This weeks action previews

All Ireland Champions Cork must face a rejuvenated Dublin
side this weekend in the quarter-finals of the TG4 Ladies Football
All Ireland Championship. The Rebelettes are vying to become
the first county to win three consecutive Senior All Ireland
titles since Kerry won their ninth title in a row in 1990. However,
Cork must overcome a Dublin side who have upset all the odds
to reach the last eight. Dublin won the Suzuki NFL Division
2 title earlier in the season but then failed to impress in
the Leinster Championship and entered the All Ireland draw as
one of the unseeded teams. Wins over Kerry and Waterford secured
their place in the quarter-finals and a spirited display against
Mayo will have given the Jackies confidence ahead of this weekend’s
game at Wexford Park.

Cork half-back Briege Corkery, who was named the Lucozade Sport/Irish
Independent Player of the Month for July at a ceremony in Croke
Park yesterday, knows that Dublin will pose serious questions
of the reigning champions. “The game against Dublin is going
to be fierce tough. They are a very physical side and we will
have to be on top of our game to beat them. The key for us will
be defending further up the pitch at the half-forward line.
If we can defend from the front, hopefully we can stop them
getting any rhythm going and then impose our game on them,”
said Corkery.

In the other quarter-final of Saturday’s doubleheader at Wexford
Park, Kildare take on Laois in a repeat of this year’s Leinster
final. Laois cruised to an eleven point victory that day but
the Lillywhites have improved dramatically since then and will
be inspired by Tyrone’s shock victory over Armagh.

Both of Saturday’s quarter-finals will be broadcast live on
TG4.