Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL Semi-final Previews

Saturday 18th April, 2009

Division 1:

Cork v Dublin*

Semple Stadium, Thurles, 1.45pm

Cork are the reigning league and All Ireland Champions but the Rebelettes have lost two games already in this year’s competition. All the familiar big names are there but the performances haven’t been what we have come to expect from this Cork side. Dublin on the other hand have been a model of consistency and the wins over both Cork and Monaghan will stand them in good stead as they look for their third victory over Cork in two years.

CORK: E Harte, R Buckley, A Walsh, L Barrett, G O’Flynn, B Stack, B Corkery, J Murphy, N Kelly, N Cleary, M O’Connor, C O’Sullivan, V Mulcahy, A O’Shea, D O’Reilly

DUBLIN: C O’Connor, A Cluxton, N Comyn, M Kavanagh,A McKenna, S Furlong, S McGrath,D Masterson, N McEvoy, M Nevin, L Davey, C Barrett, N Hurley, S Aherne, AM Murphy

* This game will be televised live on TG4

 

Sunday 19th April, 2009

Division 1:

Mayo v Laois

Aughamore, Co Mayo, 3pm

This game could go either way as both teams have been in Jekyll and Hyde form this season. Both sides have amassed huge scores and both have lost games they were expected to win. Cora Staunton is as always the main threat for Mayo while Laois’ Martha Kirwan, Tracey Lawlor and Aisling Quigley have been in fine form. The two teams drew when they met in the last round of regular league matches so there is very little between the two sides. Home advantage for Mayo could be the deciding factor.

MAYO: Y Byrne, S Tierney, N Hurst, N Tierney, A Loftus, C McGing, S Hughes, C Egan, M Carter, C Sullivan, F McHale, A Herbert, L Cafferky, C Staunton, S Cafferky

LAOIS: T Fallon, M McEvoy, L Muckian, M O‘Grady, G Weston, P Fogarty, A Casey, A Moore, A O’Loughlin, T Lawlor, A Quigley, E McEvoy, M Dunne, M Kirwan, L Dunne

 

Division 2:

Tipperary v Waterford

Banasha, Tipperary, 2pm

Tipp were unbeaten in Division 2A and their four point quarter-final win over Longford has confidence riding high. Waterford lost two games in their first year back in Division 2 after relegation from the top flight but their impressive away win over Meath in the quarters showed they are a team to be reckoned with at this level. Waterford only lost out by a point when these two teams met in the regular league season so they will believe they have a good chance of turning over the Intermediate All Ireland champions.

TIPPERARY: N Noonan, A O’Dwyer, M Corcoran, B Ryan, A O’Dwyer, J Grant, S Costello, C Peters, A McDermott, E Carroll, M Morrissey, G O’Brien, C Walsh, P Hickey, E Hanley

WATERFORD: A Jordan, N Dunphy, A Dunphy, L Hogan, L Ryan, M Foley, A McGovern, M McGrath, G Enright, M Wall, E Power, L Wall, R Kirwan, M Ryan, R Manahan

 

Down v Sligo

Saval, Co Down, 2pm

Down demolished Wexford to reach the semi-finals and with the likes of Michaela Downey and Aileen Pyers in their forward line they have the arsenal to hurt any side. Sligo lost just one game in this year’s league campaign and had the best defensive record in Division 2 conceding just 39 points. However, their defence will be tested to the max this weekend against a Down side who like to record high scores.

DOWN: B Russell, J Connell, E Downey, N Lennon, K O’Neill, A Downey, S Fegan, K Trainor, F Carr, L Cunningham, L Morgan, O Fegan, E Mulhern, M Downey, A Pyers

SLIGO: C Connolly, M Kane, R Goodwin, A Doohan, J Mulligan, T O’Hara, F Maye, B Byrne, C Kennedy, K Maloney, S O’Reilly, S O’Sullivan, I McNulty, N Gormley, T Marren

 

Division 3:

Limerick v Wicklow

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 2pm

Limerick were one of the lowest seeded qualifiers to make the quarter-finals but they recorded an impressive victory over Antrim who topped Division 3B. Wicklow were also a low seeded qualifier but they accounted for Louth to book their semi-final spot. Dympna O’Brien is a real live wire for Limerick but if the Wicklow girls can keep her under wraps they are in with a real chance.

LIMERICK: E O’Shaughnessy, S Healy, D Frost, M O’Brien, E McGuire, H Fogarty, O Giltenane, I Laffan, P Donnelly, S Moloney, Y Moynihan, J Garvey, D O’Brien, M Casey, S Fitzpatrick

WICKLOW: E Miley, L Fuisciardi, A O’hAnnaidh, A Heffernan, L Brady, C McKeon, N Kelly, C Byrne, C Deeney, A Byrne, C Doyle, N Carroll, L Ahern, G Norton, O Redmond

 

Roscommon v Derry

Kilbride, Co Roscommon, 2pm

Roscommon are a team on the rise and have been slowly rebuilding over the last few years. There will be a fascinating battle in midfield between Roscommon’s Dublin based duo Marla Candon (Foxrock Cabinteely) and Caroline Conway (Ballyboden) and Derry’s Kathy Conway and Louise Glass who both hail from the Glen club. All four are excellent footballers and will direct the play for their respective sides. Whoever wins the midfield battle will surely win this contest.

ROSCOMMON: C Manning, F Beirne, T Taylor, M Keenehan, M Carey, S Cooney, C Kelly, M Candon, C Conway, C Grehan, R Ryan, AM Carly, E Casey, M Freyne, C McHugh

DERRY: E Kelly, D McMaster, M McAteer, N McMullan, A Groogan, N Doherty, C Doherty, K Conway, L Glass, C Gormley, A Kealey, J McLaughlin, K McCullagh, A McCusker, N O’Hagan