Marley delight on Armagh triumph

Niamh Marley has praised the “never say die attitude” of her Armagh colleagues after their Ulster Senior Final triumph over Donegal after extra-time in Clones on Sunday.

Speaking to BBC NI, the corner-back revealed that she and her team focus a lot on “game management” in the weeks leading up to the decider.

Marley called on her lengthy county experience to start the move off which led to the late winning goal to ensure Armagh the win. She intercepted a pass before off-loading the ball until it eventually fell to Kelly Mallon who rifled in a shot.

“With age comes experience, and I just think I have been on this panel for 15 years, and you just knew the last five minutes against Donegal, it is all about game management.

“I’ve been doing a lot of training outside and it really stood to me and going into that offload, I could see at least I had that experience”, Marley said.

Armagh join Donegal and Cavan in winning three Ulster titles in a row and will be looking to emulate Monaghan’s four in a row.

Speaking about her groups resilience, she said, “it was a tough contest and I know going into this game, it is a great group of girls, but it is even more special to do it with two sisters to play alongside with.”

When asked about taking this experience and momentum into the All-Ireland, Marley was defiant.

“Definitely, 100%. We’ll build on like you said and we will push, and push hard.”

Marley was quick to praise Aimee Mackin who slotted home a late goal in normal time to reduce the deficit from four points down to one before, she converted her fifth free just before the final whistle.

“She is a force to be reckoned with off both feet. She is very, very hard to mark. It is not just the left foot you have to watch, it is also the right foot. It really steps up your man-marking skills.”

For Marley, it is the “drive and want to succeed” that makes this group of Armagh players different from the rest she has been involved with.

Final year Journalism student in DCU. St. Pats reporter. Celtic supporter.

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