Galway Senior Ladies Football open their new league campaign on Saturday when they face last season's beaten All Ireland finalists Cork in Mallow (1pm ).
New manager Timmy Rabbitte has taken over from Stephen Glennon, who, having guided the team to their sixth Connacht crown in seven years, has stepped down due to work commitments.
Rabbitte, who worked with Glennon, retains the same backroom team, which will help in preparing his squad for a tough opener as his Connacht champions meet the Munster title holders.
Rabbit has named a 34-player squad for the upcoming 2019 league season, with some 14 clubs represented. 2018 All Star nominee and Corofin native Tracey Leonard retains the captaincy, with Kilkerrin Clonberne’s Louise Ward as the vice-captain.
The new squad is notable for the return of former Ireland soccer international and Barna native Dora Gorman, who took a number of years out to pursue her medical career; Irish soccer international, Meabh de Burca; and former Ireland rugby international Mairead Coyne.
Veteran defender Emer Flaherty has retired from inter-county football, while dual star Catriona Cormican is concentrating on camogie at present, but the good news is that 2018 All Star Sinead Burke remains wit the squad. Although taking a break until March, her experience will be a huge plus for new manager Rabbitte.
The 2019 league squad is: Aine McDonagh (Moycullen ), Aoife Thompson (Mountbellew ), Amy Coen (Corofin ), Barbara Hannon (Dunmore MacHales ), Bronagh Murphy (St Mary’s ), Charlotte Cooney (Claregalway ), Ciara McCarthy (Annaghdown ), Dora Gorman, Dearbhla Gower (Corofin ), Emile Gavin (Claregalway ), Fabienne Cooney (Claregalway ), Leanne Coen (Corofin ), Lynsey Noone (Kilkerrin Clonberne ), Lucy Hannon (Dunmore MacHales ), Linda Booth (St Brendan's ), Lisa Murphy (Kilkerrin Clonberne ), Lisa Gannon (Kilkerrin Clonberne ), Louise Ward (Kilkerrin Clonberne ), Mairead Coyne (St Michael's ), Megan Glynn (Claregalway ), Mairead Seoighe (Clonbur ), Meath de Barca (St Michael's ), Niamh Daly (St Gabriel's ), Nicola Ward (Kilkerrin Clonberne ), Noelle Connolly (Glenamaddy Williamstown ), Olivia Divilly (Kilkerrin Clonberne ), Riona Ni Flatharta (Leitir Mor ), Roisin Leonard (Corofin ), Roisin Ni Chongaile (Moycullen ), Sarah Conneally (Dunmore MacHales ), Sarah Ni Lionsigh (Leitir Mor ), Shauna Molloy (St Fursey's ), Sinead Burke (Ballyboden St Enda's ), Tracey Leonard (Corofin ).
