Galway ladies footballers tipped to care of Armagh in All-Ireland semi-final
AFTER carving their away impressively through four championship contests with an average winning margin of 14 points, the stakes rise for Galway’s senior ladies footballers on Saturday afternnon in (Pearse Park, Longford, 3.15pm) when they face Armagh.
It’s a unique pairing in the summer series as they haven’t met since this stage in 2006 when the Orchard County won in controversial circumstances. But like the Tribeswomen, they’ve grappled with their own ability to reach the winners’ enclosure.
The Connacht and Ulster champions are regular participants in All-Ireland semi-finals even if they’ve avoided each other. But Galway still have only one title (2004). And Armagh are yet to take the Brendan Martin Cup with 20 years ago their one senior final experience.
That 2006 semi-final went to Armagh (1-13 to 1-12) in Dr. Hyde Park thanks to Sharon Duncan’s winning score inside the final 30 seconds. But beforehand, a Barbara Hannon score, proven correct by video evidence, was waved wide. Galway appealed the result, but that case was dismissed.
There are no Galway survivors from then, but Caroline O’Hanlon and Catherine Marley are still in the Armagh set-up. Greg McGonigle’s team won a third consecutive Ulster title, beating Tyrone by one point (2-13 to 1-15) in the final.
However, they really made their mark when they overwhelmed league champions Cork (4-10 to 1-9) before accounting for Waterford (2-15 to 1-15). After the disappointment of group stage elimination to Kildare in 2025, Armagh gained revenge in the quarter-final, with a 3-9 to 1-12 victory.
Aimee Mackin is back and the 2020 Player of the Year has amassed 5-16 in five outings. Kelly Mallon (1-13) is in the other corner, and they’ll be either side of O’Hanlon. Lara Marsden, Aoife McCoy and Marley provide a sufficient supply line from the ’40.
Mackin’s sister Bláithin is one of the country’s top midfielders and forms a midfield alliance with Christina O’Reilly. Clodagh McCambridge and Lauren McConville are flanked by Emily Druse, Grace Ferguson, Cáit Towe and the versatile Alana Donnelly in defence.
Maeve Ferguson, Roisin Mulligan, Caoimhe McNally (who has scored two goals from the bench this year) and Niamh Reel provide strong impact options. And Cassie Henderson, an under-16B All-Ireland winner against Galway last year, is another super sub and their breakthrough star.
In the league under manager Daniel Moynihan, Galway and Armagh have faced each other twice. Four Mallon scores helped the Ulster team prevail 0-8 to 0-6 in 2024; Leanne Coen struck two goals while Andrea Trill also found the net when Galway won 3-11 to 0-15 in Division 1 this spring.
Galway’s starting 15 has been consistent with Leah O’Halloran in goal; Kate Geraghty, Sarah Ni Loingsigh, Bronagh Quinn, Hannah Noone, Nicola Ward and Ellen Power in defence; and Niamh and Siobhán Divilly together in midfield.
Olivia Divilly (2-20 in four games), Kate Slevin (2-12), Roisin Leonard (2-12) and Leanne Coen (1-12) lead the attack helped by Eva Noone and Kate Thompson, the latter producing arguably her best Galway performance to date in the quarter-final victory over Mayo (2-20 to 1-6).
Slevin and Thompson got the goals in Tuam Stadium two weeks ago, backing up earlier wins over Meath and Tyrone. Galway’s average total has been 2-19 since the Connacht Final (also against Mayo) in May, while they’ve conceded an average of just 1-8.
Lynsey Noone, Aoife Molloy and Aoife O’Rourke are Galway’s impact players along with returning trio Chellene Trill, Louise Ward and Shauna Hynes. Slevin and Hannah Noone against McConville and Marley will be decisive, as will Geraghty and Quinn’s attempts to curtail Aimee Mackin and Mallon.
The Brendan Martin Cup isn’t awaiting the winners. Kerry and Dublin battle in Semple Stadium, Thurles two hours later to determine final opponents. But this is a ‘final’ before a final. Can Galway handle the pressure if the finish is close? If so, a sixth All-Ireland Final place is within their grasp