Buttercrane Armagh Ladies’ SFC final
Clann Eireann v Carrickcruppen (Sunday, Silverbridge, 4pm)
CLANN Eireann put their county and provincial titles on the line against old adversaries Carrickcruppen.
If the Lurgan side win, and they are huge favourites to do so, it will be county title number 13 and three in a row for Gregory McGonigle’s charges.
This is Carrickcruppen’s 15th final in 17 years, remarkable consistency, but the last time they won the coveted Marie Hoye Cup was back in 2018 and last year’s 1-15 to 0-4 defeat to Clann Eireann was their fifth consecutive final defeat.
This is the 12th time the sides will have met in the county final. Clann Eireann have won eight finals and Carrickcruppen three.
The 2022 final needed a replay, but last year’s was more one-sided and this one may prove to be something similar as Clann Eireann’s dominance in Armagh seems to be growing.
They have a side littered with county stars past and present, notably captain Clodagh McCambridge, Roisin Mulligan, Cait Towe, Dearbhla and Niamh Coleman, Niamh Henderson and Meabh McCambrige and Tiarna Grimes.
Any team who has Caroline O’Hanlon in their ranks is well worth a shot at success and she is still very much at the heart of a lot of what Carrickcruppen do. They defeated Crossmaglen in the semi-final 3-13 to 2-4 after seeing off Dromintee in the quarter-finals. Clann Eireann beat Armagh Harps and then Shane O’Neill’s in the semis, 4-17 to 0-6.
Clodagh McCambridge is all too aware of the threat Carrickcruppen possess and how being not only defending county champions but also the reigning Ulster champions can bring some added pressure.
“I suppose it can [bring extra pressure], but it’s not something we’ve not focused too much on. We’ve just been preparing the same way as we have last year. Getting out of Armagh is always a real challenge and both teams will believe that they can, which is pressure enough in itself,” she said.
“We are fully aware of the challenge Carrickcruppen will bring. They have some brilliant players who can cause a big threat and were able to put us under serious pressure last year for long periods of the game and the year before, we went to a really edgy replay - so we know nothing is guaranteed going into this final.
“We have had a positive season so far, but league form doesn’t mean much coming into championship and especially a final. We can’t take anything for granted - we’ll have to work as hard as we’ve ever worked.”
Silverbridge will host a triple-header of finals tomorrow and it is a big day for Clann Eireann, whose seconds team are in the junior final against Pearse Og (12noon). The intermediate final will follow at 2pm, with Clan na Gael facing Derrynoose.
CombiLift Monaghan Ladies’ SFC final
Emyvale v Magheracloone (Sunday, St Tiernach’s Park, Clones, 4.15pm)
ALWAYS the bridesmaid, never the bride has been Emyvale’s story. The north Monaghan side have suffered 10 county final defeats to Donaghmoyne over the last 13 years since 2011, while the three years they did not reach the decider, their championship exits were also at the hands of Donaghmoyne.
Such has been Donaghmoyne’s dominance in Monaghan over the last two decades, a first senior county title proved elusive for Emyvale, who were an exceptionally good side, but just could not break Donaghmoyne’s stronghold. In any other era they could well have won multiple championships.
However, they now have their best chance yet of landing that coveted crown when they face Magheracloone in the final.
The last time Magheracloone were in the senior final was in 2002, when they defeated Donaghmoyne in the semi-final but went on to lose the decider to Monaghan Harps, who clinched three in-a-row and were the last team to get their hands on the senior title as Donaghmoyne went on to win the next 21.
Playing for Magheracloone that day were managers and sisters, Niamh and Fiona Kindlon, the former scoring 1-7 of her side’s 1-19. Also playing that day was Christina Reilly, who is still kicking football, as is Lorraine Freeman. Leanne Maguire is a current county player for the Mitchells.
For Emyvale, the McAnespie sisters – Ciara, Aoife and Eimear (captain) – will hope to land that special first county medal, as will the McNally sisters – Therese and Grainne – and Nicola Fahy.
Emyvale defeated Emmet Og in the semi-finals by 6-11 to 0-5, four of their goals coming from Holly McQuaid, with Ciara and Eimear McAnespie also grabbing a goal each. Magheracloone led Donaghmoyne from start to finish in the other semi-final, causing a huge upset with a 0-9 to 0-4 victory.
The curtain-raiser to the senior final is the intermediate decider between Brigid/O’Neills and Carrickmacross (2pm).
This afternoon at 4.45pm the junior final featuring Aughnamullen and Killevan takes place in Ballybay.
Keogan’s Imperial Cavan Ladies’ SFC final
Crosserlough v Lurgan (Saturday, Kingspan Breffni, 4.45pm)
THE 2021 winners face the 2022 winners as familiar foes Crosserlough and Lurgan battle it out for 2024 championship honours.
Neither side featured in last year’s decider, which would have been a disappointment for both, and with defending champions Drumlane failing to reach the knock-out stages, the door opened just a little wider for these two finalists.
They have already met in the championship, having been pitted in the same group, but the result of their meeting in the third and final round mattered little with their semi-final spots already secured. Crosserlough did come out on top by 1-16 to 1-8.
Both registered victories over Lacken and Gowna, while Crosserlough defeated Castlerahan / Denn 2-12 to 0-7 in the semi-finals and Lurgan saw off Killygarry in a repeat of the 2022 final, 3-13 to 2-11.
Lurgan might be the more recent champions but when the sides met in the 2021 final it was Crosserlough who came out 2-16 to 1-13 winners.
Lurgan have a number of Cavan senior players. They include experienced goalkeeper Evelyn Baugh, as well as Aoife Brady – who scored the decisive goal in their 2022 final win – Ciara Brady, Caoimhe Halpin and Roisin Dolan, who was the Breffni vice-captain. Catherine Dolan is a former Cavan player.
Crosserlough have former county stars Muireann Cusack, Shauna Lynch, Ella Boylan, Lauren McVeey, Shanice Fitzsimmons and Neasa Byrd in their ranks, while Christina Charters is a current Cavan player.
The clubs’ minor teams recently contested the Cavan minor final, with Lurgan making it three in-a-row after a 5-17 to 1-6 win over their opponents. Eight of those minors are on the Lurgan B team, who are in the Junior B final after defeating Crosserlough’s second team in the semi-final.
The Cavan intermediate final will be between Knockbride and Mullahoran (today, 2.30pm) while Cavan Gaels and Butlersbridge will contest the junior final (7pm).
O’Reilly’s Sports Donegal Ladies’ SFC final
Termon v Moville (Sunday, O’Donnell Park, 3.45pm)
TERMON are out to make it three titles in a row with victory over Moville, who are appearing in their first county final since 2018.
This is the first decider in 11 years that does not feature Glenfin, who failed to reach the knock-out stages. That has opened the door for the Inishowen side to cause an upset against the favourites who are chasing a seventh title overall.
Moville’s last county title was back in 2016 and they are the only other team outside of Termon and Glenfin in the last couple of decades to be crowned champions.
They defeated St Eunan’s, Letterkenny 1-9 to 0-7 in the semi-final just last weekend, former county star Niamh Hegarty with the second-half goal.
Termon proved too strong for Naomh Conaill, who had denied Glenfin a place in the last four in the final group game, winning 6-10 to 2-6. Ciara McGarvey scored four of her side’s goals, Geraldine McLaughlin and Jodie McFadden the others.
The junior final between Na Dunaibh and Naomh Padraig is at 1.45pm, while the intermediate decider between Ardara and An Clochan Liath, who reached last year’s Ulster junior final, throws in at 11.45am.
