Preview – Irish Daily Star National League Division 3 Final

Division 3 Final

 

Armagh v Roscommon

Armagh had a period of real competitiveness at the beginning of the decade, winning the All-Ireland Junior A Championship in 2011 and failing by just a point to beat Kildare in the following season’s National League Division 3 Final.

 

They failed to build on that though for a variety of reasons, but a concerted effort sees them back in the Division 3 Final, thanks to a blend of youth and experience.

Ciara Donnelly is a key operator, along with Colette McSorley and Bernie Murray, while the likes of the pacey Leanne Donnelly will be boosted by the success of the minors in the All-Ireland Cinor C Championship Final last weekend.

 

Armagh won all four of their group games but only edged out Dublin by a point in the semi-final with Donnelly and McSorley responsible for 1-13 between them.

They accounted for Roscommon by four points in Camlough last month and will know all about the challenges presented by players of the calibre of Kelley Hopkins and Annette McGeeney, while Fiona Connell has shown a keen eye for goal during the campaign.

 

Connell and Hopkins were the main scoring contributors in Roscommon’s 2-8 to 0-5 Semi-Final defeat of Kerry and the Rossies will be intent on continuing the momentum built up from last year, when they reached the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final.

 

Victory was beyond them last September but winning the Irish Daily Star National League would be a perfect boost for their 2016 campaign.