Cavan ladies Finals Preview

Cavan ladies Finals Preview McGinn Print Senior Championship 2008 Lurgan v West Cavan Gaels

West Cavan Gaels are a side full of talent and will go into the final as favourites this weekend. Templeport and Drumlane currently supply several players to the county team namely Bronagh Sheridan, Claire Kearns, Sharon Cassidy and Aisling Doonan. This quartet was part of the Breffni winning side earlier this year when Cavan collected a National League Title.
In the semi final West Cavan Gaels overcame last years champions Lacken by just one point but had plenty of play and really should have had the contest over earlier in the game but for some poor shooting and ball passing. In their game against Stradone Gaels in the quarter final the gave a good second half performance to win by eight points.
They have Drumlane sisters Blathnaid and Bronagh Sheridan, Leanne Drumm, Claire Kearns, as well as Templeport’s Sharon Cassidy, Doonan sisters Clodagh and Aisling, Tara and Rachel, Sinead Greene, and Sinead McGuire. Templeport lifted the Intermediate championship title last weekend and will be looking to emulate Mullahoran in 2005 when they won the Intermediate championship and the Senior Championship with Gowna as Erne Valley.
Lurgan will attempt to capture the Michelle Keating memorial senior championship cup for the first time ever on Saturday next when the go face to face with the Amalgamation West Cavan Gaels (Drumlane and Templeport). Previous winners Knockbride, Erne Valley and last years winners Lacken have stood in the way of this long established club from claiming the blue ribbon event and in this years final they face a strong amalgamation of West Cavan Gaels.
Lurgan will be greatly boosted by the face that they recorded big wins over Knockbride and in the semi final against Gowna. On both occasions their defence led by sisters Laura Hanratty and Ann Lynch led their troops to only allowing minimal attacks through.
A mixture of new players and experienced players make up the backline with Eimear Gilsenan, Elinor Orminston and Fiona Murphy adding to the defence. Up front there are any number of players with scoring skills. Philly McDermott, Claire Carpenter, Ciara Farrell, Clare Reilly and Ciara Brady. If their forwards are on from the current league winners on 2008, where they defeated Lacken will be in with a shout of causing an upset.

Prediction: Going into the final West Cavan Gaels recorded a win over defending champions Lacken but should have won by more than just one point. The amalgamation will be firm favourites to lift the cup but Lurgan will have other ideas. Lurgan will have to close down the attacks of county forward duo Aisling Donan and Bronagh Sheridan if they are to have any chance. The midfield pairings will have a huge outcome on the game and will be a battle royale for all spectators present. Last year Lacken created history when they defeated a highly fancied Knockbride to claim their first senior title. Whatever happens on this weekend, there will be a new name on the Michelle Keating cup but will it be a west Cavan or East Cavan name???
Newmore Trophies Junior Championship Final 2008

Laragh v Arva
Laragh recently won the Division 3 nine a side league winners where they defeated last years junior champions Killygarry. They notched up 5-12 in that final so are in no way scared of scoring chances. The partnership of Sinead McKenna, Maggie Farrell and Jacki Rudden works extremely well and will take some stopping if they hit the right form. They easily defeated Cornafean in the semi final of this year’s championship. Along with Arlene Brady and Claire Brady their captian they have strength and pace all over the field. Jenny O’Rourke who plays in the backline at full back or centre back is a formidable athlete and will be a challenge to pass for any forward line. Laragh easily defeated Killinkere in the quarterfinal and have gained confidence in their path to the final
Donna English played an instrumental part in Cavan ladies winnng the National league earlier this year and along with Ciara Grey is a perfect midfield. If Arva pull of most of the play and dominate the middle of the field then there will be problems for any opposition. Up front Ruth Mulligan, Lisa Mulligan and Niamh McIntee are all potential scorers with a strong finesse for getting crucial score when required. In the backline Melissa King can play in defence or attack whilst in the game against St. Finbarrs Blaithin Reilly showed no mercy on attackers keeping the Drung side at bay throughout the hour. Arva overcame Belturbet in the quarterfinal and in the semi defeated many people’s favourites St. Finbarrs by five points.

Prediction: Arva have lost the last two Junior championship finals and another loss would be devastating. They will be out to make sure there are no mistakes this year and bring the title back to Arva town. But Laragh are a formidable force and in the last two years have had great benefit from their underage development. They recorded an easy win over Cornafean in the semi final but will have to be at their best if they are to make it to Intermediate grade for 2009. Arva should prevail but not without a battle from the Stradone ladies.