29 September 2004 All four captains looking forward to the big day Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Captains looking forward to the big day The captains gathered in Dublin ahead of this weekend’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals in Croke Park. Two cracking contests are in store, as Galway take on last year’s runners-up Dublin in the Senior final at 3.10pm, and Kildare meet Sligo in the Junior game at 1.30pm. Annette Clarke, a driving force for Galway from midfield all season explains the mood in the Galway camp. “There is a lot of excitement in the county and all the players are really looking forward to Sunday,” said the 23-year-old trainee Garda. “All the games from the quarter-finals on are tight and Sunday will be no different. We have not been to Croke Park since 2002 and while we will enjoy the occasion – we are there to win.” For Dublin skipper Martina Farrell, this will be the second time in two years she will lead her team out on the biggest day in Ladies Football. “Obviously the aim is to go one better than last year but we are under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be on Sunday,” she revealed. “Galway have been in brilliant form all year but we are going to give it everything and hopefully it will be enough.” Dublin have won the last three Leinster titles, but have not managed to go on and win the All-Ireland. An intriguing battle is in store in the junior decider, and a look at previous championship winners shows that those teams who win at this level generally compete extremely well at senior grade. Once again it is Leinster versus Connacht in the final. Last year’s winners, Donegal, reached the quarter-finals of this year’s championship, only going out to Dublin in extra time. The 2002 winners were Galway, and they could yet cap off a remarkable few seasons with victory on Sunday, after reaching the last four in their first season in senior. Kildare may have won the last five Leinster junior titles but they have fallen short of All-Ireland glory over the years. The Lilywhites lost two of the last three All-Ireland junior finals so will not be lacking in motivation on Sunday. Captain Brianne Leahy emphasised the importance of the game to ladies football in the county. “This is the biggest test for our team as it is our third final in four years,” said the 22-year-old student. “We have had a tough year with Wexford being re-graded, and Armagh was a close game so we are probably better prepared for the big game than in years gone by.” The Kildare team were also hit by tragedy this year when legendary manager Sean “Goggy” Delaney died only three months into his reign. Leahy believes that even in that short time, Delaney has helped galvanise the team and they will dedicate their performance on Sunday to him. For Sligo, a win would come as a surprise to most observers but they are rapidly improving. Captain Jackie Mulligan is currently on a soccer scholarship in the University of West Georgia but has returned for the week to lead her county. “We lost to Donegal in last year’s semi-final and realised we had a lot of work to do,” explained the student. “We have a really hard working management and our form has been good this year and if we can bring that with us on Sunday we can win.” Excitement in Sligo is rising and a big crowd is expected to travel to Croke Park as Sligo play their first ever All-Ireland final at any grade. Ms Helen O’Rourke, chief executive of Cumann Peil Gael na mBan is looking forward to what should prove to be two entertaining and hard fought finals, and another great day for Association. “The finals day in Croke Park is very special for supporters of ladies gaelic football and we are expecting another big attendance,” she said. “Whatever happens on Sunday, we will have a new champion at both junior and senior level. “Galway and Dublin are two evenly matched sides who like to play fast open football and that should be a very exciting game, while Kildare and Sligo will be doing everything they can to win the junior decider.” Once again, both games are being screened live on TG4. Last season’s decider between Mayo and Dublin was watched by a then record audience for the Irish language station. Share this Article 0 0