Liberty Insurance All-Ireland premier Junior Camogie Championship semi-final: Armagh v Roscommon (Sunday, Drumlane, 2pm)
ARMAGH and Roscommon will battle it out on Sunday for the chance to face either Carlow or Westmeath in this year’s premier junior final.
The Orchard county’s season was boosted when they claimed the National League Division Three title by overcoming Roscommon in the final and with the right mix of experience and youth in the side, they have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the All-Ireland series.
They will be keen to keep that run going against last year’s beaten finalists.
Captain Ciara Donnelly will be a key player for Armagh. The Eglish player has been a pivotal player for her side this season.
Grainne Kelly, Hannah McGeown and Siodhna Woods have been solid for Armagh in defence but they will be tested once more by the sharp-shooting Annette McGeeney.
Midfield will prove to be a key area with Bernie Murray and Andrea McAlinden battling it out against Roscommon’s Kelley Hopkins and Niamh Coyle.
Up front, Armagh have real fire-power, with Donnelly providing a scoring threat alongside her sister Leanne, Colette McSorley and Rachel Merry.
Tomorrow’s meeting will be the fourth time the two sides have met this season, with Armagh winning the previous three encounters but joint manager Paddy McArdle knows that his side will need to continue to focus in order to overcome Roscommon once again.
“This is a massive game for our girls and for Armagh camogie. We have played them several times over the course of the season but this is a new game, which is for winning.
“As the two groundsmen in Crossmaglen told Jim (McCormick) and myself way back at the start of the year ‘as long as you win that’s all that matters even if it’s only by a point.’
“At this stage that’s definitely all that matters to us now.
“We just need to focus, go with the right attitude and stick to the things that have served us well all year and we will be hard to beat,” said McArdle.
