Shane Ronayne: Mourneabbey ready for semi-final shootout

Tomorrow afternoon in north Galway football country, the Mourneabbey ladies chase a fourth All-Ireland club final appearance in five years. Should they perform, they’ll win, believes manager Shane Ronayne — a prediction tied to the soul-searching he and his squad embarked on during what was another particularly long winter.

Once the dust had settled on last December’s All-Ireland final defeat to Carnacon, their third in four years, the Mourneabbey ladies began to dissect, painful and all as it was, why they were continually falling short at the final hurdle. It was neither an easy nor enjoyable process, but was imperative if they are to eventually join the five Cork clubs who have successfully annexed the Dolores Tyrrell Cup.