TESCO Championship SF - Previews

  • Jul 06,2011

What a big night for club football in Dublin!

Tonight is the penultimate stage of the TESCO club championships with six semi-finals down for decision.  For clubs and players this is it they are sixty minutes away from a county final which surely is the ultimate goal for all club players.

TESCO JUNIOR SEMI FINALS:
Thomas Davis v St Sylvester’s:
These two clubs have reached the last two County finals and ironically both have sampled defeat. In 2009 Thomas Davis watched a young St Margaret’s team raise the cup following a thriller of a match while last year a much fancied St Sylvester’s side lost out to a dogged and inspired Raheny team.
So who will make it to this year’s decider?
Two players are crucial to outcome of this encounter, the unofficial 2010 Ladies footballer of the year St Sylvester’s Sinead Aherne and probably one of the best defenders in the Country, Siobhan “hopper” McGrath. McGrath has been trying to overcome a foot injury and did not feature in the club championship play- off versus Tallaght rivals Croi Ro Naofa she also did not tog out in the Leinster semi –final against Meath. However Thomas Davis are not one trick ponies and have amongst their ranks the impressive trio of Sinead Deegan, Ciara McGuigan and Kate Fitzsimons while the girls from Malahide can call upon the likes of Nicole Owens, Aimee Hazley and Lisa McIntyre to assist the aforementioned Aherne in attempting to reach their second successive final. If McGrath lines out for Thomas Davis plus having the advantage of being at home could give the Tallaght club a slight edge over Aherne and Co.
Verdict: Thomas Davis

St Maur’s v St Mark’s:
St Maur’s are contesting their first Junior A semi-final having won the B title back in 2009. They are a young outfit who come into this encounter unbeaten following impressive victories over Croi Ro Naofa, St Peregrines and Ballyboden St Endas. Their opponents St Mark’s would be deemed an experienced and wiry team having won the title before back in 2008 St Marks were also Intermediate champions back in 2001. The experienced Tallaght duo of Lorraine Roche and Martina Morris will combine well with the younger players in the side who also are unbeaten to date in this championship having defeated Portobello and Cuala en route to the semi. St Maur’s will be hoping that Olivia Leonard and Eadoin McGuinness continue to perform at the level they have shown all throughout this competition.  With home advantage going to St Maur’s and confidence riding high the Queens of Rush have the potential to reach the Promised Land!
Verdict: St Maur’s

TESCO INTERMEDIATE SEMI FINALS:
Kilmacud Crokes v Round Towers, Clondalkin:
Remarkably these two clubs have not featured in a County final since 1998 (Towers) and 2000 (Crokes). This tie has the potential to be a close keenly fought contest with both teams having quality players amongst their ranks. Kilmacud Crokes are unbeaten to date having defeated Parnells, Ballinteer St Johns, Garda and Raheny to book their place in the semi-final. Aisling Kelly, Anna O’Grady and Phillipa Green have been performing well for the Stillorgan club. Towers suffered one defeat en route to tonight’s semi-final at the hands of Clontarf. This one blip on their championship campaign followed comprehensive wins over St Margaret’s and Skerries Harps.  Towers will have to plan without Emma Redmond who suffered a groin injury last week and most likely will be out for the reminder of the season. Round Towers have a strong squad with Andrea Bowe, Hannah Tyrell, Natalie Behan, Suzanne Murray and the all inspiring Maria Kavanagh all playing a pivotal role for the hoops. So who will progress to the final, it what could be a tight game Crokes have the bonus of having the bigger panel plus home advantage these factors just might get the purple and gold across the finish line.
Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes (aet).

Clontarf v Parnells:
The battle of Clontarf round two! This all Northside fixture has the possibility to be a classic with two well drilled teams in action. Parnell’s are endeavouring to reach the final for the second year in a row. Parnells endured heart break at the hands of Clanna Gael Fontenoy in the 2010 final following a last gasp goal scored by Clans in injury time. They have experienced defeat in the group stages of the championship when Kilmacud Crokes outscored them by 1-05 to 0-04. The Coolock team have a wealth of talent and experience with Niamh McEvoy, Lyndsey Peate, Sinead Cumiskey and Avril Cluxton all key to their goal of reaching another final. Standing in their way is an unbeaten Clontarf crew who are well drilled, organised and itching to get back to a County final and take home their first adult championship crown having suffered defeat in the 2006 decider versus Naomh Mearnóg / St Sylvester’s. Clontarf have carried out tremendous work at juvenile level and are now reaping the rewards of their labour. The performances of Carrie O’Connor, Sarah McCaffrey and Stephanie Adams will be vital to their cause but Parnells seem to have too much fire power for Clontarf to cause an upset.
Verdict: Parnells

TESCO SENIOR SEMI FINALS:
Ballyboden St Endas v Clanna Gael Fontenoy:
The new kids on the block versus the old warrior! Clanna Gael Fontneoy has made incredible progress through the club ranks over the last few years with the ultimate highlight in their progression coming last year when they took home the Intermediate crown. However they have been finding life in the senior ranks testing and this semi-final could be a step too far for the Ringsend gang. Ballyboden St Endas will be strong favourites to reach the final they will look to Gemma Fay, Joanne O’Sullivan, Grainne O’Malley and Fiona Corcoran to inspire Ballyboden on and book their place in the 2011 decider.  On paper this could be a one sided encounter but Clanna Gael Fontenoy will hope the talented Kim Flood, Rachel Byrne and Amy Brannigan will show their form and maybe just maybe give the Firhouse crew a fright.
Verdict: Ballyboden St Endas

Foxrock Cabinteely v Na Fianna:
Foxrock Cabinteely are a young side who made quick progress through the club ranks having won the Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland junior titles in 2007 they followed this up with the Intermediate title in 2008 however since then Foxrock Cabinteely have been adjusting to life amongst the big guns and it has taken them until now to make the break through and reach a senior semi-final. There is no question they contain amongst their panel some exciting and talented players, Amy Ring, Amy Connolly, Sinead Goldrick along with Louth panellists Ann Marie Murphy and Roscommon star Marla Condon have the potential and know how to reach a County Final but standing in their way is a formidable Na Fianna panel. Na Fianna won the senior final back in 2009 breaking the Ballyboden run in the championship and denied them the unbelievable ten in a row of county titles.
Na Fianna have some big names amongst their ranks Dublin trio of Mary Nevin, Bernie Finlay, Sorcha Turnbull along with Alma and Bronagh O’Donnell (Armagh), Ciara McDermott (Mayo), Claire O’Hara (Mayo), Laura Walsh (Westmeath), Nadine Doherty (Donegal) and Nora Stapleton(Donegal).
Foxrock Cabinteely are aware of the task ahead of them but Na Fianna’s extremely strong panel of players should see the Glasnevin Queens progress to the 2011 County final and a possible rematch with Ballyboden St Endas.
Verdict: Na Fianna