Mayo and Galway will meet for their annual TG4
Connacht Ladies Senior football final on Sunday next in MacHale Park in
Castlebar.
These two great rivals have produced many memorable
encounters down throughout the years, indeed last year’s provincial decider
resulted in a Galway win by just two points.
Since that encounter Mayo have commence a rebuilding project while
Galway’s stock has risen after some impressive performances in the latter
stages of the 2018 championship and in the 2019 National Football league
campaign.
From a Galway prospective it was vital that they
maintained a degree of continuity with last year’s management team. Stephen Glennon stepped down last autumn
after spending two years in charge of the side and was replaced by Timmy Rabbitte
who was part of the management set up under Glennon.
Galway continued to build on the progress of last
year’s championship success during this year’s National League run which
resulted in them reaching the league final where they were defeated by a Cork
side that are showing signs that they have most certainly not gone away and
will be force to be reckoned with along with Dublin of course when it comes to
possible winners of the All Ireland championship in 2019.
That league final and a championship exit at the
hands of Dublin in 2018 has resulted in Galway knowing that they are in the mix
for national honours, but they will also be aware that they have work to do
to get to the next level. Ciara Moran
and Shauna Molloy in previewing the Connacht final have their attentions firmly
fixed on Sunday and a big battle with the local rivals in Molloy’s case her
Headford connections ensures that she will be eager to retain the Connacht
title and secure local bragging rights. Ciara
Moran is another happy with her side’s progress in recent times. The 2019 championship is now on the horizon
and despite recent positive results against Mayo she has urged caution when it
comes to the challenge that Peter Leahy’s side will pose in the Connacht final.
A lot has changed in Mayo ladies football over the
past decade the current management team have determination about them when it
comes to what many are calling a “rebuilding job” or even constructing a new
team that will challenge for honours again.
Peter Leahy has drafted in the services of John Stagg as a selector in 2019 and he is very much looking forward to the Connacht final. His enthusiasm for the job in many ways reflects that of his manager. During the pre-final interview, he spoke highly of the current Mayo boss who has left no stone unturned in their attempt to return to the position Mayo ladies have become accustomed to in recent years. Stagg points to the re-emergence of Cork in recent times as a real force once again in the ladies game, and also feels that Mayo given time can also be in that position sooner rather than later. For now, Stagg is happy to admit that Mayo will enter Sunday’s encounter as underdogs.
When it comes to accessing the squads ahead of the
Connacht final, Galway at present have perhaps the greater strength in depth.
Sinead Burke, Charlotte Cooney, Louise Ward and Roisin Lenoard were all
recently acknowledged for their outstanding contributions in the league by
being selected on the Division 1 team of the year. The league run for Mayo had a different
objective. It was about discovering
players and learning what talent was at the disposal of the management
team. Daniele Caldwell is one of the
players that is committed to the Mayo project, she is confident that the side
are heading in the right direction. With
so any new players coming into the mix they needed big match experience and
with that experience now secured they can now prepare in the long grass for a
shot at the defending champions on Sunday.
Most neutrals at present would be leaning towards a
Galway victory on Sunday. There are a
number of reasons for this prediction, experience, recent meetings, league
success and perhaps a stronger panel. However
Mayo will be looking at this match as a gateway to launching their championship
challenge not alone in the west but even further afield. The players know each other well, the game
should be another cracker as the big two in the west look to be crowned
provincial winners for 2019.
