Henderson 'happy to be back' as Armagh face Mayo in quarters
Henderson returned to the county set-up earlier this year after a near nine-year absence
- Published
Niamh Henderson is hoping home advantage counts in Armagh's favour as they prepare to host Mayo in Sunday's All-Ireland Ladies Football quarter-final at the Athletic Grounds.
The Orchard County have home advantage in the last-eight game as a reward for topping their group.
Armagh have fallen at the quarter-final stage in each of the past three seasons, but having followed a Division One triumph by fending off Donegal to win the Ulster title, belief within the county is high.
"The home advantage is a really big advantage for us this weekend," said Henderson.
"Obviously we travelled to Mayo in the league game and it’s a right wee bit away. We’re really delighted that we don’t have to do that big, long journey,” Henderson added.
"We know that it will be a hard-hitting, physical game because Mayo are that type of team.
"They’ll not back down easily and they’ll put it up to us. I think if we bring our ‘A’ game and our best performance, and play the way we have been playing at times and reach our potential, then there’s no reason why we can’t get to the semi-final."
'I'm so happy I decided to come back'
Henderson helped Armagh beat Kerry to win the Division One title at Croke Park in April
While Armagh have suffered heartache in the quarter-finals in recent years, Henderson is free of scar tissue having only returned to the inter-county scene after a near nine-year absence in March.
The Clann Eireann player, an All-Ireland Intermediate winner with Armagh in 2012, spent an extended spell away from the county side after having two operations on her knee before giving birth to her son Noah in 2018.
She made her long-awaited Armagh return against Kerry on 3 March, produced a player-of-the-match display in the Ulster final and played a full 60 minutes as Greg McGonigle's side beat the Kingdom to win the league title.
“I was just absolutely delighted and overwhelmed," said of Armagh's league title success at Croke Park.
"For me and Noah, my wee boy, to be able to lift the cup in Croke Park together is a moment I will treasure forever. I’m so happy that I did make that decision to come back."
Victory over Mayo, who hope to reach a fourth straight semi-final, would see Armagh's ladies side follow the men's footballers into the last four of their respective All-Ireland campaigns with Kieran McGeeney's team beating Roscommon last week to advance.
And Henderson admits to having been motivated by watching that game.
"I’m glad I went down because it just gave me that wee bit extra motivation to be like ‘right, let’s go this weekend and do the same thing, get to the semi-final’.
"We have Barry [McCambridge, brother of ladies captain Clodagh], Tiernan Kelly and Turbo (Conor Turbitt), who are all from Clann Eireann.
“It was great to see them boys really breaking into the team this year and making such an impact.
"Obviously Barry got his goal and got player of the match, and then Turbo and TK have been causing havoc as well. It is great to be able to go down and watch them, and that gives us motivation to go and do the same thing."
Armagh are still without star forward Aimee Mackin, who injured her anterior cruciate ligament in the Ulster final. McGonigle makes three changes from the group game against Tipperary as Caroline O’Hanlon, Sarah Quigley and Niamh Reel replace Eve Lavery, Blaithin Mackin and Meabh McCambridge.
Armagh: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge (capt), R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; E Druse, A McCoy, S Quigley; N Reel, N Henderson, K Mallon.
Mayo: L Brennan; S Lally (capt), N O’Malley, K Sullivan; E Ronayne, C Durkan, D Caldwell; A Geraghty, E Murray; F McLaughlin, A Gough, S Cafferky; A Staunton, M Cannon, L Cafferky.
Before Armagh and Mayo lock horns, there are three quarter-finals on Saturday. Cork host Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh (13:15 BST), Kerry take on Meath in Tralee (17:15) and Dublin welcome Galway to Parnell Park (19:30).
Also on Saturday, Donegal face Kildare in their senior championship relegation play-off at Breffni Park, with Antrim taking on Wicklow in an intermediate relegation play-off at 14:00 on Sunday in Dunleer.