This Sunday the Annaghdown ladies Gaelic football club will have one of the biggest outings in the club’s history when they head to Parnell Park in Dublin to take on Shane O’Neill’s (Armagh ) in the LGFA Intermediate All Ireland Club final (1pm ).
Tom Murphy’s side booked their place in the final with a well-deserved 1-8 to 0-6 victory over Abbeyside (Waterford ) two weeks ago.
The decisive goal in that game was scored by key forward Rachel King, who finished with 1-2 from play, and she will also hope to raise a few more flags in three days.
Annaghdown have other top players in former Galway star and team captain Niamh Duggan who lines out at midfield beside Erin Coyle.
Duggan is a top free-taker, and the All-Ireland medallist with Galway in 2004 is also capable of kicking scores from distance which has been critical to getting the side to this stage.
Vice-captain and goal-keeper Mary Kate Killilea is a steadying influence on the backs. In front of her full back Jemma Burke is a quality player and she is likely to be flanked by veteran Fiona Wynne and Bronagh Quinn.
Centre-half back Chloe Crowe impressed in the semi-final, and up front the team management will be looking for big performances from Nicola Burke and Gráinne Barrett.
Shane O’Neill’s are formidable
Annaghdown will have to produce a big display to win against a strong Shane O’Neill’s side which defeated Parnells (London ) by 3-7 to 1-10 in the semi-final. The Armagh outfit have some very talented players such as Aimee Mackin and Aoibheann Jones who both scored hat-tricks in their Ulster final win. Others who will need watching are Blathín Mackin, Louise Kenny and Shauna Grey.
The ladies in maroon will have to be clinical with their shooting and shot selection this weekend. They kicked 11 wides in the semi-final and only scored nine times out of almost 30 scoring opportunities and they will need to be more efficient in front of goal on Sunday to bring home the silverware.
It has been a terrific breakthrough season for the Annaghdown Ladies football club and a win on Sunday would be the ideal way to close out the year.
There is fantastic colour and bunting all around the parish and the panel and management team will be hoping that if they produce a top performance for 60 minutes, the bonfires will be blazing to greet them late on Sunday evening.
