Richard Bullick
It remains a very exclusive club but Emily Druse would have been delighted if by this stage she was no longer the only member of the current ladies county panel to have won an All Ireland with a team from Armagh.
That Druse success came with St Catherine’s College Under 16s back in April 2019, but she’d really dared to dream that her Orchard captain Clodagh McCambridge would be lifting the Brendan Martin Cup in Croke Park on Sunday past.
Having won the National League title for the first time ever and reclaimed the provincial crown from bitter rivals Donegal, there were genuine grounds for optimism that the Orchard crew could claim the sport’s top prize for the first time in their history.
Champions Dublin being knocked out in the quarter-finals fuelled the sense of opportunity and Armagh began brightly in last month’s semi in Tullamore before falling to a devastating defeat against a Kerry team they had already beaten twice this season.
The Orchard cause was undermined by injury, the earlier loss of ace markswoman Aimee Mackin compounded by former skipper Kelly Mallon not being fit to start and the iconic Caroline O’Hanlon curtailed by a torn calf muscle.
Armagh missed chances but it was no coincidence that the game’s only goal came when magnificent full back McCambridge was off the field getting stitched up after a sickening clash of heads, so there is a lingering sense of what might have been.
“We were utterly devastated after the defeat to Kerry, knowing what had been a great season up until then was over. We’d made history by winning the National League, regained the Ulster title and rightfully earned our place in the All Ireland semis,” reflects Emily.
“There was inspiration from the Armagh men’s win over Kerry the previous weekend and we started strongly, but we were up against a team used to winning semi-finals and they maybe made that experience count.
“It’s frustrating as we know our performance didn’t reflect our capabilities and that we didn’t perform when it mattered in a big knockout game. Competing without Aimee and Kelly, both of whom had played pivotal roles in our NFL final win, was particularly daunting.
“Losing Clodagh temporarily to the head injury and conceding a goal in her absence severely dented our confidence. With so much at stake, the loss was tough to take but we will draw valuable lessons and move forward with our focus on next year.”
Their All Ireland dream may have been dashed but this was still a special season for Armagh with those two silverware wins, and another productive campaign for Druse, who started all but one of the Orchard outfit’s 13 fixtures under new manager Greg McGonigle.
She had established herself in the preceding campaign with 12 starts from 14 Armagh matches with Shane McCormack at the helm, but a change of regime means having to prove yourself all over again and Druse clearly earned the incoming gaffer’s faith.
A whole-hearted, hard-working wing forward, Druse brings great tenacity, energy and dynamism to an Armagh team that loves to attack with pace and she also scored her first inter-county points at adult level this season.
Having begun last year’s NFL Division Two final on the bench, Emily was part of the parade for this April’s first division decider and, having lost last season’s Ulster showpiece on her 20th birthday, being on the winning side against Donegal this time was all the sweeter.
“The Division One final was such a tough game, so it felt even more exhilarating to come out on top in the end. It was such a special occasion for us getting to create history and capture the National League title for the first time ever,” enthuses Emily.
“Playing in Croke Park is an amazing experience and, especially considering Armagh hadn’t been there for a decade up until 2022, I feel fortunate to have played there twice quite early in my career, never mind being part of two wins in two finals.
“It’s always hard to keep the nerves at bay on such a big stage, but once you get your first touch of the ball, you forget the significance of the game and just enjoy it. The first half wasn’t our best but we came back out with real intent and pushed on to an historic victory.
“We’d a few weeks to get ready for the Ulster final. Last year’s defeat to Donegal – on my birthday! – left me profoundly disappointed for it was my first Ulster final and as a team we were carrying the weight of expectation after three titles in a row.
“Our preparation and organisation fell short and we were determined to rectify that this time and reclaim the title. As always against Donegal, the contest was intense and tight, and the sweltering heat was a tough factor too.
“However, playing in Clones before a sea of orange support was a special experience that I cherished every moment of. The relief at the end, especially after the game going to extra-time and us having lost Aimee earlier to injury, was immense.
“Bringing two pieces of silverware back to the county before the end of May was a phenomenal achievement but we wanted more. We beat Meath, topped our group and had a good victory over Mayo in the quarter-final so there’s a lot to build upon.”
The result wasn’t what Armagh had hoped for but, especially taking the enormity of the game into account, Druse’s personal performance was surely one of her best in the orange jersey as she seemed to be everywhere and making effective contributions in defence and attack.
Considering Armagh had a panel well in excess of 30 players this season, there was significant competition for places so starting 12 of the 13 matches – all but the penultimate league game away to Mayo – was an endorsement in itself.
Druse was shortlisted in the Breakthrough category in this spring’s Local Women Sport Awards based upon her exploits last year in the orange jersey and she has continued to build upon those firm foundations.
She showed constant commitment to the Orchard cause despite the demands of being a medical student at Queen’s University, who she captained with distinction and played midfield for in the O’Connor Cup.
“I was over the moon to be asked to captain the Queen’s team last season by Caoimhe Morgan in her first year as manager. Having always looked up to her as a key player for Armagh in previous years, it was an incredible honour and testament to her faith in me.
“Her recognition meant so much and I was determined to lead the team with the same dedication and passion that she has always exemplified. We were unfortunate to be beaten by TUD, thus missing out on the O’Connor Cup weekend.
“But I have every belief we will be back hungrier this autumn and, although the inter-county campaign isn’t long over, I’m now eagerly awaiting the upcoming club championship and then a new university season,” declares Druse.
An infectiously enthusiastic character, who is always bubbling and bursting with life and vitality, the deliciously intelligent Druse is great company, has an active mind and takes a great interest in all aspects of the world around her.
Along with everything else, she came second in Northern Ireland in GCSE Journalism five years ago and made her co-commentary debut alongside Jerome Quinn for last December’s All Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-final between Clann Eireann and Ballymacarbry.
Myself and her former St Catherine’s coach Ciara Marley could probably be branded superfans of the little wizard we reverentially refer to as ‘The Druse’ due to her multiplicity of talents and almost comic-strip superhero exploits.
That admiration is clearly shared by Emily’s original alma mater, St Patrick’s PS Armagh, who put up an appreciative post on social media after Armagh’s historic NFL final in May, accompanied by some photos of a very young Druse during her time there.
“We would like to pay special tribute to our past pupil, Emily Druse, who has been a huge part of Armagh’s success so far this season. We are so proud of the hard work, training and commitment she has shown to be able to play at the high level that she currently does.
“Emily’s love for sport was clear when she was a pupil here. We are delighted to see that this love has been nurtured over the years and that she is reaping the benefits of her dedication. We know that there is so much more to come from Emily and are so proud to call her one of her own,” they enthused.
