Ladies National Football League: First-time Division One finalists Armagh face Kerry at Croke Park

Aimee Mackin has been in sensational form for Armagh this year

Armagh boss Greg McGonigle says facing holders Kerry in Sunday's Division One final at Croke Park will be an important experience for his side.

The Orchard County contest their first top-tier decider after winning six out of seven Division One games.

Armagh have a slight edge heading into the final having beaten Kerry in their league meeting earlier this year.

"The important thing now in ladies football is the league final is played in Croke Park," said McGonigle.

"If you were to progress later on in the season to an All-Ireland, obviously the semi-final and the final are both played in Croke Park as well.

"A lot of the girls maybe last year would have played the Division Two final when they beat Laois down in the final.

"But again, testing ourselves against Kerry, a Division One team, the more times that you play at Croke Park, I'm not saying you get used to it but it becomes a wee bit more sort of familiar for you."

Having rested several players for their final Division One game against Dublin, McGonigle recalls his frontline stars for the Kerry match, with Anna Carr, Roisin Mulligan, Cait Towe, Dearbhla Coleman, Niamh Coleman, Caroline O'Hanlon, Aoife McCoy, Niamh Henderson and Aimee Mackin all recalled in a team showing nine changes.

Mackin has been in sensational form for Armagh throughout their league campaign having amassed a hugely impressive 6-23 in her league campaign. Mackin also hit 2-6 in Armagh's win over Kerry at the Athletic Grounds in early March.

Armagh beat Kerry when the sides clashed at the Athletic Grounds last month

Former Dublin boss McGonigle, who replaced Shane McCormack in the Armagh hotseat, is hoping to deliver silverware to the Orchard County at the first time of asking having won three Leinster titles with the Dubs.

He said: "We also have a very talented group of players, especially in our starting 15.

"We have some household names with the likes of Caroline O'Hanlon, Aimee Mackin, Aoife McCoy, Clodagh McCambridge, so Armagh have obviously been building.

"Possibly over these last couple of years they've maybe underachieved with regards to the players they've had, but again that's maybe a focus we've put in with regards to working that wee bit harder, trying to be a wee bit more solid defensively and trying to leave that the forward line don't have to shoot the lights out every day to try and win."

Kerry, who are chasing a 13th top-flight title, have made four changes Cait Lynch, Deirdre Kearney, Niamh Ni Chonchuir and Hannah O'Donoghue coming in for Kate O'Sullivan, Ciara McCarthy, Danielle O'Leary and Katie Brosnan.

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, C Doyle; A Mackin, N Henderson, K Mallon.

Kerry: M.E. Bolger; C Lynch, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O'Connell, C Murphy, K Cronin; M O'Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody (capt.), N Ni Chonchuir, L Scanlon; H O'Donoghue, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

Red Hands face Kildare in Division Two decider

Before the Armagh v Kerry game, Tyrone take on Kildare in the Division Two final (13:00) having secured promotion to the top-tier for next year.

Both teams are unbeaten in 2024 having drawn their league fixture earlier this year as top scorer Maria Canavan's penalty secured a draw for the Red Hands.

The Lilywhites are on a 21-game unbeaten run, while Tyrone are aiming to clinch the Division Two title for the second time, their sole success coming in 1999 when they beat Dublin in the final.

Kildare: A Dunlea; F Troute, A Clifford, M Doherty; L Murtagh, R Sargent, L Gilbert; G Clifford (capt.), H McLoughlin; T Duggan, E Dowling, C Sullivan; N Dooley, R Byrne, A Rattigan.

Tyrone: C Donnelly; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; C Campbell, E Mulgrew, M Corrigan; A McHugh (capt.), M Mallon; E.J. Gervin, E Conroy, A Horisk; M Canavan, Z Loughran, S Byrne.