Tribeswomen Seek Third Minor Title

Tribeswomen Seek Third Minor Title

 

The All Ireland Minor Final is the big fixture of the weekend’s
Ladies Football action with Cork taking on last year’s All Ireland
Minor Champions Galway at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Two weeks ago in the All Ireland 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.

The Minor Championship is always a great indicator for the future
of Ladies football as Cork won the Minor title in 2003 and 2004
and went on to win the Senior title in 2005 while Galway won the
Minor title in 2002 and went on to lift the Brendan Martin Cup
in 2004.

The other big clashes this weekend take place in the Ulster Championship
as the second leg of the Ulster Championship semi-finals take
place in Greencastle and Clones.

At the weekend Armagh and Monaghan took control of their respective
ties against Down and Tyrone but must do it all again this weekend
to secure a spot in the Ulster final.

2005 Junior All Ireland Champions, Armagh eeked out a hard fought
four point win in Mullaghabawn over a resilient Tyrone side who
might have reduced the losing deficit further if not for a brace
of late sin-bins.

Armagh must now travel to Tyrone for the second leg and will
hope that their four point advantage from the first leg will be
enough to book them a place in this year’s Ulster final.

In the other Ulster semi-final, Monaghan recorded an impressive
seven point victory away to Down and are now clear favourites
to prevail in the second leg this weekend.

The Monaghan McNally double act undid all the good work done
early on by the Mourne ladies. Two early points from Michaela
Downey gave Down a two point cushion after ten minutes but a goal
a piece from sisters Grainne and Therese McNally swung the balance
in favour of the two time All Ireland Champions.

Niamh Kindlon starred for Monaghan with a succession of well
taken points and despite the best efforts of Michaela Downey,
Monaghan pulled away and opened up a seven point lead which puts
them in the driving seat with the return fixture in Clones this
weekend.

 

Ulster Senior Championship Semi-finals 2nd Leg

Tyrone v Armagh Greencastle TBC

Monaghan v Down Clones TBC

 

All Ireland Minor Final

Cork v Galway Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 2.00pm

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