Ladies All Ireland Club Final Previews

 

The Ladies All Ireland Club Football Finals take place this weekend in Limerick and Dublin with 3 highly competitive and entertaining clashes expected.

Ladies Senior All Ireland Club Final

Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) v Mourneabbey (Cork)

Gaelic Grounds Limerick

2:45pm, Sunday December 6^th (C. McManus)

 

Donaghmoyne and Mourneabbey are going to go into action with with both clubs have tasted defeat at this stage in recent years. The vastly experienced Donaghmoyne side were defeated in the 2013 decider whilst Mourneabbey were Runners Up last year.

 

Donaghmoyne are amongst the most successful clubs in the  history of the  game as the Monaghan side have contested the All Ireland final 5 times since 2005 winning on 3 occasions and the bulk of the side has been the same throughout those victories. Sharon Courtney is the inspirational leader at the back behind a formidable midfield pairing that includes captain Eileen McElroy and former captain Amanda Casey. Cathriona McConnell and Fiona Lafferty are both excellent attackers but it is Cora Courtney that will be the most dangerous weapon in their arsenal. The young centre forward is a 3 time All Star and is known for her tireless work and excellent passing.

 

Cork’s Mourneabbey were left desperately disappointed last year after losing the 2014 All Ireland Final to Termon in a game that could have gone either way. This team has gained a lot of experience since then with no fewer than 8 players on the All Ireland championship winning Cork panel including team captain Ciara O’Sullivan. The O’Sullivan sisters; Ciara, Doireann, Meabh and team captain Róisín O’Sullivan will all have a huge role to play for the Cork champions as will midfielder Máire O’Callaghan, Bríd O’Sullivan and Laura Fitzgerald.

 

This is likely to be a real arm wrestle between two sides that have real strength in every line of the pitch. Sharon Courtney will be a key player as she lines out against the strong Bríd O’Sullivan although it would not be a surprise to see her pick up the Mourneabbey dangerwoman, Doireann O’Sullivan. The midfield battle will be fierce with the return of former All Star Amanda Casey giving Donaghmoyne a significant boost. If Cora Courtney can supply consistent ball to Cathriona McConnell it will be a huge boost for Donaghmoyne but Mourneabbey have learned a lot in the past year and will not be lacking for motivation.

 

Donaghmoyne Starting Team: 1. Linda Martin 2. Fiona Courtney 3. Hazel Kingham 4. Niamh Lynch 5. Joanne Geoghegan 6. Sharon Courtney 7. Joanne Courtney 8. Eileen McElroy 9. Amanda Casey 10. Cathriona McConnell 11. Cora Courtney 12. Fiona Lafferty 13. Sandra McConnell 14. Niamh Callan 15. Rosemary Courtney

 

Mourneabbey Starting Team: 1. Meabh O’Sullivan 2. Emma Coakley 3. Cathy Ann Stack 4. Aisling O’Sullivan 5. Katie Healy 6. Róisín O’Sullivan (capt) 7. Niamh O’Sullivan 8. Máire O’Callaghan 9. Ciara O’Sullivan 10. Síle O’Callaghan 11. Bríd O’Sullivan 12. Eimear Meaney 13. Eimear Harrington 14. Laura Fitzgerald 15. Doireann O’Sullivan

 

Ladies Intermediate All Ireland Final

Cahir (Tipperary) v Milltown (Westmeath)

Gaelic Grounds Limerick,

1.00pm Sunday, December 6^th (G. Carmody)

 

Both Cahir and Milltown showed real class as the two sides easily navigated their respective semi finals to reach this stage of the competition. For Milltown this is the first time to reach the All Ireland final and if they were to win they would be the first club from Westmeath to have achieved that but for Cahir this is a chance to make up for defeat in the 2012 All Ireland Final against Parnells.

 

Cahir are a team that is brimming with talent as they bring through a crop of young players that have huge potential. Aisling Moloney has long been picked out as an exceptional talent and she will take her place at midfield alongside team captain Anne Marie O’Gorman. Aisling McCarty and Anne Marie Ryan will provide plenty of thrust to the attack where young star forward, Roisín Howard will hope to announce herself on a national stage.

 

Milltown will want to make history for Westmeath football by claiming their first club title and they have a very strong side to aid in achieving that aim. Kelly Boyce Jordan and Jennifer Rogers are going to play a vital role in defence. Ruth Kearney is a real driving force in the middle of the field whilst the inside forward line of Laura Kiernan, Sinead Boyce and Leonie Keena are capable of doing plenty of damage.

 

This match might well steal the show in Parnell Park on Sunday. The main battle ground will be in the middle of the field where both teams will feel that they have the upper hand, whichever side does win this duel will be in a great position to claim the overall victory.

 

Cahir Starting Team: 1. Niamh Murphy 2. Orla Casey 3. Aoife Casey 4. Lorna McEniry 5. Anne Marie Ryan 6. Emma Buckley 7. Eileen Flannery 8. Anne Marie O’Gorman (capt) 9. Aisling Moloney 10. Aoife Corcoran 11. Aisling McCarthy 12. Caral Casey 13. Kirsty Downey 14. Orla McEniry 15. Roisín Howard

 

Milltown Starting Team: 1. Gráinne Byrne 2. Louise Kiernan 3. Helen Walsh 4. Rachel Halligan 5. Kelly Boyce Jordan (capt) 6. Jennifer Rogers 7. Rachel Dillon 8. Ruth Kearney 9. Tracey Dillon 10. Bronagh Beglan 11. Faye Kearney 12. Leanne Slevin 13. Laura Kiernan 14. Sinead Boyce 15. Leonie Keena.

 

Ladies Junior All Ireland Final

Bantry Blues (Cork) v Dunboyne (Meath)

Gaelic Grounds Limerick

1:30pm, Saturday, December 5^th (K. Corcoran)

 

This is new territory for both the Bantry Blues and Dunboyne who have both reached the All Ireland Final for the first time. Bantry had never won in their county before so their progress through the Cork championship, into the Munster championship and into the All Ireland final has been a he boost to sport in the area. Dunboyne have a similar story to their Cork rivals and recorded a particularly memorable win over the  Dublin champions, Skerries Harps before travelling to Galway and accounting for Maigh Cuilinn.

 

The Gaelic Grounds will be a fantastic venue for what is expected to be an exciting game.

 

Bantry Blues Starting Team: 1. Seadna O’Sullivan 2. Edel McGovern 3. Aoife Crowley 4. Doireann O’Shea 5. Mairead Dullea 6. Ann Coakley 7. Laura O’Sullivan (capt) 8. Emma Spillane 9. Jessica Coakley 10. Niamh Crowley 11. Myra O’Sullivan 12. Kate O’Brien 13. Sarah Coakley 14. Aoife O’Driscoll 15. Libby Coppinger

 

Dunboyne Starting Team: 1. Maeve Clince 2. Claire Barker 3. Lauren Byrne 4. Emma O’Byrne 5. Dee Blaney 6. Elaine Doyle 7. Ann Marie Moffatt 8. Julie Kavanagh (capt.) 9. Amy Coyne 10. Shelly Melia 11. Alison Jones 12. Sinead Hackett 13. Aoife Thompson 14. Vikki Wall 15. Fiona O’Neill