Staunton Says Champions go in as Underdogs in Donaghmore Clash

Mayo’s Carnacon have won the All Ireland Senior Club Championship title for the last two years beating Cork’s Inch Rovers in the final in 2007 and 2008. This Sunday they must travel to Donaghmore, the current Cork and Munster champions in order to secure a place in this year’s final.

Cora Staunton is just one of a host of inter county stars lining out for the Mayo outfit at the weekend and the Carnacon captain is pragmatic about her side’s chances.

“We have a couple of injury concerns following the Connacht final but hopefully we will have a full squad to pick from. We haven’t ever won away from home in an All Ireland semi-final and it is going to be a tough ask to beat Donaghmore in Cork,” said Staunton.

Carnacon have an enviable record against Cork sides that the county team would love to replicate and their dominance of the senior club competition has been built on victories over clubs from the Rebel county.

“We managed to get the better of Inch Rovers over the last two years but we haven’t played Donaghmore since 2006 when we beat them but that was a home game for us which makes a huge difference. Donaghmore have the likes of Juliet Murphy, Rena Buckley and Linda Barrett in their ranks, who were all part of the five in a row Cork team so they will definitely be the favourites heading into the game,” continued Staunton.

In the other side of the draw Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne host Timahoe of Laois. Donaghmoyne include among their ranks nine inter-county players including Linda Martin, Amanda Casey, Catriona McConnell and the Courtney sisters, Sharon, Fiona, Cora and Joanne.

Donaghmoyne won the All Ireland title back in 2006 beating Carnacon in the final while Timahoe were losing finalists back in 2000. Timahoe can call on the services of Ashling Quigley, Angela Casey and Martina Dunne all of whom have represented the O’Moore County with distinction.

The Junior Club Championships semi-finals take place this Saturday with Druncliff/Rosses (Sligo) taking on St James (Wexford) at Markievicz Park while Clonakilty (Cork) play host to Corduff (Monaghan).

The two Intermediate Club Championship semi-finals take place this Sunday. Brian Borus (Tipperary) play St Paul’s (Antrim) in Ardfinnan and Breaffy (Mayo) will contest a spot in the final with St Brigids (Dublin) in Breaffy