This weeks match preview

This weeks match previews

 

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006
All Ireland Minor Final, Cork v Galway; Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
2.00pm

Cork take on last year’s All Ireland Minor Champions Galway on
Sunday in this year’s Minor Final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Two weeks ago in the Minor semi-finals, Galway dispatched Monaghan
at a canter while Cork needed extra-time to account for Dublin.

Galway’s 17 point demolition of Monaghan, with goals from Claire
Hehir and Aoife Kelly and a standout performance from Barbara
Hannon, who scored 2-3, ensured that last years champions are
given the favourites tag as they chase their third All Ireland
Minor Championship title.

Dublin pushed Cork all the way in the other semi-final at Semple
Stadium but it was five goal hero Rhona Buckley who saw the rebel
girls through to the final.

Cork have had the tougher run to the final and will hope that
the extra-time played against Dublin will not have affected the
team’s energy reserves. Galway should be fresh and buoyant following
their relatively easy win over Monaghan.

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006

TG4 Ulster Senior Championship Semi-finals 2nd Leg

Tyrone v Armagh; Greencastle; 3.00pm

In last week’s first leg semi-final clash between Armagh and
Tyrone, it was the 2005 Junior All Ireland Champions, Armagh who
emerged with a four point aggregate advantage going into Sunday’s
second leg.

Armagh travel to Tyrone and hope that their four point advantage
will be enough to book them a place in this year’s Ulster final.
Tyrone will look to avoid the late sin-binings which cost them
dearly in the closing stages last weekend.

Tyrone captain, Maura Kelly is confident that her side can overturn
the four point deficit. She said, “We hadn’t played together
competitively for two months so Armagh definitely had the edge
last week following their two games against Donegal. We are confident
enough that with home advantage and if we cut out the mistakes
we made last week we will have enough to see us through.”

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006

TG4 Ulster Senior Championship Semi-finals 2nd Leg

Monaghan v Down; Clones; 3.00pm

In the other Ulster semi-final, Monaghan hold a seven point advantage
over Down with the home tie to play and are now clear favourites
to advance to the Ulster Final.

Monaghan will look to the McNally sisters, Grainne and Therese,
who provided vital goals in the first leg while Down will look
to shut down Monaghan’s most influencial player Niamh Kindlon.
Down will also need another big performance from Michaela Downey
who provided the main trust for the Mourne ladies attack.

Down captain, Eilish McConville is upbeat about her team chances
at the weekend, saying, “The game last week really didn’t
go our way and the camp was slightly bewildered afterwards. We
dominated possession and we didn’t think that Monaghan are seven
points better than us as a team. Making up a seven point deficit
is a big ask but we’re definitely going to give it everything,
we have a lot of belief in our ability and we’re really looking
forward to the game on Sunday.”

TG4 Leinster Ladies Junior Championship Semi finals

Laois V Longford

The first semi final is down for decision on Sun July 23rd at
Park Rathneskia, Stradbally, Co Laois at 3.00pm and features Laois
V Longford. The other semi final, Westmeath V Wexford, is fixed
for Sat July 29th at Carlow Hurling Grounds at 7.45pm

Laois, with victories over Carlow, Kilkenny and Wicklow come
to the fray with the same number of points as rivals Longford.
They suffered defeat at the hands of Wexford but otherwise had
a fairly easy run to the semi final with relatively easy wins
in their games and often by impressive margins. The same could
be said of Longford who come with a clean sheet having beaten
Dublin and Meath by substantial margins and with five points to
spare over neighbours Westmeath, one of the other semi finalists.

These teams should be fairly evenly matched and with a close
game in prospect the result would be well nigh impossible to predict.

Westmeath V Wexford

The other semi final pairs Wexford, who won all their games in
Division “B” with Westmeath who emerge as runners up
in Division “A” by virtue of not one but two victories
over Dublin. The first game, well won by Westmeath, was played
on July 18th but was a round two game postponed because of dreadful
conditions prevailing on the 21st of May when it was first fixed.
This gave rise to a play off situation between Dublin Meath and
Westmeath. Dublin beat Meath but then had to play Westmeath and
succumbed to them when they met a week later on the 25th of July.

Wexford have had a very good run in the Championship and will
present stiff opposition for any team they face. However Westmeath,
with two good wins over Dublin, can be expected to push Wexford
all the way and another exciting semi final can be anticipated.

 

TG4 Ulster Senior Championship Semi-finals 2nd Leg

Tyrone v Armagh Greencastle 3.00pm

Monaghan v Down Clones 3.00pm

All Ireland Minor Final

Cork v Galway Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 2.00pm

TG4 Ulster Junior Championship Semi-final 2nd Leg

Antrim v Cavan Antrim 3.00pm

Monaghan v Fermanagh Clones 1.30pm

All Ireland U14 Semi Finals

21st July
B Championship

Limerick v Roscommon Ballinderreen, Galway 7.00pm

22nd July
A Championship

Galway v Dublin Páirc Chiaran, Athlone 3.30pm

Cork v Laois Cahir 2.00pm

B Championship

Clare v Wexford Cahir 3.30pm