Ladies football championships promise to be hugely competitive

The Ladies Gaelic Football County Championships get underway next week, here the County Board PRO tells us what to expect

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

THE Randles Brothers County Senior Championship will run on a league basis.

One group of four teams where each team will play on a home and away basis. With the reduced LGFA calendar this year it will allow for more competitive games. Southern Gaels will be aiming for back to back championships but face serious competition from the remaining sides.

All sides have at their disposal former and current inter-county players adding to what is already shaping up to be a championship to remember one in which all four sides have the potential to win

Beaufort make the jump from intermediate to senior having won last seasons intermediate crown with a comfortable win over Corca

Dhuibhne. An away trip in the first round to Southern Gaels in the is a tough ask for any side especially in the first round but a result against the defending champions would give them a great confidence heading into the rest of the group games.

Last year’s beaten finalists Rathmore will be looking to go one step further having narrowly missed out to Southern Gaels in a game they feel they didn’t do themselves justice. This will no doubt make the side hungrier for success and along with the enforced postponement of football during the year they will have plenty of reasons in wanting to do well this season.

The Tralee side Na Gaeil lost a titanic battle away to Southern Gaels in Round 1 of the competition thus ending their participation in the competition. With a guaranteed six games for each side it will no doubt allow Eddie Sheehy’s charges the opportunity to mount a serious challenge over the course of the group games.

Southern Gaels will be the team everyone will be looking to beat and with a strong panel at their disposal including the likes of Megan O’Connell, Siofra O’Shea & Kerry Captain Anna Galvin to name just a few the other sides will have to be at the peak of their powers to dethrone the current champions.

INTERMEDIATE

IN the intermediate championship Corca Dhuibhne will be looking to put last season’s final disappointment behind them and go one further this season. The loss of Louise Ní Mhuireachtaigh through injury for last years final did not help their cause but with the Kerry Forward back leading the attack it will be a major boost to the side.

Castleisland Desmonds will be looking to the likes of Lorraine Scanlon, Eilish Lynch, Cait Lynch, Paris McCarthy and Gemma Kearney to help recapture the crown they last won in 2014. Finuge St Senans will be boosted by the services of the Kerry Camogie players and along with County stars Niamh Carmody and Miriam O’Keeffe will further boost their chances of success.

Kilcummin make the step up from Junior A and enjoyed further success last year capturing the Division 3 county league title and Mary Jo B titles giving them plenty of confidence heading into the campaign.

Inbhear Sceine Gaels and Scartaglin are also in the group. ISG can call on the services of Julie Sullivan, Katie Palmer and Ellen O’Sullivan. Scartaglin have a strong bond in the team something which they can rely on to help them in their campaign.

Austin Stacks are in intermediate this year following relegation from the senior championship. Austin Stacks are a young side, they can call on the services Mollie

O’Carroll, Emma McCarthy, Norma O’Connor and Aoife Dillane to help kick-start their campaign.

JUNIOR A

SEVEN teams will make up the junior A grade.

MKL will be looking to go one step further this year following defeat in last years final against Kilcummin. A game despite all their endeavours ended in defeat. They are joined in the group by Dr Crokes who they lost to in the county league Division 2 final last year and no doubt will be looking to avoid defeat against the Killarney side.

Crokes are boosted with the return from injury of Kayleigh Cronin in a group that contains

Junior B Champions from 2019 Clounmaccon / Moyvane. Killarney Legion will look to build on their junior b success of 2018 and go one further this year. Laune Rangers and Listowel Emmets will look to cause a few surprises along the way come the business end of the competition

JUNIOR B

COMPRISES of five teams. Last year’s beaten finalist Fossa will face stiff competition from Junior C Champions from 2019 Cromane. The group also comprises of Currow & 2019 County League division 4 Champions Dingle with Abbeydourney making up the group

JUNIOR C

LAST season’s beaten finalists Ballymac will be hoping to go one better this year after last year’s defeat to Cromane.

It was there first year in the championship an experience that will no doubt stand to them come the commence of the campaign. Rathmore B and Beale / Ballyduff will renew old acquaintances again with nothing to separate the sides with Rathmore B coming out on top in the preliminary round last year.

Annascaul / Castlegregory will be disappointed at losing to last years finalists and would home to get off to be better start this time around.