Captains Gather in Dublin Ahead of Finals

Captains Gather in Dublin Ahead of Finals

The captains of the teams competing in the Tesco All Ireland Club Championship finals gathered in Croke Park today ahead of the action this weekend. 

The senior final sees Donaghmoyne of Monaghan take on Donoughmore of Cork. Both clubs have won the senior all Ireland club title in the past but it is the Farney girls who have won the title most recently beating Carnacon in 2006.

Donoughmore have claimed the All Ireland Club crown twice in 2003 and 2001 with their last appearance in a final coming in 2004 when they lost out to Dublin outfit Ballyboden St Endas.

Despite boasting four members of the All Ireland winning Cork panel, Donoughmore were not expected to win the county championship. However the quality of Juliet Murphy and Rena Buckley propelled the team to county and provincial success before accounting for defending champions Carnacon in the All Ireland semi-final.

Five time All Ireland winner and Donoughmore star, Rena Buckley, said, “We had a very quiet start to the season with small numbers at training so there was very low expectations for the team. We just took it game by game and had a very positive approach to each match and none of us thought we would get this far in the competition.”

Donaghmoyne are a powerhouse of ladies football in Monaghan. They have nine members of the Monaghan county panel in their ranks including Amanda Casey, Catriona McConnell, Linda Martin and the Courtney sisters Sharon, Fiona, Cora and Joanne. Donaghmoyne defeated Leinster champions Timahoe of Laois to book a place in the final.

Donaghmoyne captain Niamh Lynch said, “We are trying to get to the levels we were at back in 2006 when we won the senior club title and our goal is to bring the cup back to Donaghmoyne. Everyone is flying fit and rearing to go but anything can happen on the day.”

The senior final will take place in St Rynagh’s GAA Club, Banagher, Co Offaly. Throw-in is at 2.30pm and the game will be televised by TG4.

The Tesco Junior All Ireland Club final sees Clonakilty of Cork take on Drumcliffe/Rosses Point of Sligo. This is a first appearance in an All Ireland club final for both clubs and Drumcliffe/Rosses Point could become the first club from Connacht to win the junior title.

Clonakilty powered past Corduff of Monaghan to reach the final while Drumcliff/Rosses Point eked out a one point victory over St James of Wexford to secure their spot in the final. The Tesco Junior All Ireland final will take place in Ferbane GAA Club in County Offaly at 1pm on Sunday 29th November.

Pat Quill, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, was in GAA Headquarters to wish the players luck. “The club scene is the foundation of our game. It cements our communities and is an integral part of our local identity. The chance to win an All Ireland Club medal does not come around very often and all the players competing this weekend should treasure the experience of playing in a final in front of their family, friends and neighbors.

I would also like to pay tribute to our club competition sponsors Tesco who have come on board this year and will play an important role in developing the club game over the next three years. I have no doubt they will be a huge asset to the club competitions and to Ladies Football alike.”

Kenny Jacobs, Marketing Director, Tesco Ireland, commented, “We are delighted to be the new sponsors of the Club Championships. I would like to congratulate all four teams in reaching the finals and I would like to wish everyone involved the very best of luck next Sunday.”

Sunday 29th November, 2009

Tesco Ladies All Ireland Senior Club Final
Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) v Donoughmore (Cork)
St Rynaghs GAA Club, Offaly, 2.30pm
Referee: Des McEnery (Westmeath)

Tesco Ladies All Ireland Junior Club Final
Clonakilty (Cork) v Drumcliffe Rosses Point (Sligo)
Ferbane GAA Club, Offaly, 1.00pm
Referee: Terence McShea (Donegal)

Notes to Editors:

Tesco

  • Tesco is Ireland’s leading retailer.
  • The company employs 12,500 staff in 119 stores throughout the country
  • Each year Tesco buys €2 billion worth of Irish food and drink products. €655m of these purchases are exported to Tesco stores around the world making Tesco a bigger export destination for Irish food and drink than France, Germany or the US.

For More Information:
David O’Síocháin, Pembroke Communications TEL: 087 936 2440 / 01 649 6322
Michael O’Keeffe, Pembroke Communications TEL: 087 885 4072 / 01 649 6488
Seamus Banim, Tesco Ireland, TEL: 086 600 1149
Patricia Monahan, Ladies Gaelic Football, TEL 01 836 3156

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