20 July 2006 This weeks match preview Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! 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 Share this Article 0 0