Coleman sisters continue family's proud Armagh tradition

By lining out at inter-county level for their native Armagh, Niamh Coleman and her younger sister Dearbhla are maintaining a strong family legacy.

Formerly their manager when the Orchard County claimed an Ulster minor ladies title nine years ago, the Colemans' father Tommy played senior football with the Armagh men and was a starter in an Ulster championship final defeat to Tyrone in 1984.

While their mother Avoureen has always had a keen interest in the big ball game – representing the Lurgan-based Clann Éireann in the past – it was in the sport of camogie that saw her don the orange and white.

In the same year she jointly-captained the minor side to that provincial crown, Niamh followed in her parents’ footsteps when she made her debut for the Armagh seniors in a Lidl National Football League encounter against Dublin at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on 3 April, 2016.

Fast-forward a few short years and Coleman, who recently secured a permanent teaching position at St Francis’ Primary School in Lurgan, was thrilled to be joined on the Orchard panel by her aforementioned sibling Dearbhla.

"Dad, he still has some of his Armagh jerseys. He would have played football for Armagh as well. Some of his Ulster final jerseys he still has. He would have been involved in our club and then he got into the county as well. He would have taken a lot of the girls for county minors. We had a bit of success under him as well. He’s football mad!" Niamh explained.

"Then Mum’s first sport would have been camogie. She had success with the county as well. She would have played football for our club, but never really progressed for the county. Camogie was her number one sport."

In more recent times, parents Tommy and Avoureen have become proud supporters