Ladies Gaelic Football Article

The Ulster Provincial Championship reaches semi final stage this weekend with Tyrone travelling to Down on Sunday.

 

Tyrone soundly defeated the Mourne County in the same fixture last year, but even so they will not make the mistake of underestimating the side managed by Seán O’Hare and Paul McShane.

 

“We know what Down are capable of and we’ll be taking nothing for granted,” according to Gemma Begley, who scored a stunning 3-6 against Armagh last year to send Tyrone to the All-Ireland semi finals.

 

This year’s championship has been thrown wide open after the first week, after Donegal unceremoniously knocked reigning Ulster champions Armagh out of the competition last Sunday by a tidy 2-6 to 0-8.

 

“The result came as a big shock,” said Begley. “Donegal must have been preparing very quietly. Given Armagh’s form over the past while, they were certainly the hot favourites.”

 

Despite Armagh’s fate against underdogs Donegal, however, match favourites Tyrone will be retaining faith in their original plans for the game against Down according to the All Star forward. “The Championship can throw up anything and we won’t be changing anything in light of Donegal’s upset. We have to stick to our game plan and play to our strengths.”

 

Donegal will now face Monaghan on June 21st in the second semi final. Following a dice with relegation from the Senior Championship last year, the Donegal management team of Dominic McGlinchey and Alan Kelly have been working their team hard in preparation for this year’s Championship.

 

They will be up against it once again against Monaghan, however, with Begley tipping the Farney County ladies for the provincial championship. “Monaghan have been the biggest surprise for me this year. They played a huge part in Ulster’s Inter Provincial win and they would be my pick for the Ulster Championship,” said Begley.

 

Donegal’s defence will be back in the firing line after a tenacious performance against Armagh as match winners Ciara McAnespie and Niamh Kindlon will feature amongst Monaghan’s forward line.