TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship qualifier:
Tyrone v Mayo (Saturday, Ballinamore, 2pm, live on TG4)
TYRONE put their season on the line on Saturday afternoon when they face the arduous task of trying to end Mayo’s own Championship hopes.
It will require, says captain Neamh Woods, a 60-minute performance, but with Mayo the firm favourites, the pressure is off and anything can happen.
“You have to approach every game with that belief and this Saturday will be no different,” she said.
“The best way to enter any game is under no pressure and with nothing to lose. That certainly will be the attitude we will have on Saturday.
“No Championship game is going to be easy and I’m sure Mayo will go into the game as strong favourites considering their recent Connacht final result against a hotly-favoured Galway team.”
The prize for the victor is an All-Ireland quarter-final with Munster champions Kerry on Saturday, August 15.
Unfortunately, Saturday's game clashes with the county’s senior men, who face Sligo in an All-Ireland Qualifier round 4B in Croke Park at 4pm, something which Woods feels highlights the need for more integration across the codes.
“It is unfortunate that both games are clashing; I suppose it highlights the need for joined up thinking and integration across the entire GAA spectrum,” she said.
The sides met earlier in the year in a Division One league game in Swinford, which Mayo won 0-12 to 1-4 on a day when Tyrone hit 13 wides.
Mayo were extremely unlucky not to win the Connacht Championship a few weeks back. A late point from Galway’s Patricia Gleeson broke Mayo hearts to deny them the win and a first provincial title in four years. That day, Cora Staunton scored 1-15 of her side’s 1-17 total. Just six of her 15 points came from play, so Tyrone need to be wary of giving away unnecessary frees as the Carnacon club player will not show any mercy and will punish the opposition.
Tyrone were, no doubt, aiming for a place in the Ulster final after their quarter-final win over Cavan after extra-time but they were outclassed by eventual champions Donegal in the semis, which forced them on the Qualifier path and this meeting with Mayo.
“The performance against Donegal was not up to scratch and, just as it wasn’t acceptable on the day, will not be acceptable again," Woods added.
“We were disappointed with our performance against Donegal, and know that we are capable of much more,” said Woods.
“We were in the game for 25 minutes, didn’t take our chances, and paid a heavy price. We now have to concentrate on producing a 60-minute performance.
“Our National League game was closely fought and highly competitive, and there was very little between the two sides on that occasion. We will take plenty of positives from that last encounter into this Saturday’s game.”
Woods added: “The spotlight is always on Cora Staunton, who has been in great form recently for both club and county; however, she is also surrounded by many other excellent players.
“It’s not just a matter of man-marking Cora Staunton, the supply of ball to her has to be disrupted, so it’s very much a collective task.”
