Galway ladies set for last four clash with Armagh

Croke Park final on line against Dublin or Kerry

By Darren Kelly

TWO teams who’ve followed similar paths over the last decade finally come together in championship football on Saturday when they clash in the All-Ireland senior ladies semi-final at Pearse Park, Longford (throw-in: 3.15pm, live on TG4).

Galway and Armagh have been in the conversation every year when title favourites or dark horses are discussed, and regularly make the penultimate round of the sport’s most coveted competition. Indeed, in 2014, ‘20 and ‘24, both were in semi-final action, missing each other. One has to go back to 2006 for the one and only time they faced off at elite level.

That All-Ireland semi-final went to Armagh on a 1-13 to 1-12 scoreline in Dr. Hyde Park thanks to Sharon Duncan’s winning score inside the final 30 seconds as the Orchard County qualified for their only senior Croke Park decider.

But that doesn’t begin to tell the story as moments beforehand, a Barbara Hannon score, proven correct by video evidence, was waved wide. Galway appealed the result but the case was dismissed and that great team, All-Ireland champions in 2004, began to break up.

“It brings new thoughts in relation to them (Armagh) and what they bring to the table,” Galway manager Daniel Moynihan told Herald Sport ahead of Saturday's clash. “We’re very much aware of the huge threats that they have.”

There are no Galway survivors from that fixture, but Caroline O’Hanlon and Catherine Marley are still in the Armagh set-up. Greg McGonigle’s team won a third consecutive Ulster title, beating Tyrone by a point in the final (2-13 to 1-15).

However, they really made their mark when overwhelming Division 1 champions Cork (4-10 to 1-9) to begin the All-Ireland series before accounting for Waterford (2-15 to 1-15).

“They just came out of the blocks really fast and caused a huge amount of problems. And all of a sudden, they had a nice healthy lead going in at half-time”, acknowledged Moynihan about Armagh’s win in Cork.

“If our concentration level drops for five minutes or so, that’s where they can strike and cause teams real big problems. And then it’s a case of chasing down a lead against Armagh which is always going to be difficult.”

After the disappointment of group stage elimination to Kildare in 2025, Armagh gained revenge on the Lilywhites in their recent quarter-final with a 3-9 to 1-12 victory.

Aimee Mackin is back after missing the 2025 fixture and struck 2-3. The 2020 Player of the Year and three-time All-Star has amassed 5-16 in five outings and is the biggest threat to a Galway return to Croke Park.

The dangerous Kelly Mallon (1-13) is in the opposite corner, and they’ll likely line up either side of O’Hanlon. Lara Marsden, Aoife McCoy and Marley provide a sufficient supply line from the 40.

Aimee Mackin’s sister, Bláithin, is one of the country’s top midfielders and has converted two two-pointers this term. She’ll form a midfield alliance with Christina O’Reilly, while the spine of their defence is provided by Clodagh McCambridge and Lauren McConville.

Emily Druse and Grace Ferguson are experienced at wing-back, as is Cáit Towe in the corner. The versatile Alana Donnelly will probably start at corner-back but could surface anywhere.

Maeve Ferguson, Róisín Mulligan, Caoimhe McNally (who has scored two goals from the bench this year) and Niamh Reel provide strong impact options. And Cassie Henderson, an U-16 B All-Ireland winner against Galway last year, is another super sub and their breakthrough star.

Galway and Armagh have been regular foes in the league. Under Moynihan, they’ve faced each other twice with both registering one win apiece. Four Mallon scores helped the Ulster team prevail by 0-8 to 0-6 in 2024. Leanne Coen struck two goals and Andrea Trill also found the net when Galway prevailed 3-11 to 0-15 in Division 1 this spring.

“League football and championship football are very, very different,” stated Moynihan. “We can’t look back at his recent league game and say, well we have their number. That’s not the case.”

Galway’s starting 15 has been consistent with Leah O’Halloran in goal and captain Kate Geraghty, Sarah Lynch, Brónagh Quinn, Hannah Noone, Nicola Ward and Ellen Power in defence. Niamh and Siobhán Divilly are paired together in midfield.

Olivia Divilly (2-20 in four games), Kate Slevin (2-12), Róisín Leonard (2-12) and Leanne Coen (1-12) lead their attack helped by Eva Noone and Kate Thompson, the latter producing arguably her best Galway performance to date in the quarter-final victory over Mayo (2-20 to 1-6).

Slevin and Thompson got the goals in Tuam Stadium last Sunday weeks, backing up earlier wins over Meath and Tyrone. Galway’s average total has been 2-19 since the Connacht final (also against Mayo) in May, while they’ve conceded an average of just 1-8.

Lynsey Noone, Aoife Molloy and Aoife O’Rourke have been their go-to players from the bench, while Chellene Trill, Louise Ward and Shauna Hynes all made their returns during the second half the last day.

Slevin, at centre-forward, and wing-back Hannah Noone already look like potential All-Stars and their respective duels against McConville and Marley could be decisive. Corner-backs Geraghty and Quinn will also need to curtail Aimee Mackin and Mallon.

The Brendan Martin Cup doesn’t await the winners. Kerry and Dublin do battle in Semple Stadium, Thurles two hours later to determine final opponents (5.15pm). But for Galway and Armagh, this is a ‘final’ before a final.

“There is definite similarities there,” concluded Moynihan. “I think probably a lot of people look at Galway and say we’ve probably underachieved.

“Armagh similarly have produced outstanding footballers over the years and never got over the line. So, it’s a case that something has to give here on Saturday that one team is going to be marching on to an All-Ireland final. Another will be the ones that have nearly got there.”

Have Galway learned from Dublin (2025 semi-final) or Cork (2026 League final) how to handle pressure if the run-in is tight? If they have, then a sixth-ever All-Ireland final appearance is within their grasp. But they’re going to have to earn it.