Sceilge going all out to dethrone holders Leo’s

COLÁISTE na Sceilge face a tough task to be crowned All-Ireland Ladies SAF champions as they face holders St Leo’s College Carlow at Croagh, Limerick, today (2pm).

St Leo’s have 13 of last year’s starting team on duty but manager Gráinne Fitzgerald isn’t daunted.

“It’ll be a big challenge but we went into the Munster final as favourites and nearly lost. It’s easier, as a coach, taking them in as underdog,” she said.

It’ll be Sceilge’s first final since 2003, having lost last year’s All-Ireland semi-finals both junior and senior, the 2009 Munster final and 2008 All-Ireland semi-final. They’ll be without Australia-bound corner-forward Denise Curran but with eight Leaving Certs on the team, they have experience. Erin O’Driscoll, Orla O’Donovan and Lisa O’Sullivan have impressed and can improve.

“Although we won well (in the semi-final against St Attracta’s from Sligo), we saw there was plenty of work to be done. We gave away a lot of frees,” said Fitzgerald.

Leo’s, who draw most of their players from Laois, are comfortable with the favourites tag. “For the last five years in Leinster we’ve been favourites so that won’t bother the girls, they just want to play,” said teacher Angela Kirwan.

Meanwhile, Holy Rosary Galway, who beat Limerick’s Abbeyfeale in the semi-final 6-7 to 2-14, meet Coláiste Íosagáin in the B final at Clan Na nGael in Athlone at 1pm. In the C final St Louis, who dominated senior A level in the mid-’00s meet Loreto from Clonmel at Clan Na nGael at 3pm.