Latest news with #AimeeMackin
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Don't stay in the pubs' - player's plea before Ulster Ladies Final
Donegal ladies full-back Abigail Temple Asokuh wants the early-arrival fans at Clones on Saturday to attend their Ulster Final contest with holders Armagh rather than being tempted to stay in the town's bars in advance of men's senior provincial decider between the two same counties. The ladies decider will throw-in at 15:00 BST at St Tiernach's Park and is live on the BBC iPlayer with the much-anticipated men's final following at 17:25. Advertisement Clones' access issues means many Donegal and Armagh fans will arrive in the Monaghan market town hours before the men's throw-in and Temple Asokuh, 19, is appealing to supporters not to ignore the women's decider. "Hopefully, the Donegal fans turn up for our game too and don't leave it late to get out of the pubs. The tickets are for both games," said the Ballybofey woman. Armagh and Donegal have dominated the Ulster Ladies Championship since 2017 with both counties securing four titles over the last eight seasons. Last year's decider between the two counties went to extra-time with the Orchard women eventually earning a 0-17 to 1-12 triumph. Advertisement "It's great opening for the men. It's great coverage for us. And what better team to go up against than Armagh. That's where you want to be. So it'll be a great occasion," added the Dublin City University student. Armagh's star forward Aimee Mackin sustained a cruciate ligament injury in last year's provincial decider which is still keeping her out of action although she is fulfilling water carrier duties for joint bosses Darnell Parkinson and Joe Feeney. Mackin's sister Blaithin missed last year's provincial final because of injury but will play this weekend while their brother Connaire has been named in the Armagh men's squad. Their other footballing sibling Ciaran is sadly out injured again after suffering a recurrence of the knee trouble which saw him missing out on the closing stages of last year's victorious All-Ireland campaign. Advertisement "It will be a painful one [for Aimee] when you are itching to play and you're part of a team," Blaithin told BBC Sport NI. "She's been doing the water girl role for the majority of the games during the league and just been really good support and a really good voice even from the sidelines but it will be tough for her definitely." Aimee suffered the injury in last year's decider after an innocuous looking challenge in what was the second time she had sustained ACL damage after previous misfortune in 2019. "I remember seeing it myself and I was like 'surely not, like it couldn't happen again'," added Blaithin. Advertisement "But unfortunately that was the outcome and it's been a long and tough year for her but she's dealt with her really well and obviously having Ciaran for the most part to support her through it. They have been very good to each other." Mackin's mixes GAA with AFLW career All four Mackin siblings still live under the same roof with mum and dad so it's not a surprise that football is often a topic of discussion in the household. "It's any sports really 24-7 in the house and dad will be out with the sweets and making matches and showing us his tactics doing the match-ups," laughs Blaithin, who is mixing her Armagh career with also playing for Melbourne Demons in the Women's Australian Football League. Advertisement Macken adds that Connaire and Ciaran, and indeed all the Armagh men's squad are very supportive of the ladies team. "We're very very lucky in Armagh, the men's players take a real interest in how we are doing. "They genuinely know and care about how we are doing so I think the double-header is great. We don't have to say [this weekend] 'oh we're missing yours or you are missing ours'." With Donegal this year having operated in Division Two of the Ladies National Football League where they missed out on promotion, the sides have not met this season. Armagh's fast start in Division One saw them clinching a place in the final with two games to spare but they were unable to retain their title as All-Ireland champions Kerry won the league decider 4-14 to 0-11. Advertisement "We probably felt we dominated the first 15 minutes in the league final and had a lot of chances but didn't convert any of them and they carried straight down the field and got a goal and as any player knows, that just completely drains you," added Mackin. Temple Asokuh says Donegal were content to retain their Division Two status as they attempted to bed in several new players following a number of retirements. The Sean MacCumhaills player missed most of the league campaign because of an ankle injury picked up in the early contest against Roscommon but is now back to full fitness. "We're in a good position. We didn't make it out of Division Two, but at the same time, I think we were happy with where we are," added Mackin, whose Nigerian father Eloka Asokuh came to Donegal in the early noughties to play for Finn Harps and has remained there ever since with his family. Advertisement Donegal boss James Daly has lost the services of experienced campaigners such as Niamh McLaughlin, Katy Herron, Tara Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr but is still able to call upon the likes of skipper Roisin Rodgers, Evelyn McGinley, Niamh Boyle and Susanne White. Youngsters who have been introduced into the Donegal squad include Rhiana McColgan, Ciara McGarvey, Ava Walsh and Laoise Ryan.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Don't stay in the pubs' - player's plea before Ulster Ladies Final
