Galway captain: We're confident 'but Westmeath are gunning for us'

By Jackie Cahill

Galway captain Sinead Burke believes that promotion from Division 2 of the Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League is “vital” if the Tribeswomen want to emerge as a major national force again.

Galway have won the last two Connacht titles but lost successive TG4 All-Ireland semi-finals in 2012 and 2013.

In that time, the Westerners have also failed to gain promotion to the top tier, losing Division 2 deciders against Connacht rivals Mayo in 2012 and Kerry last year.

Galway have the chance to make it third time lucky when they tackle Westmeath on Saturday in the Division 2 showpiece at Parnell Park.

Galway cruised through the group stages of the competition, winning all eight of their games while also defeating Westmeath by 3-13 to 2-6 in March, and Killanin star Burke, 24, is anxious to finish the job.

She said: “We want to be playing every weekend against the top teams, to judge where we are, even to contend in the All-Ireland series.

“It’s nice to be playing the likes of Kerry, Cork, Mayo and Dublin on a weekly basis.

“It’s very vital next year that that’s where we aim to be.”

Dynamic half-back Burke, a Lynch cup winner with St Pat’s Drumcondra this year, added: “The only way that we can come on is if we are playing the likes of those teams on a weekly basis. We’ve been in All-Ireland semi-finals and quarter-finals but we’re hoping to push on further and if we did get that Division 1 spot, it might bring us on that extra bit, to prepare us for the championship.”

Galway contested the Division 1 final against Cork in 2010 but were relegated the following season.

However, Barry Downey’s charges will start as hot favourites to regain top flight status and they have been bolstered by the addition of last year’s minor All-Ireland winners Olivia Divilly and the Ward sisters, Louise and Nicola, to the senior ranks.

Burke said: “They’re huge additions, to spice things up with freshness and new faces. It’s great to have them on board.

“When you see a fitter, younger version you’re saying, God, I’d better step up my act a bit. To see the likes of the girls coming in does add that extra bit. You do want to do that bit better in training or in a match.”

Burke, however, is not underestimating the Westmeath challenge as the midlanders are hoping to secure a third promotion in just four seasons.

Now managed by former county star Martin Flanagan, Westmeath won the Division 4 title in 2011 and the Division 3 crown two years ago.

Beaten Division 2 semi-finalists year, Westmeath have gone one step further again and promotion to Division 1 would represent an incredible feat.

Burke reflected: “If you look back through all our games during the League, Westmeath was one of the most difficult ones.

“I don’t think the scoreline reflects how the game went. We got a few nice scores at the end of the second half but Westmeath are gunning for us and will feel that they can beat us.

“We wouldn’t underestimate them at all. We know how physical and tough they are and they’re going to leave everything on that Parnell Park pitch.

“We’re going into the game confident but not over-confident.”