It’s a Magnificent Seven for Armagh as they dominate the Division One Team of the League selections

The Orchard contingent includes captain Clodagh McCambridge, NFL final Player of the Match Lauren McConville and the two forwards who scored heavily in Armagh’s showpiece win against Kerry, Aimee Mackin and former skipper Kelly Mallon.

Armagh great Caroline O’Hanlon is included in the ceremonial line-up on the back of her impressive performances in midfield, Dromintee dynamo Aoife McCoy gets the nod at centre half forward while Ballyhegan’s Grace Ferguson has been named at right corner back.

Greg McGonigle’s side booked their place in the NFL final for the first time ever with six consecutive victories on their return to the top flight after a six-season absence and came from behind to dethrone title holders Kerry in Croke Park earlier this month.

The Kingdom have three representatives in the Team of Division One with two each from Mayo and former Armagh manager Shane McCormack’s Meath, while Dublin’s sole representative is left corner back Leah Caffrey.

McCambridge, McConville, Mackin, McCoy and Ferguson were among eight Armagh players named in last season’s Team of Division Two after the Orchard clinched promotion by beating Laois in the final.

The incomparable O’Hanlon has secured the Division One No 9 jersey, just as she did in the inaugural year of the Teams of the League way back in 2009, when her midfield partner in the top flight line-up was Cork great Juliet Murphy.

Although the Orchard outfit’s fortunes dipped in subsequent seasons, O’Hanlon featured in the Team of the League selections for the first seven years as Armagh slid down to Division Three before bouncing back with consecutive promotions under her captaincy.

O’Hanlon and a then teenage Aimee Mackin made the Team of Division One in 2017, last time Armagh were in the top tier, but this is the former’s first involvement in the National League awards since then.

That has been partly because the dual star has missed some matches over recent years due to her British SuperLeague netball commitments but the 39-year-old is still doubling up this season so her inclusion is recognition of fantastic form.

Mallon is in her 16th inter-county season so it is somewhat surprising that this is the first time O’Hanlon’s fellow former Orchard captain has been included in any Team of the League but it is deserved recognition for a player who scored five points in the final against Kerry.

Meanwhile, Down disappointingly missed out on a place in the Division Three final but captain Meghan Doherty and corner back Orla Boyle have both made the third tier Team of the League. The Lidl National League Awards will be handed out on May 3 in Croke Park.