Six AIB All-Ireland Club Semi-finals fixed for this weekend.

Six AIB All-Ireland Club Semi-finals fixed for this weekend.

The focus on Ladies Football firmly lies with the clubs
this week when the 6 Semi-finals of the Club Championship
will be decided in England and Ireland. The club scene is
the backbone of the Association and no doubt,all games will
be played with fervour and passion with All-Ireland finals
places at stake.

Saturday focus.

The focus on Saturday will be in England when English clubs
will be bidding to make it to the final stage. At Intermediate
level Emerald Gaels from the Manchester area will have a
sporting chance, of making the final, they play Fingallians
of Dublin at 1 pm with Stretford the venue. I know from
experience that Emeralds are a very tightly knit club from
my visit to them with Rockbán 2 years ago, they put up a
very solid performance, before fading in the latter stages,
the Cork girls subsequently went on to take the Junior title.

The 2nd game will be played at Ruislip in in London at Junior
level with a starting time of 2pm Parnell’s have a good
sprinkling of Inter-co players and again they have worked
very hard and will not be without hope. While it would be
a huge boost for the Sport in Britain if either or both
made it to finals,da,, history is against them, but history
is there to be rewritten

Busy Sunday.

Sunday will be a very busy day with 4 games down for decision,
Three of them involve Cork Clubs; The match of the day should
be between current senior Champions Carnacon and champions
of 2 years ago Doonoughmore. Donoughmore took their 3rd
Munster title in a row with a comprehensive victory over
Ballymacarbry. Carnacon on the other hand were put to the
pin of their collar, to overcome the challenge of Corofin
in the Connaught final, before prevailing by a point. They
were much too strong for Donoughmore at home last year,
but the Cork girls will be a different proposition in their
own back yard. Much as well will depend on the fitness of
Carnacon star Cora Staunton who has been plagued all year
with injury. They will not give up their crown lightly,
home advantage could sway it for Doonoughmore, but they
will have to play for the full duration of the game.

The other semi-final will be be between Senchelstown of
Meath and Knockbride, of Cavan. The Meath girls caused a
sensation by handing out a drubbing to Dublin Champions
Ballyboden/ St Enda’s, who had 9 Dublin Seniors on their
panel. That game was played a week after Dublin lost a dramatic
All-Ireland final to Mayo and it it obviously had a major
effect on the girls at club level. The Meath girls will
start favourites but they must take nothing for granted.
Football is on the up and up in Cavan and their representatives
at Senior level will,be aiming to keep that momentum going.


Inter-Semi-Final

The 2nd semi-final of the Intermediate grade is fixed for
the heart of the West Cork Gaeltacht in Ballyvourney. on
Sunday at 12 Noon. The Cork girls got out of jail in a dramatic
finale at Glen in Derry last Sunday. It took a late penalty
from Katie Lynch to see them through. Home advantage should
be worth a few scores to them.

Kilmoyvee Shamrocks of Mayo provide the opposition and this
club built on a very solid underage structure will be hard
to, stop. they have a number of players from Mayo’s Minor
team who lost to an exceptional Cork team in the All-Ireland
final. Again this game is too hard to call. As we go to
press a doubt surrounds this game being played on Sunday.


Junior Semi.

Its a Galway Cork confrontation in the Junior Semi-Final.
This year has been a dream come through for Gabriel Rangers,
They finally prevailed in Cork after losing 4 finals. Since
that Cork triumph they have been playing some delightful
football, racking up some huge score totals. Dunmore Mc
Hales will have to be at their very best if they are to
prevail. Again home advantage will be a huge asset but Gablriels
have built up a massive support base and will be well represented
in Galway and would dearly love to win

Fr. Liam Kelleher PR0 087-8516984