Donegal ladies full-back Abigail Temple Asokuh wants the early-arrival fans at Clones on Saturday to attend their Ulster Final contest with holders Armagh rather than being tempted to stay in the town's bars in advance of men's senior provincial decider between the two same ladies decider will throw-in at 15:00 BST at St Tiernach's Park and is live on the BBC iPlayer with the much-anticipated men's final following at 17: access issues means many Donegal and Armagh fans will arrive in the Monaghan market town hours before the men's throw-in and Temple Asokuh, 19, is appealing to supporters not to ignore the women's decider."Hopefully, the Donegal fans turn up for our game too and don't leave it late to get out of the pubs. The tickets are for both games," said the Ballybofey and Donegal have dominated the Ulster Ladies Championship since 2017 with both counties securing four titles over the last eight year's decider between the two counties went to extra-time with the Orchard women eventually earning a 0-17 to 1-12 triumph."It's great opening for the men. It's great coverage for us. And what better team to go up against than Armagh. That's where you want to be. So it'll be a great occasion," added the Dublin City University student. Armagh's star forward Aimee Mackin sustained a cruciate ligament injury in last year's provincial decider which is still keeping her out of action although she is fulfilling water carrier duties for joint bosses Darnell Parkinson and Joe sister Blaithin missed last year's provincial final because of injury but will play this weekend while their brother Connaire has been named in the Armagh men's other footballing sibling Ciaran is sadly out injured again after suffering a recurrence of the knee trouble which saw him missing out on the closing stages of last year's victorious All-Ireland campaign."It will be a painful one [for Aimee] when you are itching to play and you're part of a team," Blaithin told BBC Sport NI."She's been doing the water girl role for the majority of the games during the league and just been really good support and a really good voice even from the sidelines but it will be tough for her definitely."Aimee suffered the injury in last year's decider after an innocuous looking challenge in what was the second time she had sustained ACL damage after previous misfortune in 2019."I remember seeing it myself and I was like 'surely not, like it couldn't happen again'," added Blaithin."But unfortunately that was the outcome and it's been a long and tough year for her but she's dealt with her really well and obviously having Ciaran for the most part to support her through it. They have been very good to each other." Mackin's mixes GAA with AFLW career All four Mackin siblings still live under the same roof with mum and dad so it's not a surprise that football is often a topic of discussion in the household."It's any sports really 24-7 in the house and dad will be out with the sweets and making matches and showing us his tactics doing the match-ups," laughs Blaithin, who is mixing her Armagh career with also playing for Melbourne Demons in the Women's Australian Football adds that Connaire and Ciaran, and indeed all the Armagh men's squad are very supportive of the ladies team."We're very very lucky in Armagh, the men's players take a real interest in how we are doing."They genuinely know and care about how we are doing so I think the double-header is great. We don't have to say [this weekend] 'oh we're missing yours or you are missing ours'." With Donegal this year having operated in Division Two of the Ladies National Football League where they missed out on promotion, the sides have not met this fast start in Division One saw them clinching a place in the final with two games to spare but they were unable to retain their title as All-Ireland champions Kerry won the league decider 4-14 to 0-11."We probably felt we dominated the first 15 minutes in the league final and had a lot of chances but didn't convert any of them and they carried straight down the field and got a goal and as any player knows, that just completely drains you," added Asokuh says Donegal were content to retain their Division Two status as they attempted to bed in several new players following a number of retirements. The Sean MacCumhaills