Kilkenny respectively and they will both be favourites to make it two wins from two when those opponents are reversed this weekend.
In Group B, last year's All-Ireland finalists Fermanagh and London have the early advantage after round one wins over Carlow and Derry. They play each other this weekend, the winner guaranteed a semi-final place. Carlow play Derry and for the loser their semi-final hopes will be over.
