O’Driscoll’s absence a heavy blow for Kerry
Kerry, who dominated the competition in the 80s, are desperate to return to the limelight but the All-Ireland champions stand in their way.
The form-guide and bookmakers point towards a Galway win and few in Kerry will argue against that assessment.
The loss of Kacey O’Driscoll to international soccer duty is a massive blow to a Kingdom, who were unimpressive in their Munster final defeat to Cork.
Galway, backboned by Aoibheann Daly, Lorna Joyce, Niamh Duggan and scoring ace Niamh Fahey, easily accounted for Roscommon and Mayo in Connacht.
Kerry, despite the talents of Geraldine O’Shea and Patrice Dennehy, are likely to become the latest scalp for the outstanding champions.
: Kerry v Galway, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm.
: U Carroll; M Glynn, R Stephens, C Molloy; M O’Connell, A Daly, E Flaherty; P Gleeson, E Concannon; G Conneely, R McPhilbin, P Ní Fhlatharta; N Fahey, N Duggan, L Joyce
: M O’Connor; G O’Malley, G Ní Fhlatharta, K Gleeson; E O’Connell, D O’Sullivan, N O’Connor; C Kelly, M Kelly; S O’Connor, D Corridon, J Murnane; N Fealey, G O’Shea, P Dennehy.
CAN Cork deliver an All-Ireland crown? That’s the big question down south as they bid to build on their second successive Munster title, NFL honours, along with club and underage success.
Cork’s Regina Curtin admitted: “Last year Mayo proved too tough. But losing last year was a big lesson to us and it might have helped in winning the league.
“We would be confident, especially with all the underage success in recent years. But now it is time for these young players to step up to the plate and deliver at senior level.”
Defeat at this stage last season still haunts them and with a seasoned squad including Juliet Murphy, Breige Corkery, Rena Buckley, Angela Walsh and Valerie Mulcahy, the Rebels are expected to advance all the way to Croke Park.
Meath had to beat Laois twice to make it out of Leinster. Their luck may run out today.
: E Harte; N Keohane, A Walsh, R Buckley; B Corkery, C Walsh, S O’Reilly; J Murphy, N Kelly; A Murphy, R Curtin, G O’Flynn; V Mulcahy, C Creedon, A O’Connor.
: I Munnelly; L McKeever, E Lynch, S McCormack; S Dooley, E McGrane, C Dempsey; J Burke, G Nulty; G Doherty, G Bennett, J Shiels; C O’Shaughnessy, J Rispin, K O’Brien.
OWEN Mulligan won’t be the only Tyrone goal-getter in Croke Park today as Lynette Hughes will be hoping to fire her side to an All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
The 24-year-old O’Neill County ace, who has recently established her own charity to construct schools in India after witnessing scenes of deprivation on a trip to Calcutta, is the main attacking threat alongside captain Eilish Gormley.
Maura Kelly and Maeve McGurk form a dominant midfield, yet the Dubs are favourites after claiming their fourth Leinster title in succession this year.
Louise Kidd, Avril Cluxton, Niamh Masterson and Joanne O’Sullivan have been introduced by manager John O’Leary.
: C O’Connor; L Kidd, A Cluxton, L Keegan; J O’Sullivan, M Farrell, G Fay; N McEvoy, D Masterson; N Hurley, B Finlay, L Davey; M Nevin, S Aherne, L Kelly.
: E Mallaghan; S McLaughlin, E Teague, S Keenan; C Fox, A McCloskey, C Donnelly; M McGurk, M Kelly; O O’Neill, L Hughes, A Dooher; G Begley, E Gormely, C Kelly.
: Monaghan v Mayo, St Loman’s Mullingar, 2.30pm
THIS could represent the final fling for many tomorrow afternoon as both sides bid to recapture past glories.
Jenny Greenan, Brenda McAnespie and Niamh Kindlon provide experience, while Aisling Tierney and Therese McNally give much needed youth to the Monaghan side.
But if Mayo and Cora Staunton can play to potential, then expect the Connacht girls to make the last four.
: M Gray; S Courtney, C McGuinness, C Reilly; J Courtney, J Greenan, M Lavelle; C Mulligan, C Brady; B McAnespie, N Lynch, N Kindlon; A Tierney, D Dempsey, T McNally.
: L Connelly; N O’Shea, H Lohan, S McGing; H Jordan, C O’Hara, N Tierney; C Egan, J Moran; M Heffernan, C Staunton, M Carter; K Colleran, C Heffernan, M Kelly.
