TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship Final

Monaghan v Cork, Sunday, 4.00, Croke Park

 

Monaghan’s senior ladies footballers bid for a first All-Ireland title since 1997 when they take on Cork in Sunday’s final at Croke Park.

Wins over Donegal and Tyrone saw Monaghan win a fourth consecutive Ulster title and they have gone on to defeat Laois and Galway to reach a second All-Ireland in three years and a fourth since the county’s last victory. Cork have been the dominant force in ladies football in the last decade, winning seven of the last eight All-Irelands and beating Monaghan in two finals (2008 and 2011). The Rebelettes, who also knocked Gregory McGonigle’s side out at the semi-final stage last year, have won seven of the last eight titles.

Monaghan will be looking for big performances from the likes of Caoimhe Mohan, Cathriona McConnell, Ciara McAnespie and Cora Courtney up front, while Therese McNally plays a key role linking the defence and attack. Amanda Casey is an established player at midfield, where she should be supported by the likes of Eileen McKenna, Ellen McCarron and Yvonne Connell. Laura McEnaney and Aoife McAnespie are full of running in the wing-back positions, with Linda Martin in good form as the last line of defence, behind former All-Star full-backs Gráinne McNally, Sharon Courtney and Christina Reilly.

Cork have a vastly experienced team, with ten of their starting players having seven All-Ireland medals each. Valerie Mulcahy is the main scoring threat with support from Rhona Ní Bhuachalla, Nollaig Cleary and Ciara O’Sullivan, while Juliet Murphy is still a key player at midfield after she reversed her decision to retire earlier this year and she can also play a deeper role to cut off the space in front of the Monaghan forwards, with the help of Ann Marie Walsh, Deirdre O’Reilly, Briege Corkery and Geraldine O’Flynn.

Monaghan’s team shows one change from the semi-final, with Eileen McKenna named at full-forward in place of Niamh Kindlon. Cork’s only change sees experienced goalkeeper Elaine Harte return at the expense of Martina O’Brien.

It will take a big performance, but having beaten their vaunted opponents in the league in each of the last two years, Monaghan could be ready to take Cork’s scalp in the championship and reclaim the Brendan Martin Cup.

 

Monaghan: Linda Martin; Gráinne McNally, Sharon Courtney, Christina Reilly; Laura McEnaney, Ellen McCarron, Aoife McAnespie; Amanda Casey, Yvonne Connell; Therese McNally (Capt.), Caoimhe Mohan, Cora Courtney; Cathriona McConnell, Eileen McKenna, Ciara McAnespie.

 

Cork: Elaine Harte; Ann Marie Walsh (Capt.), Bríd Stack, Deirdre O’Reilly. Briege Corkery, Rena Buckley, Geraldine O’Flynn; Juliet Murphy, Angela Walsh; Nollaig Cleary, Doireann O’Sullivan, Annie Walsh; Valerie Mulcahy, Rhona Ní Bhuachalla, Ciara O’Sullivan.

 

Monaghan ladies SFC scorers 2013:

 

Caoimhe Mohan 4-16 (0-1f)

Cathriona McConnell 0-22 (11f)

Cora Courtney 2-11

Therese McNally 1-3

Ciara McAnespie 0-5

Ellen McCarron 0-4

Niamh Kindlon 0-3 (2f)

Linda Martin (pen), Yvonne Connell 1-0 each

Eileen McKenna 0-2

Christina Reilly 0-1