CAPTAINS GATHER AT CROKE PARK
- Sep 11,2018
CAPTAINS GATHER AT CROKE PARK AHEAD OF GLAMOUR TRIPLE-HEADER
The captains from the six competing counties in the 2018 TG4 All Ireland Ladies Football Championship Finals were present at Croke Park today ahead of next Sunday’s (16th of September) eagerly-anticipated LIVE TG4 triple-header.
Louth and Limerick will battle it out for the Junior title, Meath face Tyrone for the Intermediate crown and Champions Dublin tackle Cork for the Senior silverware at GAA HQ.
Dublin are aiming to retain the Brendan Martin Cup for the very first time in the county’s history, following previous successes in 2010 and 2017.
Standing in their way are 11-time champions Cork, who are back in the Senior Final for the first time since 2016. Cork and Dublin have met four times previously in Senior deciders, with the Leesiders emerging victorious on each occasion, including three successive Finals in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Dublin captain, Sinéad Aherne, said: “We know the challenge we’re facing, there’s familiarity of course but equally every game stands on its own.
“ We know the level of performance required for us to put ourselves in the frame but we just see it as a great opportunity to deliver on all the effort the players and management have put in.”
Dublin claimed their very first Lidl National League Division 1 title in May before going on to land a seventh successive Leinster Senior title.
Mick Bohan’s team then achieved victories over Cavan, Mayo, Kerry and Galway to reach the September Final. Ephie Fitzgerald’s Cork regained the Munster Senior crown before defeating Monaghan, Armagh, Westmeath and Donegal to book a return to Croke Park.
Cork captain, Ciara O’Sullivan, said: It’s been a good year for us. We developed some of the younger players in the Lidl League and while we were disappointed to lose the semi-final, we learned a lot from it. Winning the Munster championship was massive for us as a young team, and particularly having not even made the Munster final last year.”
Tyrone return to Croke Park seeking the Intermediate title which eluded them last year. Gerry Moane’s side lost out to Tipperary but have the chance to make amends when they face Meath.
It’s an historic day for the Royal County, who are appearing in their very first Final in the adult grade since winning the Junior crown back in 1994. It’s also a very first Intermediate Final for Meath, who are managed by Eamonn Murray.
The Junior Final is a repeat of 2010, as Limerick take on Louth. Eight years ago, Limerick emerged victorious but Louth have recent experience of contesting, and winning, the Junior title from 2015.
Marie Hickey, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, was present at Croke Park to welcome the captains from the six participating counties.
She said: “The TG4 All-Ireland Finals at Croke Park are the pinnacle of our championship season – and these are three games to savour. Cork and Dublin is the renewal of an old rivalry in the Senior Final while Tyrone and Meath have provided some thrilling and entertaining football during their respective Intermediate campaigns. The Junior Final will bring back memories of 2010, when Limerick and Louth also competed for the West County Hotel Cup.
“The road to Croke Park has enthralled each and every one of us, with highs and lows along the way. We’ve had a great season of Championship action to date and the three Finals that lie in store will see our 2018 champions crowned. We are very fortunate that TG4 continue to be our championship partners and broadcast our game, not just nationally, but to a worldwide audience, free to air.”
All three games will be broadcast live on TG4 starting with the Junior Final which gets underway at 11.45am. The Intermediate Final throws in at 1.45pm while the Senior Final will have a 4.00pm start.
The All-Ireland Club Sevens, featuring 70 teams, take place in St Sylvester’s GAA Club Malahide and Naomh Mearnóg GAA Club, Portmarnock, on Saturday 15th of September. The LGFA is delighted to welcome teams from all over Ireland and Britain and, for the first time, an Asian team (Singapore Gaelic Lions) will compete.