Division 1's top two teams - Armagh and Kerry - set to collide on Sunday

National League leaders Armagh host title holders Kerry at the Athletic Grounds this Sunday (1pm) in a top of the table blockbuster battle between the only two remaining unbeaten teams in Division 1 this season.

Newly-promoted Armagh have home advantage and a two-point lead in the table thanks to four consecutive victories on their return to the top flight after a six-season absence whereas visitors Kerry were held to a draw by Mayo last time out after winning their first three games.

But the Kingdom women will by buoyed by a great recent record against Armagh, having won the last seven contests between these teams stretching back to their 2016 visit to Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital.

The Orchard class of 2024 have hit the ground running with a hat-trick of victories before a statement away win two Sundays ago when they beat 2021 and 2022 All-Ireland champions Meath by 10 points in their own Ashbourne backyard.

That superb performance against former manager’s Shane McCormack’s Meath, who had also come into the game with a 100 percent record this season, should give the Orchard crew confidence for facing Kerry despite that previous streak of defeats at their hands.

Armagh have never reached a National League Division 1 final but a win this Sunday and they can start daring to dream of emulating Kerry’s example of claiming the Division 1 title a year after winning the second division decider.

Ahead of the current campaign, the home matches against Waterford and Galway would have been earmarked as key opportunities to pick up points towards the basic objective of maintaining top flight status, especially with two teams facing the drop this season.

However, the historic away win against Cork in between was a considerable bonus and then came that hugely impressive performance and double-digit victory over Meath, who have claimed two All-Irelands and one National League title since winning Division 2 in 2021.

Against Armagh, Meath were without a number of frontliners from that successful streak in Vikki Wall, Emma Troy, Stacey Grimes, Niamh O’Sullivan, Orlagh Lally and Aoibheann Leahy, while All-Ireland winning skipper Shauna Ennis just came off the bench.

However, you could compile a similar list of Armagh regulars from the same period who aren’t lining out at the moment including Blaithin Mackin, sisters Sarah, Niamh and Catherine Marley, Fionnuala McKenna, Tiarna Grimes, Alex Clarke and Aoife Lennon.

Dromintee’s Shauna Grey and the aforementioned Reel are two established players within the present panel who have yet to feature this season so Armagh are having to bring through a new wave of talent to support their core contingent.

Even with some departures, plus the injured Blaithin Mackin being listed as a member of the management team meantime, Armagh have their biggest panel in recent memory with Clann Eireann captain Niamh Henderson’s return increasing the number of players to 37.

With little scope to experiment in Division 1, mercifully few fresh injuries so far and a new manager naturally wanting to establish firm foundations, McGonigle has named the same starting team for all four fixtures so far.

In practice, there have been just two variations from that with O’Hanlon missing one match due to a Leeds Rhinos game – Niamh Murray came in with Kelly Mallon moving to midfield – and Eve Lavery a direct replacement for Sarah Quigley at wing forward last day.

A further seven players have made it onto the field at least once, with Crossmaglen’s Megan O’Callaghan looking lively on her three cameo appearances, and a total of 33 have been listed in a matchday squad.

Granemore dual star Corinna Doyle, who first featured as a schoolgirl just before the pandemic and has returned after a spell playing county camogie, got all but the first eight minutes of the Meath match due to Louise Kenny’s unfortunate facial injury.

Newcomers like Caitlin McCormack, Rachel McCabe and Erin O’Reilly haven’t been togged out on a matchday yet but, while everyone would like game-time, McGonigle is emphasising the valuable learning the younger girls get just training with the likes of O’Hanlon.

The fact O’Hanlon has returned for a twenty-third season in the orange jersey and Henderson, her midfield partner in Armagh’s 2014 Ulster title triumph, is back with Armagh for the first time in nine years speaks volumes about McGonigle’s standing in the sport.

Armagh are safe from relegation but, with the incentive of trying to qualify for a first ever league final, the hosts are expected to put their best foot forward once again and deserve a big turnout of fans from across the county to get behind them.

Meath had an excellent crowd in Ashbourne but they were subdued by Armagh’s strong start against the wind on an afternoon when the orange women’s work-rate was fantastic and they will need another great team effort this weekend.

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