Galway ladies footballers aiming to make history this weekend
THE Galway senior ladies footballers will attempt to break new ground in the Division One League final on Saturday evening in the Gaelic Grounds (5pm).
Remarkably, both sides met last year in the Division two league final where Galway edged past Cork 2-8 to 1-5. The teams also clashed in round two of the League where Cork just did enough to win on a 1-10 to 2-5 scoreline.
Joe Carroll is into his second year in charge of the Cork ladies football team. Former All-Ireland winner with the Rebels, Valerie Mulcahy is part of Carroll’s backroom team.
Cork only suffered one defeat throughout the National Football League, recorded five victories and played out a draw with Kildare in their seven games in Division One.
Galway are aiming to win their first ever Division One league title, while Cork last lifted this title in 2019. “We’ve had lots of battles with this Cork group and this Cork management. They very much celebrated that win against us down in Pairc Ui Rinn and rightly so, maybe a monkey off their back,” said Galway boss Daniel Moynihan.
“I was a frustrated figure after that game, I don’t think we hit our performance levels that we needed too. If we don’t do that again on Saturday, we are going to be in trouble and we know that Cork are going to be a serious challenge for us.”
Moynihan feels a National title at the weekend would show the progress that his team has made under his management.
“In my tenure, I suppose we have brought a lot of players through. We’ve blooded a lot of people whether it’s starts or substitute appearances and there has been a little change over of the panel with us still keeping a lot of the core players there.
"It would be a nice little tick for us to say we’ve won Division two and now we are going to go on to win Division One. That can only be a positive for what we are doing as a group.”
Moynihan is hoping to have a fully fit squad this Saturday when they face Cork. “We have obviously picked up a few niggles along the way, Sophie Healy has picked up a few injuries. She managed to play 30 minutes for us against Waterford which is a positive.
“Roisin (Leonard) has been out for a couple of weeks with a niggle, she’s on the way back. Chellene (Trill) who started really well for us in the league campaign picked up a hamstring injury, she’s working her way back as well. We are hoping we will have a clean bill of health.”
After goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower didn’t commit to the panel this year, Leah O’Halloran has made the number one jersey her own. Hannah Noone, and Bronagh Quinn have impressed in defence along with Niamh Divilly in the middle of the field, while Leanne Coen, Kate Slevin, Kate Thompson and Andrea Trill have all contributed key scores on Galway’s run to the league final.
The Tribeswomen have also been boosted by the return of Nicola Ward, Louise Ward, Olivia Divilly and Siobhan Divilly towards the latter stages of the league.
Louise Ward and Olivia Divilly have been part of the Galway ladies football panel for the last 11 years.
“It's a long year but we love it and obviously the want for National silverware is what keeps you motivated and what keeps driving you on. We are lucky to have an opportunity on Saturday, it’s the first of three trophies that is up for grabs this year, you would certainly be hoping we would get our hands on that one,” said Divilly.
Moynihan’ side will need to be disciplined in defence and will need to watch a potent Cork attack which include players like Emma Cleary, Katie Quirke and Grace Ní Mhurchú.