Dublin Senior Team named for Leinster Final
- Jun 29,2018
TG4 Leinster Senior Championship Final
Sunday July 1st, 4pm
Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow
Dublin v Westmeath
For the fourth year in a row Dublin will take on Westmeath in the final of the Leinster championship with the latest chapter from this keen provincial rivalry getting underway on Sunday at 4pm in Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow.
Currently only Dublin and Westmeath hold senior status in Leinster meaning that both teams come into Sunday’s contest having played no competitive games since the conclusion of the LIDL national football league. However the TG4 senior championship has a new format this season with the 12 senior Counties forming four groups of three teams with the provincial results determining Counties group placements.
The winners of Sunday's encounter will go into Group D alongside Cavan and Mayo while the Leinster runner up will be placed in Group C with Galway and Waterford. Group A contains Tipperary, Kerry and Donegal while Group B is made up of Monaghan, Armagh and Cork.
In total Dublin boss Mick Bohan, has made six changes from the side that defeated Westmeath in the 2017 provincial final. Out of that starting line- up are Sinead Finnegan, Rachel Ruddy (currently overseas), Niamh Collins, Lauren Magee, Carla Rowe and Rebecca McDonnell (injured). In come, Deirdre Murphy, Kate Fitzgibbon, Muireann Ni Scanaill, Siobhan McGrath, Hannah O’Neill and Lyndsey Davey.
Although Dublin have had the edge on their Leinster rivals in the previous three finals, Westmeath have been steadily improving under the guidance of Ballyboughal native Stephen Maxwell. Westmeath gave Dublin a major scare earlier this year in their NFL encounter in Mullingar when only 5 points separated the teams, with Westmeath having lead for the majority of the game, FT score Dublin 2-10 Westmeath 2-05.
Dublin will go into Sunday’s encounter as firm favourites to lift the Mary Ramsbottom cup for the 7th year in a row. Westmeath will travel to Carlow well prepared for the challenge having huge first- hand knowledge of their opponents. Supporters on Sunday can expect a defensive game with Westmeath expected to employ a sweeper system in an effort to try and curb the influences of Dublin’s key forwards Nicole Owens, Noelle Healy and Sinead Aherne.
Either way the 2018 TG4 Leinster Senior final, has all the makings of an enthralling encounter and come 5:30pm on Sunday we will learn if Dublin have retained their provincial crown or if Westmeath have made a historic breakthrough by claiming their first Leinster Senior title.
Dublin LGFA will have LIVE score updates available from Sunday’s provincial final available via their Twitter page @dublinladiesg. For those travelling to Carlow on Sunday to support the Dubs admission rates are Adults €15, Students / Senior Citizens €5 and all children under 16 go free!
Dublin: Ciara Trant (St Brigids), Martha Byrne (Cuala), Deirdre Murphy (St Brigids), Kate Fitzgibbon (Clontarf), Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), Muireann Ní Scanaill (Fingallians), Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), Siobhan McGrath (Thomas Davis), Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), Nicole Owens (St Sylvesters), Niamh McEvoy (St Sylvesters), Hannah O’Neill (Foxrock Cabinteely), Sinead Aherne (St Sylvesters), Noelle Healy (St Brigids), Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps)
Subs: Sinead Finnegan (Fingallians), Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire), Laura McGinley (Naomh Barrog), Amy Connolly (Foxrock Cabinteely), Siobhan Woods (Raheny), Oonagh Whyte (Clann Mhuire), Katie Murray (Clontarf), Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Tarah O’Sullivan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Niamh Collins (Foxrock Cabinteely), Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes), Siobhan Killeen (Clontarf), Aoife Kane (Kilmacud Crokes), Lucy Collins (Na Fianna), Dannielle Lawless (St Sylvesters).