Lauren McConville has predicted another epic between Armagh and Donegal in Clones.
Just days after penalties were required to separate the Armagh and Donegal men’s teams in the Ulster final, their female counterparts will take to the same stage on Sunday.
It’ll be a repeat of the last three provincial finals, two of which Armagh won, in 2021 and 2022, while Donegal beat Armagh last year thanks largely to Ciara McGarvey’s late goal.
McConville, the PwC GPA Player of the Month for April in ladies football, is chasing her second piece of significant silverware this season after Armagh’s breakthrough Division 1 league win.
“We’re obviously very familiar with Donegal at this stage, we’ve played them in Ulster for the last three or four years,” said the experienced Crossmaglen half-back. “We know what they’re like and what we’re going to be up against. We’re really looking forward to it but we know it’s going to be an absolute battle.”
Whoever wins will join Meath and Tipperary in Group A of the All-Ireland championship. The loser will be in Group B along with Cork/Kerry and Waterford.
“The outcome of this weekend will determine what group you’re going to be in alright but we can’t really look beyond Sunday,” said McConville, whose brother Cian is part of the Armagh men’s panel. “It’s a very busy house at the moment. He’s obviously flat out with Armagh and look, they were unfortunate at the weekend, they came up just short.”
McConville became a centurion during this season’s league when she hit the 100 appearance marker for Armagh. The daughter of Crossmaglen legend Jim, and niece of 2002 All-Ireland winner Oisin, played down her remarkable decade-long service.
“It’s not really something you tally up or what you really think about,” she said. “It means I’m one of the more experienced players so it’s up to me to live up to that.”
