The Mayo Ladies senior footballers will make the trip to Ennis tomorrow, knowing that they are going to have to get everything right if they are to book a place in the All Ireland semi-final.
Standing in front of Mayo in Cusack Park is a Cork side, who, while they might not be the all dominating force they once were - are still a serious outfit, who will go into the game as favourites.
Mayo made their way to the knock-out stages of the championship following wins over Tipperary and Cavan in the opening two rounds of the group stages of the competition. While they were comfortable against the Premier County in round one, they had to dig deep in round two against Cavan, who managed to eat into a sizeable Mayo lead to make things tricky for them down the home stretch.
Those two wins made sure Mayo were in the knock-out stages before they faced Dublin in round three a fortnight ago, in a game the Dubs won relatively easily to round off that section of the competition.
Cork meanwhile have come through their group stage of the competition unbeaten, topping their group (which had three teams in it, unlike the four in Mayo ) thanks to wins over Donegal and Waterford - their win over Waterford saw them have to come from behind to get over the line to book top spot in the standings. The Rebels also have already claimed the Munster title, seeing off Kerry 2-11 to 1-9 in the final of that competition a few months back.
For Mayo to reach the quarter-finals is a good achievement considering the amount of household name players they are missing due to injury and departures to Australian Rules Football. Michael Moyles still has an experienced spine with the likes of Lisa Cafferekey, Fiona McHale, Kathryn Sullivan, Shauna Howley, Sinead Cafferekey and Danielle Caldwell to name a few - but it is also an emerging team with players like Sinead Walsh, Tara Needham, Sara Mulvihill, Roisin Flynn, Aoife Geraghty and Sharin El Massey all becoming key players this term.
Cork will be another serious test and while they aren't the side that picked up All Irelands for fun in the past decade, they still come packed with a side full of quality with the likes of Orla Finn, Ciara O'Sullivan, Libby Coppinger, Aine O'Sullivan and Doireann O'Sullivan - all players with loads of experience and All Ireland medals to show for their effort.
Mayo will be up against it, but Moyles' side will give it their all and won't be afraid to go for it when they get the chance, and if things click for them they could be heading to the last four.
