Previews and squad lists: Time to crown the 2019 All-Ireland U16 Champions

THE All-Ireland U16 Ladies Football champions for 2019 will be crowned this evening, Wednesday, July 24.

In Banagher, Galway will aim for a third successive crown in the A grade, when they take on Meath.

Also in county Offaly, but at St Brendan’s Park in Birr, Longford and Waterford lock horns in the B decider, while it’s the meeting of Louth and Sligo in the C Final in Mullahoran, Co. Cavan.

All three games will get underway at 7pm.

All-Ireland U16 A Final

Galway v Meath; St Rynagh’s, Banagher, 7pm 

Galway are the holders and aiming to win the title for a fifth time.

The girls from the West won back-to-back All-Ireland U16 A crowns last year, and now they’re going for three-in-a-row.

Meath, in contrast, are back in the All-Ireland U16 A Final for the first time since 2009, when the Royal County defeated Donegal to take the title.

That was Meath’s third All-Ireland U16 A Championship win, following previous successes in 2000 and 2001.

In both of those years at the start of the ‘noughties’, Meath got the better of Galway in Finals. They’ll hope for a similar result this evening.

In their semi-finals, Galway and Meath got past the challenges of Cork and Cavan respectively.

Galway were extremely impressive in their victory over Cork while Meath looked really good as they accounted for Cavan.

Galway have the Final experience, and that could prove crucial. In total, there are seven players named who lined out from the start in the gripping 2018 Final victory over Kerry, a classic tie in Toomevara that went to extra-time.

Kate Slevin scored 1-7 in the 2018 Final and will line out again in this one, while Chellene Trill, who was player of the match against the Kingdom 12 months ago, captains the side.

Galway:

1	Alana Griffin	Claregalway
2	Samantha Fahy	Kilkerrin Clonberne
3	Emma Madden	Salthill Knocknacarra
4	Shauna Brennan	Claregalway
5	Kiara Kearney	Claregalway
6	Chellene Trill	Claregalway
7	Emily O’Connor	Corofin
8	Ellen Power	Maigh Cuilinn
9	Mairéad Glynn	Dunmore McHales
10	Illena Davoren	Maigh Cuilinn
11	Verona Crowley	Naomh Mhuire
12	Caoimhe Cleary	Bearna
13	Laura Kelly	Salthill Knocknacarra
14	Eva Noone	Kilkerrin Clonberne
15	Kate Slevin	Claregalway
16	Roseanna Bailey	Naomh Anna Leitir Moir
17	Marta Banek	Oughterard
18	Eabha Nic Dhonnacha	Micheal Breathnachs
19	Lucy Hynes	Maigh Cuilinn
20	Caitlin Boyle	Kilkerrin Clonberne
21	Laura Scanlon	Claregalway
22	Hannah Walsh	Claregalway
23	Molly Mulryan	Caltra Cuans
24	Therese Kinneavy	Killannin
25	Aoibhe O’Flynn	Claregalway
26	Katie Flaherty	Grainne Mhaols
27	Sophie Cunningham	St. Gabriels.
28	Ciara Hegarty	Annaghdown
29	Cailin Keaveney	Glenamaddy Williamstown
30	Aisling Quinn	Naomh Mhuire

Meath: 

1	Aoibheann Corcoran	Moynalvey
2	Karla Kealy	Royal Gaels
3	Emma Jane McKeon	Gaeil Colmcille
4	Emma Regan	Na Fianna
5	Zoe Matthews	Dunderry
6	Laura McEnery	Simonstown
7	Megan Clarke	Seneschalstown
8	Ellen Brodigan	St Colmcilles
9	Tori Foster-Carroll	St Patricks
10	Alanna McNulty	Dee Rangers
11	Amy O’ Dowd	Skyrne
12	Ciara Smyth	Skyrne
13	Nicole Smith	Oldcastle
14	Lara O’ Neil	Castletown
15	Niamh McEntee	Royal Gaels
16	Ciara Blake	Navan O’ Mahonys
17	Clara MacAnna	Royal Gaels
18	Ciara Lawlor	Donaghmore / Ashbourne
19	Robyn O’Byrne	St Patricks
20	Amy O’Leary	Blackhall Gaels
21	Kirsten Massey	Clonard
22	Anna Wogan	Seneschalstown
23	Aisling Martyn	Slane
24	Katie Lenehan	Duleek / Bellewstown
25	Avia Savage	Gaeil Colmcille
26	Zoe Kirwan	Seneschalstown
27	Ella O’ Rourke	St Colmcilles
28	Sarah Muldoon	Bective
29	Rachel Casserly	St Ultans
30	Hannah Nolan	Dunboyne

