By Shaun Casey

ARMAGH crashed out of the All-Ireland series last season at the hands of Kildare and have a chance to exact revenge twelve months later.

The Orchard Ladies failed to make it out of the group in 2025, drawing with Meath before losing out to the Lilywhites. They did, however, pick up a win over Donegal to retain their senior status.

They are back at the scene of the crime, the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, in another knockout encounter with a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals up for grabs.

Gregory McGonigle wasn’t the manager last year but returned at the start of this season and he says his side can have no qualms about last year’s meeting.

“In fairness, the girls would all admit it, Kildare played them off the pitch last year. They were definitely the better team and deserved the result,” said the Armagh manager.

“The big thing we’re going after is the performance level. Every day from here on in you have to be on it. There are no back doors now.”

He continued: “I’d know the Kildare managers very well, Pat and Noel. They have a seriously good management team and a lot of very good footballers as well.

“We’re obviously happy with the players that we have in Armagh, but we know it’s going to be a battle. When you go to the last eight, that’s what you’d expect.”

Ulster champions Armagh earned a stunning victory over Cork in the opening round of the All-Ireland series before seeing off Waterford by three points on the last day out to top the group.

That game took place on home turf but overlapped with the men’s trip to Killarney, so McGonigle hopes they can get a bigger crowd out to the Cathedral City venue this Saturday.

“On top of everything else, I just think it’s an unbelievable stadium. Obviously the last day we clashed with the men so hopefully we’ll be getting a lot more supporters in it this time.

“The big thing with home advantage is it takes away the whole logistical nightmare of playing away. If we didn’t top the group, we could be going to Galway or Kerry or somewhere like that.

“Then you’re trying to find accommodation. Thankfully the game is at a good time as well, 1.45pm, you’re not waiting about or hanging about all weekend, so we’re delighted to get a home draw.”

McGonigle expects Roisin Mulligan to be available for selection this weekend. The Clann Eireann defender has yet to feature in the championship.

“We could have pushed Roisin for the Waterford game, but we just thought it was more important that she got an extra break. We had a very competitive in-house game last week and Roisin was back flying.

“It’s good news for the camp because Sarah Quigley is coming back as well. I think we actually only have one person out injured at the minute. We have a panel of 37 players, and we have 36 players to pick from heading into this weekend.”