08 August 2003 Mayo fancied in big Connacht Clash Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Ladies Football. TG4 Connaught Finals Mayo still fancied. If one were to make a line of comparison on the 2 Provincial Finals played to date, you could make a strong case for another upset in the Connaught final at McHale Park in Castlebar on Sunday. Mayo the All-Ireland Champions take on the new pretenders Galway in a final that promises much. Mayo will enter the contest buoyed by the fact that they have defeated their opponents in their 2 previous encounters in the league and in the round robin Connaught series. While it will be a factor it will certainly not intimidate Galway. They know that they have nothing to lose and the hunger for the title should be a hugely influencing factor in their approach to the game. The fact that the losers still advance to the quarter final will not enter the equation too much, but it is a nice cushion to have if things do not go right for any reason for either of the teams on the day Tried and trusted. Mayo have a tied and trusted line-up and with the return of Claire Egan, the end of the Cora Staunton injury scare, the sad loss of Aisling McGing will be another factor in unifying and bonding. their already close knit squad even more. Everybody with even a passing interest know that Galways time is nigh, they have a very successful underage set-up. They won last years Minor title and added the Junior crown and were runners-up to Cork in the under 14 and 16 All-Ireland finals. On Saturday last they looked hugely impressive in handing out a sound beating to a fancied Cork team in the under 16 All-Ireland Semi-final. They may have to wait a little while longer for the big one. One must remember as well that this is their first year at Senior level and perhaps the expectations of the public may be too great. There is little doubt that the expectations of the management are high and they know the team will not be present on Sunday to make up numbers. They have a very strong core to their team and are very speedy and effective on the wings. The spine of the team is made up of Lisa Cohill, Anette Clarke and Patricia Gleeson. Mayo are balanced right throughout the field from keeper Denise Horan to the corner forward and it will be another major surprise if the do not hold on the their crown. Junior Final. It is great to see counties like Sligo and Leitrim contest the Junior final timed for the same venue at 2pm. For too long they have lived in the shadows of Roscommon and Galway at Junior level. Leitrim have been going great guns and their stint in div 2 of the Suzuki National league will have done wonders for Sligo. Under 14 Final. The under All-Ireland final takes place at Ennis on Saturday at 2.30pm. Old rival Cork and Mayo who met in the 2,000 decider cross swords again. Cork are going for 4 in a row and an injury doubt about their inspirational playmaker Amanda Murphy casts a shadow on their prospects. Amanda has played in the last 3 All-Ireland finals and scored 3-6 against Dublin in the Semi, retired injured after 5 minutes of the under 16 All-Ireland Semi-Final. Underage games can change very quickly and on the day the outcome will depend on who adopts better to the huge occasion. Cork will want to make it 4 in a row, Mayo will want to win one. Fr. Liam Kelleher Pro 087-8516984 Share this Article 0 0