Skibb will be buzzing as Rossa eye final place
WEEKEND PREVIEWS: A huge crowd is expected in Skibbereen today where O’Donovan Rossa face a battle-hardened Gusserane outfit, the reigning Wexford and Leinster champions, for a place in the All-Ireland ladies junior football final. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
A huge crowd is expected in Skibbereen today where O’Donovan Rossa face a battle-hardened Gusserane outfit, the reigning Wexford and Leinster champions, for a place in the All-Ireland ladies junior football final.
Rossa made the trip to Scotland last weekend for a quarter-final against Glasgow Gaels and were ruthless in a 2-14 to 2-0 win. Éabha O’Donovan, Cork senior star Laura O’Mahony and Emma Hurley were in scoring form.
Gusserane accounted for Baile Dubh Tíre after a replay in the Wexford final before claiming victories over Muckalee (Kilkenny), St. Brigid’s (Carlow) and Walterstown (Meath) to land the provincial title.
Up front, Aisling Murphy and Aoife Cullen are proven scoring threats and with plenty of inter-county experience but this has been a supreme team effort to date from Gusserane.
In Sunday's second semi, a youthful Claremorris (Mayo) host Derry champs Lavey.
Also on Sunday, in Mallow, Cork's Glanmire face Meath's Na Fianna in the intermediate semi-final, 24 hours after their dual stars feature for Sars in the Munster camogie final.
Glanmire were All-Ireland Junior champions in 2018 and but they’ll get nothing easy from a Na Fianna side with Meath captain Shauna Ennis listed at full-forward.
Captain Ellen Twomey and Abbie O’Mahony led the way for Glanmire when they overcame Tir Chonaill Gaels in Ruislip, 2-5 to 0-9, as Orlaith Roche and Eibhlis Dillon scored the crucial goals.
In Leinster, Na Fianna got the better of an excellent Shelmalier outfit with just a point to spare, as Kerrie Cole led the way with 1-3 in a 2-8 to 1-10 win.
In Saturday's first semi, Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins from Leitrim welcome Derry’s Steelstown Brian Óg’s to Páirc Sheáin Uí Eislin.
In Sunday's senior semis, holders Kilkerrin-Clonberne from Galway make the trip to Parnell Park for a clash with Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes, while Armagh’s Clann Éireann are on home soil for the visit of Waterford’s Ballymacarbry.
The Armagh champions are fresh from landing a first Ulster Senior title while Ballymac secured back-to-back Munster crowns recently against Clare outfit Banner Ladies and are targeting a first All-Ireland Senior Final appearance since 1998.
Dangerous forward Aileen Wall captains Ballymac, who will also look to Kellyann Hogan at midfield for inspiration.
Galway champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne have claimed back-to-back All-Ireland crowns on the back of county and provincial dominance.
The Wards, Divillys and Noones are household names now but team manager Willie Ward has fostered an incredible team ethic in the group and that’s stood them in good stead.
Kilmacud Crokes came up short in their 2022 All-Ireland semi-final, losing out by 0-7 to 1-11 against Donaghmoyne, and they’ll be keen to right the wrongs of that defeat.
The likes of Aoife Kane, Michelle Davoren and Éabha Rutledge have plenty of inter-county experience under their belts with Dublin – while Cork native Niamh Cotter is another key player.
All six of the weekend fixtures will be streamed live at the LGFA’s live-streaming portal.
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