Armagh ladies hockey club

Armagh Ladies Hockey Club were founded in 1958 and for a number of years would have been a lower league club within Ulster hockey circles.

Rise through the leagues
With the appointment of a full time development officer in 2000 the club forged a number of links with local schools. Playing numbers rose and 2001 saw Armagh achieve promotion from Qualifying league 5 (effectively division 7 of Ulster hockey) with a very young team. This was the first of 6 successive promotions that saw the club rise to Senior 1 (ulster's top division) where they finished 4th in their first season) 2007-08 Saw Armagh finish 3rd in Senior 1 making the All Ireland play offs for the first time. The club has also qualified for the inaugural All Ireland League to be held in 2008-09.

Notable players
Armagh has had a number of players recognised at Irish Senior Level. Emma Stewart was the first in becoming Ireland's youngest ever cap in 2004. She was quickly followed by Hannah Bowe and Alex Speers both of whom were still teenagers when capped. 2007 Saw caps for Rachel Mulligan and Stephanie Quinn both of whom were still at school when capped and also Emma Stewart's younger sister Amy who broke her record as Ireland's youngest ever player. Lizzie Colvin has now made it 7 Senior players also being capped whilst still at school.

List of capped players
*E Stewart Sen U21 U18 U16 (Captain)
*H Bowe Sen U21 U18 (Captain) U16
*A Speers Sen U21 (Captain) U18 U16
*R Mulligan Sen U21 U18 U16
*S Quinn Sen U18 U16 (Captain)
*A Stewart Sen U18 U16
*L Colvin Sen U21 U18 (Captain) U16
*K Steenson U18 U16
*C Russell U18 U16
*J Stewart U18 U16
*C Warnock U18 U16
*J Chambers U18
*J Jackson U18
*L Humphries U16
*L Mckee U16
*J Orr U16
*A M Morton U16

Cup Successes

In their first year in Senior 1 Armagh made the Ulster Shield final losing to Randalstown. Two years previously they won the McConnell shield defeating rivals Lurgan with a last second goal from Hannah Bowe.

Club Successes

Outside of the 1st eleven the club has gone from strength to strength now running 5 teams. Each team has enjoyed numerous successes with the 2nd X1 winning every league game foe the last 5 years.

School Links

The club has established a number of school links with have benefited both parties. City of Armagh High School have been regular winners of the Ulster High Schools cup often battling Markethill High School for the title.

The most successful link arguably is the link with The Royal School, Armagh. Having never progressed beyond the quarter finals of the Ulster Senior Schools Cup prior to 2002 the school has dominated the competition since with victories in 02,04,06,07 and 08 as well as losing the 05 final. They have also won 4 all ireland schools titles (02,04,07 and 08) making them unarguably the most successful irish school in Hockey in the 21st century.

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