Ladies county football titles are on the line
RANDLES BROTHERS LADIES COUNTY SFC FINAL
Castleisland Desmonds v Southern Gaels
Sunday, July 30 Venue and time tbc
IT was no surprise when this year’s Randles Brothers Senior Ladies football championship final threw up old foes Southern Gaels and Castleisland Desmonds in the decider. Both of these teams have been to the forefront at senior level over the last few years with the girls from the south claiming last years title and the Castleisland side were victorious back in 2014.
It is fair to say that Sunday’s side has the potential to be a cracker. Both sides had easy semi finals and scored freely with Desmonds totalling 5-13 against Inbhear Sceine Gaels whilst Southern Gaels put 5-16 past a young Beaufort side. Whilst it is difficult to judge each sides potential on the evidence of their semi final wins, it is obvious that there is very little between the sides in terms of players ability if you sit down and analyse the quality of the players that will be performing on Sunday.
Southern Gaels have proven ability all through their ranks and their side contains a number of players that have performed well at inter county level over a number of seasons. Players like current Kerry senior captain Caroline Kelly, Anna Galvin, Elaine O’Sullivan, Megan O’Connell, Linda Cronin, Mary Cronin and Amy Fitzgerald are all proven performers at the top level, and it is expected that they will be the driving force behind the Southern Gaels outfit again on Sunday.
The ace in their pack could be the evergreen Deirdre Corridan though. The former inter county star is an ideal focal point in the Southern Gaels attack, and if Desmonds are to harbour any hopes of claiming the title they will have to keep the rangy Caherdaniel native at bay. This is no easy task and Corridan’s haul of 1-9 in the semi-final is a testament to the huge threat that she carries in attack.
Castleisland Desmonds can call upon the likes of Lorraine Scanlon, Aisling Leonard, Eilis Lynch, Andrea Murphy and Labhaoise Walmsley from the current Kerry ladies senior panel. They also contain a number of players from that victory back in 2014 with Jane Lynch,Leanne Mangan, the experienced Rachael Cronin, and Mariah Curtin no strangers to success at this level. Former All Star Cait Lynch, currently domiciled in Amsterdam, is also expected to be available for the game, and her presence and leadership could be a huge boost to the Castleisland side.
The midfield battle could be a key area on Sunday ,and the winning and losing of the game could be decided on who gets the upper hand on the day. Lorraine Scanlon has been in great form for her county lately , and Southern Gaels will be striving to prevent the tall, energetic Desmonds girl from getting any kind of stranglehold around this area. Southern Gaels could choose from Linda Cronin, Megan O’Connell or Anna Galvin to pick her up, and this promises to be one of the more intriguing contests in the game.
Southern Gaels will go into the game with the knowledge that they defeated Desmonds at the semi final stage after a titanic battle last year. They appear to have the better balance throughout the team, and while it wouldn’t be a major shock if Desmonds emerged victorious, a hesitant vote must be given to the girls from the south.
RANDLES BROTHERS LADIE COUNTY IFC FINAL
Austin Stacks v Na Gaeil
Saturday, July 29 Strand Road, Tralee at 6.30
IT is a testament to the huge amount of work at underage level that these clubs have put in over the last number of years that sees them in the Randles Brothers Intermediate Ladies football final.
Whilst both teams are sprinkled with lots of experienced players, it is the emerging younger talent that have given them the boost to strive forth and attempt to win the county intermediate final.
Austin Stacks will of course be powered by Kerry star Laura Rogers, and her ability to control a game from the middle of the field could win the game on it’s own for the Rock Street team. She will have excellent back up though in Maeve McKivergan , Deborah Mangan, Jemma and Ellen O’Connell and Deirdre O’Shea. Kerry underage star Molly O’Carroll is a doubt however, and her loss could be badly felt.
Former Kerry great Marina Barry is still playing great stuff for Austin Stacks and shows no signs of slowing down. She still remains as potent in attack as ever, and Na Gaeil will have their hands full in containing the legendary black and amber full forward. Barry holds no less than 10 All-Ireland senior championship medals with Kerry, and brings a raft of experience and class to what is a mostly very young rockies team. Barry’s daughter, Caoimhe Barry Walsh, will also line out for Saturday’s final, and it could be a very special moment for both mother and daughter if they help their team to the county intermediate title.
Na Gaeil will be well aware of the potential in the Austin Stacks team and they carry some major game changers in their ranks as well. Current Kerry minor Jadyn Lucey has the pace to trouble any defence, while Deirdre Kearney, Susan Fernane, Ayesha Roche, Nora O’Connell and Kate Anne O’Connor are solid and experienced performers at this level. Maeve Barry, a sister of Kerry men’s star Jack, is another player that could have a major say on the outcome.
Whilst I is a difficult game in which to predict a winner, Na Gaeil’s greater experience could swing the outcome of the contest on the day.