BY SALLY RAFFERTY

Armagh camogs recorded a high-scoring 3-18 to 0-4 win against Roscommon in their All-Ireland Junior Championship opener in the Athletic Grounds on Saturday past.

Whilst the result doesn’t fully reflect Roscommon’s competitiveness in the encounter, Armagh should also have had a much higher tally but wayward shooting resulted in too many misses that tougher opposition would capitalise on.

A minute’s silence was respectfully observed by both teams and mentors before the throw-in and a tribute was delivered to the memory of Marion McStay, Armagh Camogie President, who passed away the previous week.

Marion was remembered for her untiring work for Armagh camogie over many decades and her enormous contribution to camogie as a player, administrator and advocate was recognised. Her inimitable personality and passion for her game, club, county, province and country, made its mark on anyone who met her. The fitting tribute, albeit to an empty stadium given the ongoing restrictions, resonated to all those who were present and was met with an appreciative applause and, just as Marion would have wanted, set the scene for a stirring Armagh performance.

The opening minutes of the game saw Armagh dominate with Aislinn McMahon and Laura Smyth, ably supported by Ciara Donnelly, winning a lot of ball in the middle third.

Playing against a strong wind, Armagh had several attacks but wayward shooting brought no return. Armagh’s lively Catherine Beagan opened the scoring with a well-taken point in the fourth minute which was set up by Laura Smyth. Roscommon levelled minute via the stick of Niamh Farrell. Orlagh Murray was having a good game on the left wing and set up Rachel Merry for a goal chance but the crossbar denied her, however a free had been awarded and Merry sent over.

A good piece of defencing from Ellen Lavery set up another Armagh attack and good work by Ciara Donnelly sent Leanne Donnelly through, but the sliothar was sent wide of the right post. Armagh continued to attack with Roscommon ’keeper Michaela Fallon pulling off a great save to deny Ciara Donnelly a green flag.

Another great piece of play between the Donnelly sisters sent Rachel Merry through and she fired over a fine point in the 14th minute. A great attack through the heart of the Armagh defence resulted in Shauna Brennan raising a white flag for the visitors. Roscommon added a third point to their tally with the excellent Aine O’Meara coming forward to strike over.

Ellen Lavery was again in the thick of it in the 24th minute to earn herself a free from which Rachel Merry sent over the bar. Despite being against the wind, Armagh were dominant with their half-back line of Eimear O’Kane, Aislinn Harvey and Hannah French dealing with anything that came their way.

Ciara Donnelly, who had been influential and involved in a lot of the play, scored a terrific goal in the 26th minute to cap off a great first half for the Eglish star who was making a welcome return to the orange jersey this season following some time abroad.

Roscommon were still very much in the game but Ciarrai Devlin was secure between the posts and handled anything that came her way with confidence. Nikki Woods showed her terrific aerial skills with some excellent fielding and her speed on the ball was also a treat. Mary Meehan and Ellen Lavery were secure and gave their opponents little to work with.

Laura Smyth and Aislinn McMahon were taking control of the midfield and Smyth ran through for one of her trademark long-range points in the 29th minute.

Orlagh Murray followed this up with a point and Leanne Donnelly sent over a minute later to give Armagh a 1-7 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

With the strong wind at their backs, the Orchard cailini started brightly with a well-taken Ellie McKee point. Catherine Beagan was putting in a great hour and causing problems for the Westerners, and she set up Rachel Merry for a point.

Roscommon raided up-field and the excellent Aine O’Meara grabbed her second score as Louise Toner entered the fray for Armagh in place of Mary Meehan.

The ever-busy Aislinn McMahon did terrific work to supply Rachel Merry on the wing, Merry was upended and sent over the resultant free. The Granemore sharp-shooter followed this up a minute later with an excellent point.

Toner was making her mark in Armagh’s defence, winning good ball and sending in some intelligent crossfield passes. Leanne Donnelly was coming into her own as the game progressed and scored an excellent point in the 14th minute of the half. Ciara Hill joined the fray for Ellie McKee and immediately made her mark with fine passing.

Leanne Donnelly then scored a stunning goal as her terrific driving ground strike rattled the back of the Roscommon net.

Armagh were now on fire and it was attack after attack. Merry sent over a lovely point from the right sideline. Armagh manager Michael Murphy sent in Meabh Lenaghan and Caoimhin O’Neill for Catherine Beagan and Ellen Lavery and Armagh kept the pressure on.

The Roscommon goalie was earning her stripes and pulled off another magnificent save from Leanne Donnelly. Ciara Donnelly scored a point and one minute later Leanne Donnelly put in a great tackle and neat pass to set up Orlagh Murray who made no mistake with a rasper to the net.

Ciara Hill was catching the eye as well as the sliothar in the midfield area and her brilliant fielding of a Roscommon puck-out set up her Granemore clubmate Rachel Merry for another point. Kare Caroll came in for Aislinn Harvey as Ciara Donnelly stepped up another notch to send over a spree of three excellent points.

This was a very good performance from Armagh and whilst Roscommon travelled with a small squad as they were short a few regulars due to bereavements and self-isolations within their camp, the hosts were certainly the more effective outfit.

Armagh’s defence was very solid with goalkeeper Ciarrai Devlin putting in a solid hour and handling anything that came her way whilst Nikki Woods, at full-back, was also dominant whilst Eimear O’Kane also had a busy hour.

The midfield quartet was an evenly balanced encounter until the final third of the match when Armagh majored in possession.

Armagh had seven different scorers with Ciara Donnelly topping the list with 1-5 and Rachel Merry getting 0-7 (0-4fs) to her name. Ciara Donnelly was very impressive throughout and whilst wearing the corner-forward jersey, she was played deep – particularly in the first half when Armagh were against the wind.

In the second half with wind advantage manager Micheal Murphy was able to field a more conventional front six and Donnelly sent over a spree of scores from every angle. Her younger sister Leanne also impressed while the Keady trio of Orlagh Murray, Catherine Beagan and Aislinn Harvey were also influential. Lucy Hill and Louise Toner certainly made their mark when joining the action in the second half.

There is every chance that this Armagh team could go all the way in 2020. The revised format for the All-Ireland Junior Championship means that the Orchard outfit may be in a more traditional knock-out situation and on this performance they should be well within a shout for the title they have now won since 1993.

Six of the 2020 squad are daughters of members of the 1993 and 1994 Armagh squads that won the All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate finals in consecutive years 1993 and 1994 so it would be a fitting achievement in the year when they lost their county president Marion McStay for Armagh to bring an All-Ireland title and the Kay Mills cup to Armagh. Their next game is on November 21 against Cavan or Tyrone.

Armagh: Ciarrai Devlin, Mary Meehan, Nikki Woods, Ellen Lavery, Eimear O’Kane, Aislinn Harvey, Hannah French, Laura Smyth (0-1), Aislinn McMahon, Catherine Beagan (0-1), Orlagh Murray (1-1), Ellie McKee (0-1), Leanne Donnelly( 1-2), Rachel Merry (0-7, 0-4fs), Ciara Donnelly (1-5). Subs: Louise Toner for Mary Meehan, Ciara Hill for Ellie McKee, Meabh Lenaghan for Catherine Beagan, Caoimhin O’Neill for Ellen Lavery, Katie Carroll for Aislinn Harvey, Emma Mone. Panel: Niamh Forker, Louise McCooey, Faye Fitzpatrick, Riona Cunningham, Caoimhe O’Kane, Sinead McCooey, Amy Harvey, Lana Kernan, Aoife Comiskey, Orla O’Kane, Aimee Brennan, Eimear Smyth, Gemma McCann, Sinead Kiernan.