Armagh Ulster title win ‘bittersweet’ after injuries to key duo, says skipper Clodagh McCambridge

Everyone in Croke Park at the event; players, officials, assorted stadium personnel, were curious as to Mackin’s form after suffering an ACL injury, the second of her career, in the recent Ulster final.

“Everyone is gutted for her,” McCambridge, Armagh’s captain, confirmed. “You can’t be anything but gutted for her. She has so much talent, adds so much to us on the pitch, now it’s just what can she add to the group off the pitch which is loads of leadership there as well.”

Mackin suffered the injury 13 minutes into the second half of the provincial decider at Clones, a game Armagh went on to win 0-17 to 1-13 after extra-time.

Her AFL club, Melbourne Demons, revealed news of her injury last Thursday. Mackin joined Demons last year where her sister Blaithin was already a member of the squad.

Aimee played six games in the 2023 AFL Women’s season, with Blaithín just recently back in action after a serious knee injury of her own.

“She’s a big loss. But we’ve tried to accept it,” McCambridge outlined. “There’s not much we can do as a team to change it and training has been really positive this week. We have Blaithín Mackin back in and she’s flying. We just have to focus on the championship and what we can do now with the people there.

“To lose out with a cruciate injury like that is awful. Especially for the ladies game in general, she is so talented. To lose out on this championship season is unfortunate.”

“Whatever way her foot planted she just went over. No, I don’t think we were expecting it, to be honest.”

Armagh also lost Louise Kenny to an AC shoulder joint injury in that game, a blow that could also rule her out for their forthcoming All-Ireland campaign.

“Blaithín was an MCL so she’s just back,” McCambridge explained. “She was back on the panel for the Ulster final, just maybe wasn’t ready to make an appearance on the day. She’s back in properly this last few weeks and flying it. Delighted for her. But then obviously bittersweet seeing her sister out with an injury like that.”

Of Kenny, McCambridge said: “I don’t know the severity but it could be six to eight weeks. That could be her out for the season as well. Hopefully not. I know Louise is made of strong stuff.

“So you come away with an Ulster title,” she added, “but it’s bittersweet when you’re losing those players coming into championship. But we just have to accept it. There’s nothing we can do. It’s just about trying to get the best out of the players who are there.”

Nothing is certain with ACL injuries but it should be noted that Mackin won the LGFA Footballer of the Year in her comeback season from the last time.

“You never know with these things but I know Aimee will do whatever she can to get back in there,” McCambridge said. “It’s a glimmer of hope when you see the performances she put in the first year coming back after doing her cruciate. There’s always that potential next year. Hopefully all goes well with the rehab and we’ll have her back flying again.

“You talk about players having to step up but that’s happening week in, week out at training, players are popping up and getting scores. It’s just about transferring that to match day. Obviously Aimee is a massive source of scores for us but you can that when she went off in the Ulster final – that was a tough game – we were able to see it out without her.

“You had the subs coming on in pressure moments and putting the ball over the bar. That’s great for the group, they can take a lot of positivity out of that as well.”