Ladies Gaelic Weekly Article

Ladies Gaelic Weekly Article

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association received a huge boost following Monaghan’s thrilling win over Mayo at the weekend. Bumper crowds are now expected to travel to Croke Park for the Ladies Senior Football All-Ireland Final on September 28th. Monaghan have not made it to a Senior All-Ireland final since 2002 and with excitement building at the prospect of a first All-Ireland win since 1997, those within the county are predicting that as many as 15,000 supporters will make the journey from the Farney County.

The attendance will be a huge boost to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association who are hoping that this year will break the 2003 final record, when over 30,000 spectators watched Mayo’s victory over Dublin. According to the President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Geraldine Giles, a strong attendance is crucial.

“It’s vital not only to the Association, but to our players that people make the journey to support the teams in action,” said Giles. “Interest and attention helps fuel our ambitions in developing what is the biggest ladies sport in the country. I’m delighted to say that breaking records is a very real prospect at this stage.

“Monaghan has a strong tradition in Ladies Football and after their performances this year, they deserve to be in the final. The 2008 Championship has been hugely competitive with a number of counties re-emerging to make the contest more exciting than ever. Monaghan’s story this year is just one example and I have no doubt their supporters will turn out in their droves for the final.”

The Monaghan Ladies missed out on being only the second team in history to win three All-Irelands in a row in 1998, when they were beaten by Waterford. The Monaghan-Waterford rivalry defined Ladies Football during the mid to late 90’s, when the game finally emerged from almost complete dominance by Kerry. Monaghan always brought massive crowds and it is great for Ladies Football that one of the superpowers is re-emerging and this will give renewed hope to the likes of Waterford and Laois.

This year, it could be another Munster team standing in the way of the sought-after trophy. Monaghan’s opponents will be confirmed this Saturday, when Tyrone take on the mighty Cork, who are driven by the prospect of winning four senior titles in a row.

The Senior final will be the last game of a triple header and will be preceded by the Intermediate and Junior All-Ireland finals. While the Junior line up has been confirmed, with Derry to play London, Tipperary await the outcome of this weekend’s match between Clare and Longford in the intermediate championship to see who they will battle for promotion to the Senior Championship.

Ladies Football Fixtures

Saturday 6th September

TG4 Intermediate Championship Semi-final
O’Connor Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly; Clare v Longford, 1.45pm (D Corcoran)

TG4 Senior Championship Semi-final
O’Connor Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly; Cork v Tyrone, 3.30pm (L McDonagh)

Aisling McGing Memoral Championship Semi-final
TBC: Dublin v Meath, 3.00pm (D McEnery)

Sunday 7th September

All Ireland U/16 B Championship Final
Fenagh, Co Limerick: Clare v Tipperary, 1.00pm (J Flood)