Ladies Finals Hold Promises of Redemption
Sunday sees the last of the All Ireland Finals. Traditionally the curtain call on the Croke Park finals, this year we are promised three intriguing finals.
It is unusual not to see Cork among the teams for Sunday but there is a great sense of anticipation around the game as Dublin and Mayo face off. The players in that Dublin jersey have been oh so close for each of the last three years, so will the absence of their great recent rivals Cork give them the chance to get over the line? Monkey off the back time? Last year Dublin pipped Mayo in the semi-final and the Westerners are no doubt spurred on by the memory of that heartbreaker and the harrowing defeat endured by the entire county last weekend. Redemption time?
For some of the main Mayo players there is a sense of the end of an era this weekend. For the neutral this year’s final promises to be an enthralling encounter. Not least because it features Cora Staunton, one of the greatest players ever to play any of our Gaelic games.
Ed McGreal writing in the Mayo News documented Cora's career to date. It is astonishing.
Since her debut in 1996 Cora has scored 59-476 in 66 consecutive championship games. As McGreal points out that is 300 points more than The Gooch scores in his career. And she ain’t finished. Since her debut in 1996 Cora has scored 57% of Mayo’s scores. Now aged 35 we should all hope that this legend hangs around for a few more seasons before hanging the boots. It is Mayo’s first final since 07.
Dublin have lost the last three finals by a point, two points and a point respectively. Former manager Gregory McGonagle can only see one winner if Dublin can contain Cora Staunton. He told RTE: “To lose three finals and to come back to a fourth final, I know they talk about the Mayo (men’s) team being resilient but that’s a big thing I would see in the Dublin team.”
They previously met in 2003 and a last minute wonder goal sealed a 1-4 to 0-5 win for Mayo.
Mick Bohan is back in charge of Dublin and as a renowned skills coach we can be sure no stone will be unturned in maximising the skills levels of the Dublin players. His views earlier in the season on the systemic skills issues with ladies football and his analysis of how the game must be improved by better coaching were illuminating. He also has flagged the need for more and better kicking off both feet and highlighted the confidence factor in players executing these skills. The only way is up it would seem. Dublin are sure to benefit from his insight, coaching and attention to detail.
After last years heartbreak / controversy at Croke Park when Dublin’s Carla Rowe was flagged wide, Hawkeye will be in use to avoid any dispute. It is not overdue.
Tipperary v Tyrone
In the Intermediate game Tyrone ladies face Tipperary. Tipperary come to the game a hardened outfit after resilient wins against Wexford and Meath. Tyrone are firm favourites for the title but would do well to guard against be complacent.
The road back to Croke Park after a senior defeat to Dublin seven years ago has been based on a planned redevelopment strategy that included going to Intermediate to bring players through. Four players remain from the team that lost to Dublin Captain Neamh Woods, Gemma Begley, Shannon Quinn and Shannon Lynch. Gráinne Rafferty, Emma Hegarty and Niamh O'Neill form part of a potent attacking threat.
The Tipperary team features six survivors from the side which won the All-Ireland intermediate final in 2008 Samantha Lambert, Patricia Hickey, Mairéad Morrissey, Jennifer Grant, Gillian O’Brien & Catriona Walsh. The Premier County lost narrowly in the 2013 intermediate All-Ireland final to Cavan. We can expect Aisling McCarthy and Aishling Moloney to be to the fore this Sunday as the Tipp team seek to put that loss to rights.
Derry v Fermanagh
Nine years back Derry lost out to London in the Junior Final. With only Emma Doherty of Steelstown surviving, that outcome will have little bearing on Sunday’s encounter. More relevant perhaps is the fact that Ulster rivals have beaten Derry four times this season already including the Ulster Junior final, so the form book points firmly in the direction of the Erne county. Derry are backboned by newly crowned county champions Steelstown who have thirteen players on the panel including livewire centre back Katy Holly, and beaten finalists Ballinascreen who provide the captain Cáit Glass.
Fermanagh are an experienced outfit with Aisling Moane, Marita McDonald and Sharon Little, Roisin Gleesson the more experienced players who have been joined by the likes of Blathain Bogue, Eimear Smyth, Danielle McManus. Last year Fermanagh failed to win a game, and it will be an epic turnaround if they can lift the cup at this time of asking.