Extra-time may well be needed to separate close rivals
LADIES SFC FINAL PREVIEW
MARK BYRNE
St Peter's Dunboyne take on reigning champions Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels in the Ladies SFC at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday, 3pm. The Gaels are looking for their third Joe Breen Cup in a row while St Peter's will be eager to stop their march and re-take the cup they won in successive years from 2020 to 2022.
This will be a fascinating match as both teams are loaded with county stars, All-star nominees, underage county stars, up and coming players as well as veteran campaigners who have multiple championship medals.
Nothing will be taken for granted as the teams know each other so well, but this will be their first meeting since the league game in May where the Royal Gaels won by three points.
They were drawn in separate groups and both teams won convincingly in the group stages, putting all comers to the sword. The ease with which both cruised to the semi-finals and their respective victories will be dissected by both teams as they try to find a way to gain the advantage on final day against each other.
Players for Dunshaughlin who have featured prominently are Meadhbh Byrne, Niamh Gallogly, Ella and Anna Moyles, Karla Kealy, Niamh McEntee and Petra Reilly all marshalled expertly by captain Sadhbh O Muíri.
With Niamh Gallogly roaming the middle and making lung busting runs into the heart of opposition defences, she has opened space for other players like Byrne to exploit. Captain O Muíri has said that the group are focussed on the game and highly motivated, which would be expected as they lost the Div 1 final to a resurgent Navan O'Mahonys earlier in the campaign but exacted revenge in the championship. They defeated the O’Mahonys in a high-octane game in the second round, 2-10 to 2-6, and the semi-final, winning 0-13 to 0-11.
St Peter's are on a mission to reclaim their crown which they lost to a rampant Royal Gaels in 2023, 3-14 to 0-10 in Simonstown and last year by three points, 1-10 to 0-10 in Páirc Tailteann.
St Peter's have plenty of players who can turn the game. Emma Duggan has been deadly accurate from frees and when in space can pick a pass for the eager young forwards like Anna Kane, Rachel Norman and Saoirse Quinn. Duggan has been known to take the odd score from play as well!
Anna Kane helped herself to a hat-trick in the semi-final win over Seneschalstown while Katie Bermingham was named to play on the 'forty' but in reality, was everywhere on the pitch.
They were ably supported by the likes of Sarah Wall, Caragh McCarthy and Hannah Nolan who had a fine game in the semi-final. Fiona O'Neill, who was always an outlet for the quick break, was in superb form and with these players in the side, anyone of them can produce a magic moment.
Their defence has been watertight in the run up and only conceded 3-23 compared to the 14-59 scored, they are captained by Rachel McDermott in the back line supported by a well organised defensive system.
With a large crowd expected to see the third instalment of this rivalry, county allegiances and friendships will be thrown aside for the hour.
Expect an intensely contested encounter which would not be surprising if it went to extra-time!
Definitely too close to call.