New Ireland Assurance Club Championships - Previews
- May 16,2018
New Ireland Assurance Club Championships - Previews
The 2018 Dublin LGFA club championship gets underway this evening with 11 games down for decision across our top three competitions. All games get underway at 7.30pm.
New Ireland Assurance Senior Championship: Group A
Clanna Gael Fontenoy v St Maurs
Venue: Sean Moore Park, Ringsend
The Intermediate champions of the past two seasons meet in this first round clash. Home advantage may provide Clanna Gael Fontenoy with a slight edge in this contest. Both teams have a combination of experienced and youth within their squads with a tight contest expected.
Player watch:
Clanna Gael Fontenoy: Kate McKenna, Maria O’Dea and Ella Thiourrez
St Maurs: Eadaoin McGuinness, Laura Carthy and Olivia Leonard
New Ireland Assurance Senior Championship: Group A
Kilmacud Crokes v St Sylvesters
Venue: Pairc De Burca
This has all the makings of a classic encounter with a number of senior Inter County personal on club duty for both teams. Both clubs have been working hard at underage level with a number of those young players making the move up into senior ranks. An interesting contest is on the cards with Sinead Aherne most likely the key difference between the two sides.
Player watch:
Kilmacud Crokes: Lauren Magee, Molly Lamb and Eabha Rutledge
St Sylvesters: Sinead Aherne, Nicole Owens and Niamh McEvoy
New Ireland Assurance Senior Championship: Group B
St Brigids v Parnells
Venue: Tom Russell Park
St Brigids have been knocking on the door of the senior championship for a number of years only to be denied by Foxrock Cabinteely. Parnells won the Intermediate title back in 2015 and have struggled to compete in top flight football however to their credit they have been rebuilding steadily over the last few seasons with a number of their minor players now playing a key role on their senior squad. St Brigids experience combined with home advantage should prove to be a step too far for this young Parnells side.
Player watch:
St Brigids: Noelle Healy, Ciara Trant and Deirdre Murphy
Parnells: Siabh Hannigan, Chloe Lawless and Alanah Coughlan
New Ireland Assurance Senior Championship: Group B
Thomas Davis v Foxrock Cabinteely
Venue: Kiltipper Road
Foxrock Cabinteely are one of the top club sides in Ladies football and will be firm favourites to leave Tallaght this evening with three championship points in the bag. Thomas Davis enjoyed a big win in the league last week over St Sylvesters and will be bolstered by that result heading into tonight’s clash.
Player watch:
Foxrock Cabinteely: Niamh Collins, Sinead Goldrick and Amy Ring
Thomas Davis: Olwen Carey, Siobhan McGrath and Ciara McGuigan
New Ireland Assurance Senior Championship: Group C
Fingallians v Ballyboden St Endas
Venue: Lawless Memorial Park
Ballyboden St Endas last season’s runner up will find the going tough this evening out in Swords. Missing from their 2018 panel are Ruddy sisters Rachel and Ciara both of whom played a key role in the Firhouse championship run to the final in 2017. Fingallians have been dogged by injuries to key players this season at full strength they are a formidable outfit but tonight’s game could come down to player fitness and availability.
Player watch:
Fingallians: Sinead Finnegan, Emer Ni Eafa and Amy McGuinness
Ballyboden St Endas: Sinead Burke, Emily Flanagan and Maria McGrath
New Ireland Assurance Intermediate Championship:
Cuala v Clann Mhuire
Venue: Hyde Road (Dalkey)
2017 was a dream season for Cuala winning both the Dublin and Leinster junior championship titles. Cuala are a young side with a number of current and former minor County players amongst their ranks who will be a formidable outfit for all sides in the 2018 championship. Clann Mhuire are a team who constantly punch above their weight in terms of their club size and will provide Cuala with a tough championship encounter away from home this evening.
Player watch:
Cuala: Martha Byrne, Jennifer Dunne and Grainne O’Driscoll
Clann Mhuire: Carla Rowe, Oonagh Whyte and Aisling Barrett
New Ireland Assurance Intermediate Championship:
Skerries Harps v Clontarf
Venue: Skerries
Clontarf are many people’s favourites to lift the Intermediate title this season. The Clontarf crew have been bridesmaid now on three occasions having lost out in County finals to Parnells, Clanna Gael Fontenoy and St Maurs respectively. Their youth policy is now making dividends with a number of their minor players making the transition into their senior squad. Skerries Harps consistently perform well in championship and can look to Lyndsey Davey for leadership and inspiration.
Player watch:
Skerries Harps: Lyndsey Davey, Eve Keogh and Alex Buckley
Clontarf: Sarah McCaffrey, Siobhan Killeen and Sarah Fagan
New Ireland Assurance Junior Championship: Group A
Castleknock v Croi Ro Naofa
Venue: Somerton
St Jude’s v Raheny
Venue: Tymon North
New Ireland Assurance Junior Championship: Group B
Naomh Barrog v Man O War
Venue: Pairc Barrog
Garda / Westmanstown Gaels v Ballinteer St Johns
Venue: Westmanstown