Armagh secured All-Ireland glory in a truly outstanding game of camogie, fending off a relentless Cavan side to lift the Kay Mills Cup. Under the guidance of manager PJ O’Mullan, the Orchard County’s perfect blend of youth and experience helped them overcome their recent history of heartbreak at headquarters—having lost four finals on Jones’ Road over the past decade. O’Mullan was back at the site of his Croke Park triumph with his native Loughgiel back in 2012 when he guided the Shamrocks to their second All Ireland Senior Club title. He also managed the Derry team who won the All Ireland Intermediate Camogie crown in 2023
For Cavan, the defeat marks the end of a remarkable journey. The Breffni Blues hadn’t even fielded a team at the start of the year, yet they pushed the eventual champions to the absolute limit in a high-octane, intensely physical contest.
The Turning Point
Despite Cavan starting strong—building on the confidence of their nine-point victory over Armagh in the group stages—the game was ultimately won on either side of the half-time whistle.
Trailing by two points just five minutes before the break, Armagh shifted into a definitive extra gear. They fired over eight of the next nine points, taking a 0-9 to 0-8 lead into the interval. After the restart, they continued their surge, transforming that initial deficit into a commanding 0-14 to 0-9 lead by the 40th minute.
Legendry Armagh Camogie photographer John Merry photographs his daughter Rachael Trainor (main picture) lifting the cup at Croke Park
Defensive Heroics and Late Drama
Philip Brady’s Cavan squad dug deep and refused to surrender. They held Armagh scoreless for 15 minutes, clawing their way back into the game as they threw caution to the wind in the closing stages.
With the gap narrowed, Cavan went searching for a smash-and-grab goal, but Armagh’s defense produced match-winning heroics:
- The Hook: Eimear O’Kane executed a phenomenal, perfectly timed hook to deny a certain goal.
- The Save: Goalkeeper Ciarraí Devlin pulled off a point-blank save to shut out another golden opportunity.
- Note: Both of these crucial interventions denied Cavan’s Niamh Keenaghan, who was desperately unlucky not to find the back of the net during the chaotic final 10 minutes.
Standout Performers
For Armagh:
- Rachael Trainor (Captain): A veteran of the 2016 final defeat, Trainor banished past ghosts by scoring six points (four from placed balls and one absolute peach from play) before lifting the cup.
- Sinead Quinn & Corinna Doyle: Both forwards were a constant menace, each slotting three crucial points from play.
- Ciara Geoghegan: Returning to the squad this season after the birth of her second child, she scored a vital point to steady the ship during Cavan’s late surge.
PJ O’Mullan, his wife Ciara and two sons celebrate Armagh’s triumph
For Cavan:
- Eimear Brady: Kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cavan, finishing with seven points (mostly frees) and opening the game with a monstrous strike from outside the 65.
- Roisin O’Keefe (Captain): The skipper was a massive threat at full-forward, registering three first-half points.
- The Impact Subs: Christina O’Reilly (who remarkably played football for Armagh last month) and Orla Flynn both impressed off the bench to renew Breffni hope in the second half.