player missed most of the league campaign because of an ankle injury picked up in the early contest against Roscommon but is now back to full fitness."We're in a good position. We didn't make it out of Division Two, but at the same time, I think we were happy with where we are," added Mackin, whose Nigerian father Eloka Asokuh came to Donegal in the early noughties to play for Finn Harps and has remained there ever since with his boss James Daly has lost the services of experienced campaigners such as Niamh McLaughlin, Katy Herron, Tara Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr but is still able to call upon the likes of skipper Roisin Rodgers, Evelyn McGinley, Niamh Boyle and Susanne who have been introduced into the Donegal squad include Rhiana McColgan, Ciara McGarvey, Ava Walsh and Laoise Ryan.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Armagh ladies face Kerry in Division One League Final
Armagh will aim to retain their Division One Ladies National Football title when they face All-Ireland champions Kerry on Saturday at Croke Park (17:00 BST) in a repeat of last year's the third occasion in four years that the counties have met in a league decider with Kerry winning the Division Two final in teams' rivalry in recent years also includes last year's All-Ireland semi-final when the Kingdom edged a 1-8 to 0-7 victory in Tullamore against an Armagh side that were minus influential attacker Aimee Mackin after she sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the Ulster continuing recovery from the injury has meant she has played no part in this year's league campaign which makes Armagh's qualification for the decider even more sister Blaithin has taken up some of the scoring mantle by tallying 2-6 during the campaign with free-taker Niamh Reel leading the stats with 0-27. Ni Mhuircheartaigh no longer in Kerry ranks Armagh secured their final spot with two games to spare, which included a victory over Kerry, before losing their final two round-robin games against Waterford and Meath, with a number of regulars rested in the concluding dead Orchard County women make three changes from the Meath game with Anna Carr returning in goal in place of Brianna Mathers, while there are starts for Cait Towe and Niamh Reel, who replace Grace Ferguson and Kelly no longer have the retired Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh in their ranks but Siofra O'Shea has racked up 5-26 during the league so far with Danielle O'Leary notching Kingdom selected an understrength line-up for their defeat by Dublin last time out and make seven changes with O'Shea, Roisin Rahilly, Deirdre Kearney, Aoife Dillane, captain Anna Galvin, last year's skipper Niamh Carmody and Jaydn Lucey returning to the starting curtain-raiser is the Division Two final between Cork and Galway which throws in at 15:00 BST. The Division Three and Division Four finals take place on Sunday, with the latter game an all-Ulster contest between Antrim and Fermanagh at Clones (15:00).Antrim will be aiming to repeat their 2023 Division Four final triumph as they face a Fermanagh side who secured the All-Junior title last year which moved them into the intermediate grade for this sides can play with a degree of freedom at St Tiernach's Park with promotion to Division Three already won their round-robin encounter a few weeks ago but the margin couldn't have been closer as the Saffrons edged a 3-10 to 3-9 win as they went on to win all seven of their match will bring back memories of the 2022 All-Ireland Junior Final when Antrim secured the title after a Bronagh Devlin remains a key performer for Antrim as evidenced by her 2-3 tally in the semi-final win over the Fermanagh side, Eimear Smyth has carried her magnificent 2024 form into 2025 and she led the way with 1-8 in the semi-final win against Sligo. Cavan in Division Three final There is also Ulster representation in Saturday's Division Three final at Drogheda (14:00) as Cavan face again, the pressure is off both sides with promotion to Division Two also secured. Cavan's only defeat in the round-robin games was a 2-5 to 0-9 reverse against Wexford when Grace Donovan's goal proved Breffni County are aiming for a third Division Three title after their triumphs in 2008 and 2010 with Wexford last landing the title in A Carr; M Ferguson, C McCambridge (capt), L Kenny; L McConville, C Towe, R Mulligan; N Coleman, C O'Hanlon; E Druse, B Mackin, E Lavery; N Reel, A McCoy, N ME Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O'Connell, K Cronin, A Dillane; M O'Connell, A Galvin (capt); C Evans, N Ni Chonchuir, N Carmody; D O'Leary, S O'Shea, J A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O'Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin (capt), N Jones, M O' A Haren; E Murphy, C Clarke, E Keenan; N Boyle, C Murphy, C Bogue; S Feeley, M McGloin; B Smyth, C Martin, L Maguire; J Doonan, E Smyth, A E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch (capt), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, E Brady; K McCormack, L McVeety, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan, A S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, K English; C Donnelly, R Murphy (capt); B McDonald, C Murray, O Byrne; A Neville, C Ni Nuallain, C Foxe.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Armagh ladies face Kerry in Division One League Final
