St Mary’s ready for Connacht decider
ST Mary’s ladies are ready to face Maigh Culinn of Galway in the Connacht Intermediate final on Sunday.
Fr Gibbons Park in Claremorris is hosting the final with Shane Breheny’s ladies hoping to win a coveted Connacht title to add to their Sligo crown.
They defeated Drumcliffe/Rosses Point in the Sligo decider, before a spirited 5-15 to 5-7 victory over Roscommon champions Western Gaels led them on the path to this Sunday’s final.
Throw-in is at 2pm and there is expected to be a big Sligo contingent supporting Mary’s.
Shane said things are shaping up well ahead of Sunday’s decider.
“Things are going very good from our perspective, the girls are preparing well.
“Thankfully we don’t have any injuries since the semi-final, so it’s so far so good,” he added.
Their semi-final game with the Roscommon champions was a difficult one he said, praising the performance from Mary’s on the day.
“It’s always a very difficult one when you’re going to play in Connacht because you’re not as familiar with the level of the team that you are playing against.
“Western Gaels are a very good team and very similar to ourselves.”
St Mary’s, captained by Karen Maloney, have lots of experienced players. including the likes of star forward Emma Hansberry, who is excellent up front for the side.
It’s not about individual players though, Shane insists it’s about the team’s performance as a whole.
He said: “I suppose with our selves, we look on it more as a team performance, we have very strong players overall,” he said.
He has a large panel to choose from too.
“We have a panel of 30 players and they are all competing for places so that’s great and keeps everyone on their toes.
“It’s very hard to pick the team but that’s a good complaint,” Shane said.
In terms of their Galway opponents on Sunday, the manager maintained they are coming up against a strong side. Moycullen have been having a good season so far.
“By all accounts they are a very strong side. They won the Junior awhile ago and were beaten in last year’s final by Annaghdown, who went on to win the All-Ireland.
“They’ve won their first two games in Connacht against Leitrim and Mayo opponents so they are a strong side and it will be a huge task for us.”
He added: “They’ve a good pitch there in Claremorris, we’re really looking forward to it.
“This is the first time in a long time that a team from St Mary’s could win a Connacht title, between the men’s and ladies.
“It’s been a long time anyhow,” he said. The excitement in the club is intensifying as Sunday’s final approaches.
“The atmosphere is really starting to build now, everyone is looking forward to it,” Shane added.
WE HAVE A PANEL OF 30 ALL COMPETING FOR PLACES