Mayo ladies name side for crunch showdown against Galway

THE race for 2021 TG4 All-Ireland senior ladies football championship glory will be whittled down to four teams over the Bank Holiday weekend.

On Monday, Mayo will have home advantage at Hastings Insurance Brokers MacHale Park in Castlebar (1.45 p.m.) for the latest instalment in a long-running rivalry with Galway.

The game will be broadcast live on TG4 and there will also be live commentary on Midwest Radio from John Lynch and Sinead Stagg.

It’s been a while since Mayo and Galway met in a championship fixture at senior level.

You have to go back to 2019 for their last meeting – and that was a gripping All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park.

Róisín Leonard kicked a stunning free from the ground to win it for Galway, before the Tribeswomen lost out to Dublin in the Final.

They have previous from 2021, however, and it was Mayo who came with a late surge when the sides met in the League.

The green and red pulled it out of the fire with an unanswered 1-4 burst down the home straight.

That fixture was played at Hastings Insurance Brokers MacHale Park and they’ll meet again at the Castlebar venue, with a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals against Donegal or Dublin on offer for the winners.

Having lost out to Armagh in the final round of group fixtures, Mayo boss Michael Moyles has made two changes in personnel for this one – as Marie Corbett and Niamh Kelly come in for starts in place of captain Clodagh McManamon and Fiona Doherty.

Galway, who scored three goals in two minutes against Donegal last time out, have made just one change – with Laura Ahearne coming in for Sophie Healy, who’s ruled out through injury.

Mayo (v Galway): Aisling Tarpey, Saoirse Lally, Orla Conlon, Marie Corbett, Tamara O’Connor, Ciara Whyte, Kathryn Sullivan (captain), Niamh Kelly, Sinead Cafferky, Fiona McHale, Rachel Kearns, Sarah Rowe, Grace Kelly, Shauna Howley, Tara Needham.

Galway (v Mayo): Dearbhla Gower, Laura Ahearne, Sarah Lynch, Shauna Molloy, Charlotte Cooney, Kate Geraghty, Hannah Noone, Siobhán Divilly, Ailbhe Davoren, Oilivia Divilly, Megan Glynn, Leanne Coen, Nicola Ward, Louise Ward (captain), Kate Slevin.