Can Clann Eireann's men match ladies' Ulster triumph?

Clodagh McCambridge captained Armagh ladies to the National League and Ulster titles this year and is now hoping to help Clann Eireann land the All-Ireland Club crown following their retention of their Ulster title

Clann Eireann ladies' retention of their Ulster Club Football title last weekend kept alive the prospects of history being created in the province as the Lurgan outfit's men approach Sunday's semi-final against Errigal Ciaran.

No Ulster club has previously won the men's and women's provincial titles in the same year.

It has happened in other provinces before. As recently as last year and indeed in 2022, Kilmacud Crokes' men and women captured the Leinster Club Football titles.

Clann Eireann's Armagh ladies captain Clodagh McCambridge quietly acknowledged that last weekend's 2-17 to 2-8 win over Lurgan (you read that correctly) of Cavan has the club's men's side, which includes All-Star brother Barry, "probably feeling a bit of pressure now" before quickly going back on message to add that "they’ll just be focusing on themselves".

Two-time Ulster champions Errigal Ciaran are Clann Eireann men's semi-final opposition in Newry on Sunday afternoon.

Clodagh and sister and team-mate Meabh will be in Pairc Esler to cheer on Barry and the rest of Ruairi Lavery's squad, who came through a provincial opener against a Newbridge side that had shocked All-Ireland champions Glen in the Derry county final.

"Having got over the line in Armagh a second time in three years, I’d say Ulster is a big focus for them," adds Clodagh, 27, who skippered the Orchard County to the National League Division One and Ulster titles this year.

"Obviously the challenge against Errigal Ciaran at the weekend will be a tough one but it would be amazing for them to reach the final and be in the same position that we were a week ago."

Barry McCambridge (right) will be in action for Clann Eireann against Errigal Ciaran on Sunday after returning on Thursday morning from Armagh's team holiday to Florida

Barry had to miss the ladies' provincial triumph as he was away on Armagh's team holiday in Florida which was one of the perks of their Sam Maguire Cup triumph.

However, the squad's return to Ireland early on Thursday should give McCambridge and fellow All-Ireland heroes Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Kelly sufficient time to get over the jet lag.

After not being a regular starter for much of the season, Barry's incredible finish to Armagh's campaign, as he subdued David Clifford and scored the match-turning goal in the semi-final win over Kerry and then curbed Shane Walsh in the decider, saw him being installed as favourite to win the footballer of the year at the All-Star awards although Galway veteran Paul Conroy was to land that honour.

"At the start of the year, you weren’t sure how much football he was going to get but he kept plugging away and then to get his opportunity and he really took it," adds Clodagh.

"And he had those big moments in big games which helped get them over the line. It’s a bit mad to be honest looking back at it."

Clann Eireann were beaten by Waterford side Ballymacarby in last year's All-Ireland Club semi-final

After celebrating back-to-back provincial titles, Clann Eireann's ladies were back at training on Wednesday night to begin the build-up to Sunday week's semi-final against four-in-a-row seeking Galway club Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

As was the case 12 months ago when they lost 1-10 to 0-5 against Waterford side Ballymacarbry, Clann Eireann will have home advantage for the last-four contest.

"We were probably slow to start in last year's semi-final and you could probably tell we were nervous but even though we settled into it a bit they got a goal at the start of the second half and we were chasing the game after that," Clodagh recalls.

"Hopefully that experience of being in an All-Ireland semi-final will stand to us this year and there will be fewer nerves."

The McCambridge sisters and skipper Niamh Henderson are among "seven or eight - I'd have to count" Clann Eireann personnel in the Armagh panel and the Lurgan club's supporters will be hoping those players' experience of big inter-county occasions could be an important factor on Sunday week.

"A lot of their players do or have played for Galway but we have a lot of players playing for Armagh so you can take confidence from that," adds McCambridge.

"A lot of our players have had exposure to that quality of player so that experience will definitely add to the squad and hopefully support the other girls around who might be a bit nervous."

'We left that semi-final behind us'

Clann Eireann's exploits in Armagh and Ulster have meant that Clodagh has spent little time with the county set-up under new managers Darnell Parkinson and Joe Feeney but Wednesday's announcement of their opening Division One fixture against All-Ireland champions Kerry did signal that late January will be upon us sooner than we think.

Armagh defeated Kerry to win the Division One title in April but the absence of Aimee Mackin, who picked up a season-ending injury in the Ulster Final win over Donegal, was a huge handicap in the All-Ireland campaign which eventually ended at the semi-finals stage in a frustrating 1-8 to 0-7 defeat by the Kingdom.

"We hadn’t got over a quarter-final in so long but I think we still feel that semi-final is something we left behind us," adds Clodagh, who is two years Barry's senior and four years older than Meabh.

"Obviously Aimee was a big miss but within ourselves, we knew we could perform better on the day."

Barry's involvement in his All-Ireland Final a week later was probably a blessing as the county went into a football frenzy that has barely abated.

Clann Eireann's ladies seem to have been riding that wave too and everyone connected with the club will hope that 'Barry, Turbo and TK' can help prolong the surf on Sunday afternoon.