All-Ireland U16 B Final

Longford v Waterford; St Brendan’s Park, Birr, 7pm 

This evening’s opponents are hoping to succeed Mayo as All-Ireland U16 B champions, and  Longford have some pedigree in the All-Ireland U16 Championships.

The Midlanders won the All-Ireland U16 B title back in 2011 and just three years ago, they were crowned All-Ireland U16 C champions.

Indeed, when you consider that Longford boast a 100 per cent record from appearances in All-Ireland U16 Finals, that’s an impressive strike rate.

In the 1990s, Waterford were a formidable force in the All-Ireland U16 A Championship, winning five titles in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1998.

In more recent times, the Déise have tasted success in the All-Ireland U16 B Championship twice, in 2015 and 2017, while they were also All-Ireland U16 B Shield winners in 2009.

In their semi-finals, Longford and Waterford got past the challenges of Tyrone and Roscommon respectively.

Interestingly, Longford and Waterford scored five goals each in those games, and green flags were critical to the outcome of both fixtures, as Tyrone and Roscommon registered more points than their opponents.

Longford:  

1	Riane McGrath	Killoe
2	Avril Wilson	Ballymore
3	Teni Alaba	Clonguish
4	Grace Kenny	Longford Slashers
5	Caoimhe McCormack	Carrickedmond
6	Aoife Donnelly	St. Helens
7	Leah Shannon	Carrickedmond
8	Grace Shannon	Longford Slashers
9	Melissa O’Kane	St. Brigids
10	Elle Lynn	Mostrim
11	Lauren McGuire	Carrickedmond
12	Sarah Tully	Killoe
13	Kamille Burke	Clonguish
14	Molly Mulvhill	Grattans
15	Kate Shannon	Longford Slashers
16
17	Caoimhe Mulvey	Carrickedmond
18	Keeva Gillen	St. Brigids
19	Casey McNamara	Carrickedmond
20	Emma McGuire	Carrickedmond
21	Zara Mulvihill	Rathcline
22	Shauna Heaney	Ballymore
23	Jill Glennon	Longford Slashers
24	Laura Valentine	Grattans
25	Emma Howlin	Grattans
26	Katelyn McKeon	Clonguish
27	Ella Duggan	Clonguish
28	Marie Rehill	Killoe

Waterford: 

1	Nessa  Nic Iomhair	Old Parish
2	Megan O’Grady	Ballymacarbry
3	Eabha  Gough	Stradbally
4	Rachel Jones	Gaultier
5	Róise Ni Mhuiri	Kilrossanty  Brickeys
6	Gretta Nugent	Ballymacarbry
7	Ella O’Neill  ©	Clashmore/Kinsalebeg
8	Eve Power	St Pats
9	Bríd  McMaugh	Ballymacarbry
10	Hayley Phelan	Stradbally
11	Eimear Quirke	Ballymacarbry
12	Catherine Hynes	Shamrocks
13	Claire Walsh	Ballymacarbry
14	Aine O’Neill	Kilrossanty  Brickeys
15	Aoife Brazil	Stradbally
16	Cliodhna Mcgrath	Abbeyside
17	Meave Sheridan	Gaultier
18	Sarah O’Brien	Ballyduff  Upper
19	Megan Keogh	Clashmore/Kinsalebeg
20	Dara Fitzgerald	Gaultier
21	Kate Kilgrew	Dungarvan
22	Kelly Nic Seoin	Old Parish
23	Aobhla Motherway	Shamrocks
24	Molly Kenny	Ballyduff Upper
25	Keera Curran	Comeragh Rangers
26	Orlaith Kennedy	Comeragh Rangers
27	Emma power	Kilrossanty Brickeys
28	Lia Cunningham	Kilrossanty Brickeys
29	Kaylynn Broxson	Comeragh Rangers
30	Laura Morrissey	Abbeyside

