McGonigle hails Armagh 'quality' in Ulster final win

Armagh manager Greg McGonigle hailed the character and depth of his squad after they secured a third consecutive Ulster title with a hard-fought victory over Tyrone in Owenbeg.

In a tight, physical contest, McGonigle admitted he was expecting a stern test from a Tyrone side that had impressed in recent outings, including a strong victory over his Armagh side at Healy Park a fortnight ago.

Both teams went into the final with heavily altered line-ups, with Armagh making over 10 personnel changes from that previous defeat before lining out in today's decider.

"It was a tough encounter, and we didn't expect anything less from Tyrone," McGonigle told BBC Sport NI.

"We'd seen them against Donegal in Lifford, and they performed very well."

"In our last meeting, both teams fielded weakened sides, but we knew they had a seriously hard-working forward line coming in today."

The Armagh manager highlighted the impact of the bench as a key turning point in the contest, particularly in the second half when momentum swung firmly in the Orchard County's way as they opened up a five-point lead midway through the half.

"When we made a couple of substitutions around 40 minutes into the game, that was probably the period where things worked well for us," he explained.

"The experience coming on with Kelly Mallon and Blaithin Mackin made a real difference, that's the quality we have."

"Even with the less experienced players, such as Cassie Henderson, who got two or three crucial balls that set up scores, four or five minors have stepped into the panel this year wanting to prove themselves."

Reflecting on Armagh's approach, McGonigle said the side adapted after a slow start, with tactical tweaks and improved game management proving vital after the interval.

"I thought we were too open in the first half and Tyrone had the breeze with them," he said.

"So we dropped the line a bit and tried to play more on the counter. Which is where I think Caoimhe McNally's goal came from. We only had three turnovers in the first half, so we needed to improve that, and once we did, it gave us a platform."

He also praised the way his side adjusted defensively to key Tyrone threats as the game tightened, with match-ups becoming increasingly important in the closing stages.

"We had to make some defensive changes to pick up the likes of Sorcha Gormley and Chloe McCaffrey, and we got our matchups right in the end."

Armagh ultimately survived a late Tyrone surge to secure a single-point lead and another provincial crown, with McGonigle expecting more from the Red Hands in the future.

"It's difficult when you don't play a side often competitively, but Tyrone are an awesome side, and I believe they will go far in the All-Ireland as well."