Armagh GAA Official County Armagh GAA site
The Armagh girls made the long trip on Sunday to County Offaly to face their opponents Kerry in this All Ireland semi-final game. After the early start and long journey the girls arrived in O Connor park in Tullamore and quickly got out to stretch their legs and get prepared for this their biggest game in their young camogie playing lives.
The Armagh management had worked extremely hard with this young bunch of girls and the county board made sure they got everything requested to aid them in their preparations. It was all down to the girls now. The match got started and it was clear from the throw in this was going to be a very physical game.
Kerry were first to score a point from play by Alana Maunsell in the opening minutes. There was many an attack and counter attack with both sides missing easy scores. This was very unsettling for the forwards, and scores that normally would have gone over were falling short, or going wide. Armagh’s Aoibheann O Hare blasted the sliothar over the bar to score Armagh’s 1st point in the 13th minute of play.. This set the ball in motion as fellow forward Emma McGuigan scored a brilliant point in the 14th minute. Aoibheann was back on target with a fantastic goal in the 23rd minute of the first half after she blasted through the Kerry defence and netted the ball in some style. She also scored a great free in the closing minute of the first half. This was a half of many wides in fact more wides than scores from both teams. With both having 5 wides each. It was getting very frustrating for the girls and their management. Nothing seemed to be going over for them. But thankfully Armagh were leading at half time by 1:3 to 1:0.
The second half started with the Kerry girls were determined to get ahead in this half. After tremendous pressure, they broke through the Armagh back line in the 4th minute and scored a gaol at point blank range. The Armagh keeper never stood a chance. Armagh still had plenty of fire in their bellies, and were taking nothing for granted. They dug deep, working hard together fending off the Kerry onslaught for over 15 minutes into the second half. It was them Armagh upped their game and after standing firm and handling everything the Kerry girls had thrown at them they decided it was their turn to attack and go for it. Once again Armagh were unlucky with many wides. But not to be put off the girls all cheered each other on and to keep trying and their lucky break came in the 22nd and 25th minutes of this half with super forward Aoibheann O Hare scoring two wonderful goals. What a time for this young girl to score a hatrick, in an All Ireland semi-final .It was touch and go for a long period before Aoibheann scored her two goals. And this match could have gone either way. But to their credit when their backs were against the wall these young Armagh camogs showed exactly what they were made off. Hanna Gray surged forward and brilliantly pointed the ball in the 28th minute to seal the win for Armagh booking them their place in this years final. Kerry try as they might just were not able to come back as Armagh were now in full flight protecting their lead at all costs. The final whistle blew and Armagh where ecstatic to have won this game.
Fulltime score line : Armagh 3:4 Kerry 2:0
Congratulations to every involved with this Armagh team. We wish you all the very best in your final against West Meath on Sunday August 26th. Venue and time to be confirmed and will be put on county website and facebook page as soon as they are confirmed. Well done girls. You did your clubs and county proud!! Thanks to the supporters who made the long journey to cheer the girls on it was much appreciated.
