Lauren McConville: League has given Armagh confidence to compete with big guns

Armagh's Lauren McConville is hopeful the successful run to Lidl National Football League Division 1 glory has given her side the belief that they can mix it with the top counties.

The Orchard County won the top tier for the first time by dethroning the league holders Kerry in the final on 7 April, the cherry on top of a round-robin phase that read six wins and just the one albeit heavy defeat to reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin.

"The league in general, it gave us the confidence that we can compete with these top teams and that we're very capable," McConville told RTÉ Sport as Armagh get set for Sunday's Ulster final against Donegal.

"I would say that we still have plenty to work on after that but we've trained really, really hard over the last few weeks and I think it will put us in a good position now coming into championship.

"It was obviously a great buzz winning the league final as well. It was great for the county and we got great support as well and we'll be hoping for the same on Sunday."

The Crossmaglen native was speaking as she received the award for PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April.

It's not the only honour from the first half of the year. During the league, she made her 100th senior inter-county appearance which allowed for a moment of reflection to how different she was as a player and person when she first made the panel.

"Definitely matured now as time has went on and definitely not as naive as I was when I came onto the panel at 18 years of age," she replied.

"Even just in general, a lot of aspects of my game have changed. I started out playing in the forward line for Armagh and now I find myself in the defence.

"And even just in terms of strength and conditioning and the nutritional end of things,