OF A CRACKER e Glen to lock horns yet again
The mood is considerably more upbeat across the way in Knockananna where club stalwart Sinead Byrne has taken the reins as captain this season.
Byrne speaks with pride at her selection as captain by the club and it would obviously be a dream come true to be able to not only lift the cup on Saturday evening in Baltinglass but to also lift the one that completes the three-in-a-row.
Byrne is very complimentary of manager Tom Byrne who was involved at underage for years before being, as Byrne puts it, ‘worn down’ by club officials and that he ‘ran out of reasons to say ‘no’ when repeatedly asked to take over the Senor team.
‘He has been brilliant, after he adjusted to received impudence from adults compared to the easy life he had at juvenile,’ joked Sinead. ‘But he has so much experience,’ she added.
For Sinead Byrne everything is about the performance on the day and about playing to the team’s potential.
That potential is wrapped up in the performances of Aine O’Keeffe, Ciara Byrne and Sarah Byrne who have been outstanding for the side all season. Around them work the rest of the side and unless Donardthe Glen can counteract the threat of Ciara and Sarah Byrne then their arch rivals will be turning right out of the gate in Baltinglass with another county title to their credit.
Donard-The Glen will hope that their experienced players can get their young stars into the game as early as possible with Kelly O’Neill, Amy Switzer, Sive Byrne and Hannah O’Neill key soldiers in the Donard-The Glen cause.
This has the makings of a cracker precisely because of the reason stated at the top.
Knockananna want this threein-a-row more than anything. Donard-The Glen want to stop them.
Nothing else will matter come 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon. Panels from the league final: Knockananna: Macayla Murphy; Niamh Byrne, Aine O’Keeffe, Sarah Tallon; Emily Hadden, Claire Byrne, Orla Kealy; Shannagh Goetelen, Ciara Byrne; Dervla Byrne, Sinead Byrne, Emily O’Reilly; Niamh Mutton, Sarah Byrne, Eireann Moules. Subs: Heather Tallon, Loretta Mutton.
Donard-The Glen: Lindsey Walsh; Carmel Whelan, Katie Daynes, Lizzie Brophy; Casey Kelly, Mollie McCormack, Sive Byrne; Sophie Mills, Amy Switzer, Kelly O’Neill; Clair Whelan, Hannah O’Neill, Lillie May Cullen Dunne. Katie Ann O’Neill, Emer Kelly, Izzy Keenaghan.