Rebels hunt for glory against tribal elders

IT’S going to take a lot to divert attention from Croke Park this weekend but flares will probably do it.

They certainly worked yesterday in Merrion Square, as people stopped and wondered whether they were in Milan. No. This was just the launch of the Suzuki Ladies National League football final, the curtain-raiser to Armagh and Mayo’s league semi-final in Roscommon on Sunday.

Cork are appearing in their second successive league final, while Galway captured their first All-Ireland title a few months ago in a game that went a long way to showing why Ladies Football is the fastest-growing sport in the country.

“Last year, we were a little overawed when we made it to the final against Mayo,” said Cork captain Juliette Murphy.

“We weren’t used to playing at such a high level. This year, we have matured, we have that little bit more experience and even though we are still a young team, we are going in with a much better attitude.”

Of course, it isn’t going to be easy.

Galway captured their first All-Ireland championship last autumn and have been rolling on that momentum throughout the league stages, losing just once to Mayo.

“Galway are looking very good,” Murphy agreed.

“And they already beat us once this year, by four points, and they kicked 15 wides the same day. Our form has been a bit inconsistent this year, but we really want to win this one.”

Cork are still looking for their first national title, but Juliette has taken a lot of encouragement that they have managed to get to their second league final, especially as it is a competition taken more seriously by top teams.

“The fact that you don’t get that much quality opposition throughout the year, it means that the league is taken very seriously by all the top teams. It gives every county a chance to test out their full squad, and give all the players a chance.”

In last year’s league semi-final, Cork beat Sunday’s opponents. It was a defeat that spurred Galway onto their All-Ireland win, according to Tribeswomen captain Annette Clarke.

“From that moment, we started looking to the championship and making sure we didn’t lose another game.”