Caitriona O'Hagan dreaming of Armagh glory with Carrickcruppen

She is hopeful that a long career as an inter-county footballer is ahead of her, but rising star Caitriona O'Hagan believes that winning an Armagh senior championship title with Carrickcruppen on Saturday would represent the ultimate achievement.

In her fourth year as a senior player with the Bessbrook-based side – located less than a mile away from Shane O’Neill’s, the home club of Aimee and Blaithin Mackin – she has contested top-tier deciders within the Orchard County during each of those seasons.

Runners-up to Armagh Harps in 2020 and 2021, O'Hagan was also part of a Carrickcruppen line-up that lost out on a replay to Clann Eireann by four points [1-12 to 1-08] in October of last year.

It is the Lurgan side who once again stand in the way of Carrickcruppen on Saturday evening at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds [throw-in 5pm] and while she won a Lidl National Football League Division 2 title with Armagh back in April, helping her club team to win a first senior championship crown since 2018 is something she would cherish for years to come.

"That’s where you started it all and learnt all your skills, and you meet your friends. I think it means a wee bit more winning with them [Carrickcruppen]. They’re nearly like your family and all your family are a part of your club," O’Hagan said.

"It’s definitely a big thing winning with them and it’s the memories that you hold because we’re all friends for such a long time and it’s just unreal. Winning anything really, any matches with them are memories to hold, but a championship is definitely something that we’re looking for."

"Shane was great, a lovely man and definitely always checked in with you."

With county panellists such as Clodagh McCambridge, Cait Towe, Niamh Coleman and Dearbhla