By Shaun Casey

SINEAD Reel has stepped down as Chairperson of Armagh LGFA after seven years in the top position. The Silverbridge woman took over the chair in 2017 and has seen the ladies game flourish in the Orchard County during her tutelage.

In the summer of 2021, Armagh opened the gates at McKeever Park, the first dedicated training facility for an intercounty ladies’ football team in the country. In 2022, the Killean facility got their floodlights up and running.

On the field, Armagh have also grown from strength to strength and Reel has left the county team in arguably the best position it’s ever been in.

When the 2025 season rolls around, Armagh head into it as defending Division One league champions.

Of the three competitions the Orchard ladies entered last season, Armagh collected trophies from two. They beat Kerry at Croke Park in the Division One final to collect the league title for the very first time in their history.

They regained their Ulster crown, which they lost in 2023, by beating old nemesis Donegal by the minimum of margins. That extra-time win came at a cost however, with Aimee Mackin suffering an ACL injury.

Mackin was left sidelined for the remainder of the campaign and while Armagh battled on without their star player, they just came up short in the All-Ireland semi-final as Kerry gained revenge for that league final loss.

Reel’s final action as Chairperson of Armagh LGFA was to appoint Joe Feeney and Darnell Parkinson as the new management duo when boss Greg McGonigle stepped down after one year in charge.