Canavan keen to follow in Armagh’s footsteps

MARIA Canavan has a special reason for hoping that Tyrone can overcome Cork when the sides meet in the All-Ireland Ladies’ Football Championship quarter-final at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe today (3pm).

The free-scoring Canavan, niece of Red Hands legend Peter, is anxious that her team should take a leaf out of Armagh’s book by getting the better of the Rebel County.

Tyrone certainly created a stir when they overcame Donegal in their most recent outing but this was trumped last weekend by the Orchard County’s win over a Cork side that had gone in against them as the warmest of favourites.

In landing 1-5 of Tyrone’s 3-12 against Donegal, Canavan took the Player of the Match accolade but team success rather than personal glory is very much on her radar today.

“It does not matter who scores, as long as we win. It would be great to beat Cork who are without doubt a really top team as their track record shows,” she pointed out.

Chloe Rafferty, Neamh Woods, Emma Jane Girvan, Niamh O’Neill and Christianne Hunter are other key players in a Tyrone side that face into their most difficult challenge of the year.

Manager Gerry Moane felt that his side could rise to the challenge against Donegal but now admits that they have a bigger hill to climb today.

“Cork are right up there, the real elite side. We will be striving to take a leaf from Armagh’s book,” said Moane.

Meanwhile, in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie Championship, Karen Kielt hopes to enjoy rather more game time than has been accorded to her lately when Derry face Tipperary at Owenbeg today (5pm).

The Oak Leaf side cannot afford to lose this match and Kielt, just getting back into the swing of things after a lengthy spell out through injury, is keen to play a part in taking her side further.

“I am looking forward to the game because it would mean a lot to us to win it,” said Kielt.

Down will face Wexford at Pairc Esler, Newry (2pm) with Niamh Mallon and Sarah Louise Carr key figures in their side.

Mourne County manager Martina Rooney is hoping that her team can play to their full potential against a Wexford side that will be eager to stay in the hunt for All-Ireland intermediate honours.

Antrim face a difficult task against Dublin in Group One of the Intermediate Championship but the outcome of the game will not have any bearing on the competition. Dublin will be keen to regain their form having lost to Galway by 2-17 to 2-5 in their last outing. AN ACQUAINTANCE of mine who is a keen student of Gaelic Games went along to Tyrone v Dublin in Omagh. He perched himself as close to the pitch as possible behind the goals in order to take in the Dublin forwards’ movement and declared himself mesmerised afterwards.

With Con O’Callaghan (right) adding on serious muscle to his frame, they are even more of a threat. When you add in Diarmuid Connolly (if he isn’t even going to get minutes in this game, then what was the point of bringing him back?) they look just as good as ever up top.

Brian Fenton is well on his way to becoming the highest-scoring midfielder ever and Jack McCaffrey is always going to add goal threat with his abilities.

Tyrone may give an extended period to Mattie Donnelly alongside Cathal McShane up front seeing as it worked so well against Cork, but again that tactic may be sacrificed in order to keep cards close to chests in the event of a possible All-Ireland final in the weeks to come.