Big games for Westport, Louisburgh, Carnacon and Kilmoremoy this weekend

FOUR Mayo clubs face big challenges on  Sunday as they prepare to represent their towns, parishes and county in two Connaught finals and two All-Ireland semi-finals at different venues many miles apart.

Westport will be in Carrick-on-Shannon hoping to claim their first Connaught crown when the face Leitrim champions, Sean O'Heslins in the intermediate decider.

Mayo junior champions, Louisburgh, are also away as they contest the junior Connaught final against Roscommon champions, Creggs in Kiltoom.

In ladies Gaelic football Carnacon make the long journey to Bray where they l meet the Dublin and Leinster champions Foxrock/Cabinteeley in the All-Ireland ladies senior club semi-final.

Meanwhile, in Ballina, local ladies side, Kilmoremoy, bid for an All-Ireland final spot when they take on Cork and Munster champions, Kilsale. All of the games are on Sunday.

 

Westport v Sean O'Heslins (Leitrim)

Venue Carrick-On-Shannon

2 p.m.

 

Westport make the journey to Carrick-On-Shannon where they will be the odds-on favourites to beat the Leitrim champions Sean O'Heslins in the intermediate Connaught club final.

After coming through a tough Mayo championship Westport qualified for the Connaught final following a close encounter with Galway champions Monivea Abbeyknockmoy. They had to pull out all the stops in this game before coming out the one point winners. One expects they might have things a little easier next Sunday.

With Mayo senior county stars Lee Keegan (recently crowned 2016 Gaelic footballer of the year) and Kevin Keane in their side, this Westport team have come on in leaps and bounds with every outing and have developed into a very good side.

While they won't be taking the Leitrim champions likely, it will come as a massive upset if they don't win their first ever Connaught title next Sunday.

 

Louisburgh v Creggs (Roscommon)

Venue Kiltoom, Roscommon

2.15

Louisburgh travel to Kiltoom where they meet Roscommon champions, Creggs, in the Connaught junior club championship final.

This is going to be far from easy for the Mayo champions as Creggs are regarded as a very good team.

However, if Louisburgh can reproduce their Connaught semi-final performance they must stand a great chance of winning.

In that encounter they had to play the Galway champions Oranmore Maree in their own back yard. This year Galway felt they had an exceptional junior side to represent them in the Connaught championship.

However, Louisburgh rose to the occasion and although they just ended up the one point winners there was no denying they were by far better team.

I feel, like Westport, Louisburgh are improving with each outing and with plenty of youth and experience in their side they will not lack in confidence.

It promises to be a close game throughout. However, if Louisburgh can go close to producing their best performance, they should prove too strong for the Roscommon champions.

 

Foxrock Cabinteely (Dublin) v Carnacon (Mayo)

Venue: Bray Emmets,

2 p.m.  Referee C. McManus.

 

DUBLIN and Leinster champions Foxrock-Cabinteely are looking to create history by qualifying for their first ever All-Ireland ladies senior club football final.

They fell to holders Donaghmoyne at the semi-final stage last year, losing by four points, but are determined to at least go one better this year.

But Foxrock-Cabinteely face the most formidable of challenges at the penultimate hurdle in the form of five-time All-Ireland senior winners Carnacon.

The Mayo and Connacht standard-bearers regained their provincial title this year and boast a star-studded outfit.

Ace forward Cora Staunton will need close watching, as always, while Carnacon have newly-crowned All-Star Fiona McHale driving her team forward from the middle of the field.

Fellow county stars Marie Corbett and Martha Carter are two-thirds of a rock-solid half-back line and alongside McHale at midfield is another Mayo senior star, club captain Doireann Hughes.

But Foxrock-Cabinteely have plenty of class in their own ranks and should not be under-estimated.

Honoured with an All-Star last Saturday night, Sinead Goldrick will feature alongside another Dublin senior player, Niamh Collins, in the half-back line.

Up front, Amy Ring and Amy Connolly are dangerous inside forwards and both can call upon recent experience at the top level with Dublin.

 

Kilmoremoy (Mayo) v Kinsale (Cork)

Venue: Ballina Stephenites

1. p.m. Referee J. Niland.

 

THIS could turn into a shoot-out between respective county stars Sarah Rowe and Orla Finn.

Cork’s newly-crowned All-Star Finn has enjoyed a terrific season at inter-county level but also with her club, where she has been simply prolific en route to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

In the Munster final victory over Limerick outfit Broadford, Finn scored 12 points but Sadhbh O’Leary has contributed handsomely too, weighing in with some big hauls.

O’Leary is very much a player for the future but she's achieved plenty in her career already.

In this year's All-Ireland minor A decider, O'Leary scored five points from play as Cork saw off Dublin.

Goalkeeper Aisling Judge captains the Kinsale team and centre forward Jennifer Murphy is another player to watch out for.

At the other end of the pitch, Kilmoremoy will bank on another big performance from Mayo ace Rowe.

In the Connacht final victory over Galway’s St James, Rowe scored six of Kilmoremoy’s six goals.

But Rowe is not the only player with top-level experience in the Kilmoremoy ranks, as twin sisters Marie and Carol Hegarty are also established Mayo senior players.