Suzuki Ladies National Football League Previews

CORK and Galway will meet in a repeat of last year’s
league and championship finals on Sunday in the Suzuki Ladies National
Football League semi-final at Ballincollig. In the second semi-final,
Meath will host Mayo at Ratoath where the Royals hope home advantage
helps them pull off something of a surprise and advance to the final. 

Cork have a 100% record in the league this year and are favourites
to retain the title they won last season by beating Galway in
the decider. They started off the campaign minus some of their
regulars, but as the league has gone on they have been significantly
strengthened with the likes of Valerie Mulcahy, Angela Walsh and
Regina Curtin all lining out. However, Galway have looked like
a team on a mission this season as they aim to make up for the
disappointment of 2005. They remain backboned by players like
Lorna Joyce, Annette Clarke and Lisa Cohill. The sides have already
met in this year’s league, with Cork emerging as one point
winners, 0-10 to 0-9, in the first round of matches back in early
February.

Meath have been the surprise package of the league so far this
year and defeated Kerry in their quarter-final last weekend. With
All Star Geraldine Doherty in good form, they could well pull
off a surprise against Mayo this Sunday. However, like Cork, the
Connacht outfit also have a 100% record and if Cora Staunton can
retain her current blistering form then they should advance to
the decider. Staunton scored 1-8 in Mayo’s quarter-final
victory over Monaghan last Sunday.

Meanwhile, although the Dublin seniors have been struggling in
recent weeks their minors are building nicely for the championship
and Lorna Hillery has been named as their captain for the year.
The Castleknock girl will lead the Dubs in their opening game
against Longford on Saturday 22nd April. Lorna also plays for
the Dublin seniors and scored four points from play in their recent
relegation play-off defeat to Tyrone.