CIARA DOESN’T WANT TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY TONIGHT
SHE will be part of sporting history in Croke Park tonight but, like her teammates, Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Trant cannot afford to take her eye off the ball in this penultimate round of Lidl Division 1 against Mayo. The 23-year-old St Brigid’s netminder has played at GAA HQ only three times before and each time was an AllIreland senior final. Tonight is extra-special because it marks the first time a women’s national league game takes place at Jones Road. Victory for Dublin, who dropped to second after last week’s shock loss to Armagh, would clinch a semi-final spot plus break their duck in Croker where they’ve lost the last three All-Ireland finals. But Mayo, currently joint bottom with Monaghan, are arguably even more desperate to win as they attempt to escape the drop-zone. ‘Armagh were fantastic but we didn’t play well,’ says Trant. ‘We just have to bounce back now and the good thing about the league is that you have a chance straight away to make up for it.’ Dublin’s defence uncharacteristically leaked 3-12 last week but new boss Mick Bohan has been doing a lot of experimenting.’ With All-Star wingback Sinead Goldrick currently injured, regular centre-back Sinead Finnegan lined out at 11 against Armagh and All-Star wing-forward Noelle Healy is currently wearing number six. ‘He’s trying out different partnerships to see what people have to offer and it’s very refreshing,’ Trant adds.