All-Ireland U16 C Final

Louth v Sligo; Mullahoran, Co. Cavan, 7pm 

Louth have appeared in an All-Ireland U16 final, the B decider in 2016, but the Wee County lost out to Tipperary on that occasion.

For Sligo, this is a very first All-Ireland U16 Final and it should be an occasion to savour for both of the competing teams.

In their semi-finals, Louth and Sligo got past the challenges of Armagh and Clare respectively. Louth delivered an impressive display against neighbours Armagh, registering a 2-7 to 0-6 win.

Sligo, meanwhile, scored five goals in their 5-5 to 1-9 victory against Clare.

Louth:

1	Rebecca Lambe Fagan	Dowdallshill
2	Amy Farrell	Glyde Rangers
3	Caitlin O’Reilly	Oliver Plunketts
4	Áine Carolan	Glen Emmets
5	Ella McEntaggert	Kilkerley Emmets
6	Kelly Carolan	Cooley Kickhams
7	Louise Johnson	O’Raghallaighs
8	Sophie Turley	Naomh Fionnbarra
9	Mia Duffy	St. Marys
10	Ava Briscoe	St. Feckins
11	Rachel Leonard	Glen Emmets
12	Róisín Maguire	St. Kevins
13	Abi Keenan	Roche Emmets
14	Ellen McBride	St. Brides
15	Seona Halligan	Roche Emmets
16	Kerry Ann Darcy	Geraldine’s
17	Rachel Hynes	St. Patricks
18	Emily Johnson	O’Raghallaighs
19	Alice Ferguson	Cooley Kickhams
20	Sarah Gilmore	Westerns
21	Laoise McElroy	Cooley Kickhams
22	Kaylin Nugent	Newtown Blues
23	Caoimhe Crichton	Dowdallshill
24	Leah McArdle	Geraldines
25	Katie Conlon	St. Patricks
26	Sinéad Kneel	Kilkerley Emmets
27	Neasa Reilly	Geraldine’s
28	Evelyn Donnelly	St. Patricks
29	Kate Kelly	Newtown Blues
30	Caoimhe Boyle	Stabannon Parnells

Sligo: 

1		Cría Flanagan	St. Nathys
2		Emma Norman	Calry St. Josephs
3		Orla Fleming	Tourlestrane
4		Marianne Kelly	St. Molaise Gaels
5		Casey Cox	St. Mary’s
6		Ellen Hamilton	St. Molaise Gaels
7		Amy Kennedy	Tourlestrane
8		Laura Oates	Calry St. Josephs
9		Caoimhe Connor	Drumcliffe Rosses Point
10		Maeve Molloy	Eastern Harps
11		Shona Dalton	Coolera Strandhill
12		Aoibhe O’Brien	CT Gaels
13		Leah Duffy	Eoghan Rua
14		Fiona Feeney	Eoghan Rua
15		Maeve Casserley	Drumcliffe Rosses Point
17		Ellie McDermott	Shamrock Gaels
18		Kayla Breheny	St. Mary’s
19		Ellen Feeney	Eoghan Rua
20		Laura Foody	Eoghan Rua
21		Avril Boland	Eoghan Rua
22		Lorraine Oates	Drumcliffe Rosses Point
23		Amy Connolly	St. Nathys
24		Riona Hannon	Eastern Harps
25		Diana McDonagh	St. Mary’s
26		Cora Gilligan	Tourlestrane
27		Ciara Henry	CT Gaels
28		Sarah Kiernan	St. Molaise Gaels
29		Erin Taheny	Owenmore Gaels
30		Keela Scanlon	Drumcliffe Rosses Point