The Galway senior camogie team will face Kilkenny this Sunday in the All-Ireland semi-final at Arus Na Gael in Limerick (4pm ).
The team qualified for the semi-final stage by virtue of a hard-fought 2-10 to 0-14 extra-time victory over Clare two weeks ago.
Galway team captain Lorraine Ryan, who teaches English and geography at Colásite Baile Chláir, is hopeful the team can get back into another All-Ireland final after last year's All-Ireland success over the same opposition.
"As a squad we would love to get back to another All-Ireland final at Croke Park. However, we know Kilkenny will be very difficult to beat this weekend. They are a very good team and they will be really keen to get some revenge for last year's final defeat.
"Thankfully we have a full squad to pick from and the 15 girls picked tonight [Thursday] to start will have to really get into the game from the throw-in. We have a terrific squad of players and it will take a huge effort from all the panel to get over Kilkenny on Sunday."
Kilkenny are hot favourites in many people's eyes to win this weekend due to their impressive form in the league and championship this year. The bookies have Kilkenny at 4/9 to advance, with Galway big outsiders at 9/4.
However, regardless of Kilkenny's favourites’ tag, Ryan believes it is a game that could go down to the wire.
"It is a very hard game to call. We believe that if we perform to our best, we can win it. However, we know that we will have to lift our display from the Clare game.
"It would be fantastic to get back to another final in the middle of September, but no doubt the Kilkenny players feel the same way, and it will be whichever team produces a top-class championship performance."
Galway will need big displays all over the field and especially from Niamh McGrath, Heather Cooney, Shauna Healy, Niamh Kilkenny, and the inspirational Ann Marie Hayes.
