Sat 27 May – Westport GAA – 3pm
Armagh get their All-Ireland Championship campaign up and running on Sunday when they head West to take on Mayo.
It’s the opening round of the group stages and the Orchard County will also come up against Limerick and Offaly.
After the Mayo test this weekend, Armagh host Limerick on 10 June before traveling to Offaly on 24 June.
It’s an All-Ireland series that Armagh have had plenty of success in over the past few years and remain one of the big hitters.
Armagh claimed All-Ireland glory in 2020 and followed it up with successive final appearances in ’21 and ’22.
The latter two seasons have ended in defeat, but the camogs will be confident in getting back to Croke Park to showcase their talents.
And that begins in Westport on Saturday. It’s a repeat of Armagh’s opening league game, back in March, which they won handsomely.
Five second half goals, from five different scores, fired Armagh to victory despite a tight enough first half.
Sean Hughes’ side just shaded the opening exchanges to carry a slender three-point lead into the break, 0-8 to 1-2.
But Michelle McGuigan, Ellie McKee, Rachael Merry, Eimear Smyth and Sinead Quinn all rattled the net after the turnaround.
That victory kickstarted a four-game unbeaten run in the league which ended with an appearance in the Division Three final.
Armagh unfortunately lost out to Carlow in the decider, but the minimum of margins, losing 0-8 to 0-7.
But they showed their scoring prowess throughout. Smyth ended the campaign with 5-14 while Merry hit 2-12, with Quinn notching 2-5.
And they only conceded four goals in five games, keeping clean sheets against Kildare and Carlow.
Armagh will be hungry heading into this game, having lost their grip on the Ulster title in their most recent outing.
Cavan overcame the Orchard ladies by just one-point in the provincial semi-final, winning 2-12 to 2-11.
So, Armagh will be keen to bounce back and get their All-Ireland campaign off to the best possible start.