Armagh will aim to retain their Division One Ladies National Football title when they face All-Ireland champions Kerry on Saturday at Croke Park (17:00 BST) in a repeat of last year's final. It's the third occasion in four years that the counties have met in a league decider with Kerry winning the Division Two final in 2022. The teams' rivalry in recent years also includes last year's All-Ireland semi-final when the Kingdom edged a 1-8 to 0-7 victory in Tullamore against an Armagh side that were minus influential attacker Aimee Mackin after she sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the Ulster Final. Mackin's continuing recovery from the injury has meant she has played no part in this year's league campaign which makes Armagh's qualification for the decider even more impressive. Her sister Blaithin has taken up some of the scoring mantle by tallying 2-6 during the campaign with free-taker Niamh Reel leading the stats with 0-27. Armagh secured their final spot with two games to spare, which included a victory over Kerry, before losing their final two round-robin games against Waterford and Meath, with a number of regulars rested in the concluding dead rubbers. The Orchard County women make three changes from the Meath game with Anna Carr returning in goal in place of Brianna Mathers, while there are starts for Cait Towe and Niamh Reel, who replace Grace Ferguson and Kelly Mallon. Kerry no longer have the retired Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh in their ranks but Siofra O'Shea has racked up 5-26 during the league so far with Danielle O'Leary notching 4-7. The Kingdom selected an understrength line-up for their defeat by Dublin last time out and make seven changes with O'Shea, Roisin Rahilly, Deirdre Kearney, Aoife Dillane, captain Anna Galvin, last year's skipper Niamh Carmody and Jaydn Lucey returning to the starting line-up. Saturday's curtain-raiser is the Division Two final between Cork and Galway which throws in at 15:00 BST. The Division Three and Division Four finals take place on Sunday, with the latter game an all-Ulster contest between Antrim and Fermanagh at Clones (15:00). Antrim will be aiming to repeat their 2023 Division Four final triumph as they face a Fermanagh side who secured the All-Junior title last year which moved them into the intermediate grade for this season. Both sides can play with a degree of freedom at St Tiernach's Park with promotion to Division Three already secured. Antrim won their round-robin encounter a few weeks ago but the margin couldn't have been closer as the Saffrons edged a 3-10 to 3-9 win as they went on to win all seven of their games. Saturday's match will bring back memories of the 2022 All-Ireland Junior Final when Antrim secured the title after a replay. Skipper Bronagh Devlin remains a key performer for Antrim as evidenced by her 2-3 tally in the semi-final win over Leitrim. On the Fermanagh side, Eimear Smyth has carried her magnificent 2024 form into 2025 and she led the way with 1-8 in the semi-final win against Sligo. There is also Ulster representation in Saturday's Division Three final at Drogheda (14:00) as Cavan face Wexford. Once again, the pressure is off both sides with promotion to Division Two also secured. Cavan's only defeat in the round-robin games was a 2-5 to 0-9 reverse against Wexford when Grace Donovan's goal proved crucial. The Breffni County are aiming for a third Division Three title after their triumphs in 2008 and 2010 with Wexford last landing the title in 2018. Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, C McCambridge (capt), L Kenny; L McConville, C Towe, R Mulligan; N Coleman, C O'Hanlon; E Druse, B Mackin, E Lavery; N Reel, A McCoy, N Henderson. Kerry: ME Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O'Connell, K Cronin, A Dillane; M O'Connell, A Galvin (capt); C Evans, N Ni Chonchuir, N Carmody; D O'Leary, S O'Shea, J Lucey. Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O'Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin (capt), N Jones, M O'Neill. Fermanagh: A Haren; E Murphy, C Clarke, E Keenan; N Boyle, C Murphy, C Bogue; S Feeley, M McGloin; B Smyth, C Martin, L Maguire; J Doonan, E Smyth, A McCabe. Cavan: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch (capt), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, E Brady; K McCormack, L McVeety, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan. Wexford: S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, K English; C Donnelly, R Murphy (capt); B McDonald, C Murray, O Byrne; A Neville, C Ni Nuallain, C Foxe.
