WATCH: 'The girls should be proud of reaching first ever Division 1 final' say Armagh's Greg McGonigle

​Armagh Ladies manager Greg McGonigle reflected on what has been a positive campaign up until this point with six wins in seven games, ahead of the upcoming weekend’s league final.

“The main thing was to try and get four wins, because we targeted 12 points to stay up in the league,” he said.

“After our first game into it, we thought 'can we try to push on?' Then, once we won game five it was a case of one more win to get us into the league final.

“Obviously at the weekend there (against Dublin) we ran a lot of players to give them an opportunity. We didn't think the score would be as big as what it was, but that maybe shows the level of where Dublin are at and where we need to get to, not just as a team but as a panel, for the younger girls to see what they have to do in the next couple of years.”

Armagh were the new kids on the block in Division 1, so the initial target was to stay up. But as the wins started to accumulate, they set their sights higher.

“Waterford in our first game was at home, so we definitely targeted that game,” said McGonigle.

“That was the weekend of the storm, which sort of played havoc with things. Beating Cork down in Cork in week two really gave the girls confidence.

“After that we had Galway and Meath who were All-Ireland champions. After that was Kerry at home, which to me was the big result because that gave us a big bit of confidence.

“Overall, I think we used 32, maybe 33 players in the league and giving some of them more game time at the weekend (against Dublin) makes us a more balanced outfit heading into the final.”

Sunday’s game is definitely one to look forward to, as it Armagh Ladies’ first ever Division 1 final, and McGonigle says that is something for the young players to take great pride in.

“Sinead [Reel, Armagh LGFA Chairperson] says that we have been 46 years on the go, and this is a first,” said McGonigle.

“You look at the greats: Caroline O'Hanlon has been playing for 23 years and it's her first Division One final. That's something for the younger girls on this team to be proud of, and hopefully we can put our best foot forward on Sunday.”

Both of Armagh’s next two games are finals: the National League final on Sunday, and the Ulster Senior final at the end of the month against Donegal.

They say winning breeds winning, and Armagh have two big chances in front of them to pick up some silverware.

“If every game was a final, we'd be delighted,” said the Orchard County manager.

“We're looking forward to the National League final. If you look at the teams that have been in the top two or three, Kerry, Dublin, Meath, the competition is only going to get stronger as the summer progresses.

“One, we'll look at Kerry then we'll get our heads down and prepare for the Ulster final.

“Obviously, the girls were hugely disappointed last year to lose that final up in Owenbeg, and it's something that they maybe have in the back of their head.

“Summer football is a completely different game compared to winter, where you have a dry sod and speed comes into it.

“That's something we will be looking to build on over the next four or five weeks, in terms of playing with a bit more speed.”

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