Captains Day ahead of Club Finals

  • Nov 16,2011

Captain’s eye up silverware ahead of
Tesco All Ireland Club Championship Finals

The Tesco Ladies Football All Ireland Club Championships finals will take place over the course of the next two weekends as the top two club teams in the country at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level clash for the right to be crowned All Ireland champions.

In the Senior decider, which will be broadcast on TG4, Mayo’s Carnacon take on Dublin champions Na Fianna.  Carnacon, who have a host of inter county stars in their ranks has won the Senior All Ireland title three times and lost narrowly to Inch Rovers in last year’s final.   Na Fianna impressed all year in the Tesco Dublin Championship and has brought their county form into the All Ireland series.  Na Fianna can call on Dublin sharpshooter Mary Nevin, former Armagh stars Alma and Bronagh O’Donnell and Westmeath Intermediate All Ireland winner Laura Walsh.

In the Intermediate final Lisnaskea Emmets (Fermanagh) take on Stabannon Parnells (Louth).  Neither side has featured in an All Ireland Club final before but Lisknakea has County captain Tara Little as well as Sharon and Caroline Little lining out for the Ernesiders.  Stabannon’s side includes a number of players who took to the field for the Wee County in Croke Park in the 2010 Junior All Ireland final.

The Junior final sees Aherlow (Tipperary) pitted against Sperrin Óg (Tyrone).  Aherlow will be looking to replicate the success of county rivals Brian Boru’s who won the Intermediate All Ireland Club title in 2009 while Sperrin Óg are vying to become the first club from the O’Neill county to win a Tesco All Ireland Club Championship title.

Pat Quill, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, said, ““The Tesco Club Championships provide a high level of football and for six clubs and their supporters; the next two weekends are what club football is all about.

“To reach an All-Ireland at any level is a huge achievement but to do so with your club, with family and friends is extra special. The very best of luck to all six teams involved. A big thanks to Tesco; the support of Tesco for our All Ireland club championship series is invaluable as it enables us to promote our club game across the length and breadth of the country.”

John Prendergast, Head of Trade Planning and Local Marketing, Tesco Ireland, said, “This is our third year involved as sponsors of the All Ireland Club Championships and to date we have witnessed some fantastic matches and outstanding displays of free flowing football.  The dedication of these players to the local clubs and the way in which they represent their communities with such passion and skill is a testament to the role ladies football is playing in promoting female sport in Ireland.”

“We know the sacrifices that these players make and the support their clubs need to provide to enable them to compete at this level.  As such we would like to make a small gesture to all of our finalists to help ease the cost of competing in an All Ireland Club final.  Each club will receive a cheque for €500 towards their transport costs for the final and a €250 voucher for the team’s refreshments.  We hope that this will go some way in aiding our finalists in their bid to become All Ireland champions.”

TG4 will broadcast deferred coverage of the Tesco Senior Club Final between Cornacon and Na Fianna on Sunday, 27th November.