TODAY’S LADIES FOOTBALL FINAL PREVIEWS
TG4 Leinster SFC final
Dublin v Meath
Croke Park, 11.45
The sides met in a dress rehearsal last weekend ahead of today’s final, with Dublin running out comfortable winners against a second-string Royal County outfit.
Leading scorer for Dublin last Sunday, the vastly experienced Nicole Owens, is held in reserve for the decider, an indication of the huge strength in depth in the Jackies set-up.
Mick Bohan makes seven changes in personnel as the provincial and All-Ireland champions target an 11th successive title. Coming into the starting line-up are goalkeeper Abby Shiels, Leah Caffrey, Niamh Donlon, Olwen Carey, Grace Kós, Niamh Hetherton and Kate Sullivan.
Making way are netminder Rachael Fleming, Niamh Crowley, Hannah McGinnis, Aoife Kane, Kate Murray, Annabelle Timothy and Owens — all listed on the Dublin bench with the exception of Crowley, who picked up an ankle injury last Sunday.
Meath, meanwhile, make 13 changes in personnel as their big guns return. Captain and goalkeeper Monica McGuirk returns in place of Robyn Murray, while there are also starts for Mary-Kate Lynch, Nicole Troy, Niamh Gallogly, Lisa Young, Máire O’Shaughnessy, Aoibhín Cleary, Megan Thynne, Shelly Melia, Ciara Smyth, Ella Moyles, Marion Farrelly and Emma Duggan.
Ciara Lawlor and Katie Newe, who captained the team against Dublin in Parnell Park last weekend, are the only players who retain their starting positions as, along with Murray, Olivia Gore, Karla Kealy, Tori Foster, Isabel O’Connor, Aisling McCabe, Rachel Casserly, Meadhbh Byrne, Seona Lynch, Orlaith Mallon, Megan Collins, Kerrie Cole and Ailbhe Leahy drop out.
Dublin: A Shiels; M Byrne, L Caffrey, N Donlon; S Goldrick, O Carey, L Magee; J Dunne, G Kós; C O’Connor, O Nolan, C Rowe; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, K Sullivan.
Meath: M McGuirk; C Lawlor, MK Lynch, N Troy; N Gallogly, L Young, K Newe; M O’Shaughnessy, A Cleary; M Thynne, S Melia, C Smyth; E Moyles, M Farrelly, E Duggan.
Verdict: Dublin
TG4 Connacht SFC final
Galway v Mayo
Kiltoom, 2.0
Both teams concluded their Lidl National League campaigns in contrasting styles against Waterford.
Mayo beat the Déise to conclude their league campaign on a positive note, with top-flight status retained but Galway lost to Waterford and suffered relegation to Division 2.
Galway will hope that the championship brings much better fortunes, while Mayo will be hoping to retain the provincial crown they won last year against the Tribeswomen.
The women in maroon had been aiming for five-in-a-row in the western province but Mayo came good to land the Connacht title for the first time since 2016.
Both counties have been inactive in a competitive sense since the league campaign, with Galway preparing for their first outing since April 7 while
Mayo haven’t played since March 24. It may take both sides a little time to settle into the game but a cracking encounter is anticipated and Galway have made just one change to the team that lost to Waterford, with Chellene Trill coming in for Emilie Gavin in defence.
Mayo, meanwhile, have opted for three changes in personnel, with captain Saoirse Lally, Ciara Durkan and Aoife Staunton coming in for Hannah Reape, Saoirse Delaney and Sinéad Walsh.
Galway: D Gower; M Jordan, S Lynch, C Trill; K Geraghty, N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn, A Davoren; O Divilly, S Hynes, M Walsh; E Reaney, L Coen, R Leonard.
Mayo: L Brennan; S Lally, N O’Malley, K Sullivan; E Ronayne, C Durkan, D Caldwell; A Geraghty, E Murray; F McLaughlin, C Needham, S Cafferky; A Staunton, M Cannon, L Cafferky.
Verdict: Mayo