All-Ireland football final previews
SENIOR: CORK V DUBLIN
Croke Park, tomorrow, Live, 4.00, TG4.
After losing three finals in a row, Dublin got one monkey off their back last year. Now can they get another?
They retain the same starters, bar one, who beat Mayo in last year’s final but Cork have something of a hex over them having won the 2014, ‘15 and ‘16 finals so there’s a score to settle for Dublin here.
In truth both sides are now very different. Cork are not the ‘invincible’ Rebelettes of old but a new and improving team looking to create their own history. Their threats include the O’Sullivan sisters, Orla Finn and dual talents Libby Coppinger and Hannah Looney. A watertight defence also shut down Donegal’s lethal forwards in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
But Dublin, if anything, have found another gear this season when they won their first Division One title and have vaporised everyone en route to the final, including Galway last time out.
History suggests this should be close as Cork’s victories in 2014-2016 were twice by one point and once by two.
But this is Dublin 2018. When Sinead Aherne, Noelle Healy and Nicole Owens get in full flow they are a joy to behold. Their pace, power and skill is on a higher level to everyone else. Sound familiar?
Verdict: Dublin
INTERMEDIATE: MEATH V TYRONE
Croke Park, tomorrow, Live, 1.45, TG4
A fancied Tyrone lost this final to Tipperary last year and are on a mission here. Meath were last in Croke Park to win the junior title in 1994 and have standout players in Niamh O’Sullivan, Stacey Grimes, Vikki Wall and full-back Orlagh Lally. They shocked Roscommon in their semi-final but it’s hard to see them beating a much more seasoned Tyrone who stormed Ulster and were given stern tests by Wexford and Sligo. With veterans Neamh Woods and Gemma Begley alongside Áine Canavan and Chloe McCaffrey the Red Hand should prove too strong here. Verdict: Tyrone
JUNIOR: LIMERICK V LOUTH
Croke Park, tomorrow, Live 11:45, TG 4
This is a re-match of the 2010 final which Limerick won but Louth turned the tables when these two met in a league semi-final. Limerick have regained some players since then, however, including Rebecca Delee from camogie and veteran star Dympna O’Brien.
But Louth, who claimed this title in 2015, have a real star in the making in Kate Flood and a particularly compelling mission to complete as they aim to honour the memory of their manager Micheál McKeown, who tragically died midsummer.
Verdict: Louth