Football

Ladies' Football: Donaghmoyne close in on All-Ireland final

Donaghmoyne captain Eileen McElroy, in action for Monaghan, says that regaining the Ulster title meant so much to them
Donaghmoyne captain Eileen McElroy, in action for Monaghan, says that regaining the Ulster title meant so much to them Donaghmoyne captain Eileen McElroy, in action for Monaghan, says that regaining the Ulster title meant so much to them

All-Ireland Club Senior Championship Club Championship semi-final: 


Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) v Foxrock-Cabinteely (Dublin) (Sunday, Donaghmoyne, 1.30pm)

ULSTER senior club champions Donaghmoyne mean business this weekend as they attempt to book their place in a sixth All-Ireland senior club decider in the last decade.

Captain Eileen McElroy said it was the Monaghan side’s intentions at the beginning of the year to reach the decider and now they are just 60 minutes from that with Dublin and Leinster champions Foxrock-Cabinteely standing in their way.

“Reaching an All-Ireland semi-final is a great achievement but ultimately it’s the final that we desperately want to be in,” admitted McElroy. 

“We like to take each game as it comes but at the start of the year our ultimate goal was to get back into the All-Ireland final and we have always had that in the back of our minds.”

The three-time All-Ireland champions were very impressive in their Ulster final win over Termon, ending the Donegal side’s reign as All-Ireland champions and they showed serious intentions of an All-Ireland title. 

“This is a team who has been the dominant force of ladies club football in Ulster over the last decade and they do not take defeat lightly,” said McElroy.

“Every competition they enter they want to win and the All-Ireland campaign is certainly no exception.

“We are delighted to be back in an All-Ireland semi. The championship is getting more competitive each year and beating the All-Ireland champions Termon gave us a massive boost.

“The game against Termon was probably one of Donaghmoyne’s best performances this year. I think we knew what was needed to get over the line and everyone on the field bought into the hard work it was going to take to win.

“Winning the Ulster title back and beating the reigning All-Ireland champions meant so much to us as a team. 

“We were very disappointed last year so we definitely feel like we’ve redeemed ourselves somewhat and I think you could see at the end how much it meant to us all, especially this year after losing our chairman Martin Daly we wanted to do it for him more than anything.”

However, she feels it will take an even better performance to see off the Dublin champions. 

That said, honestly, it is hard to look past a victory for the Monaghan champions, especially on home soil. 

There are not too many teams who leave the south Monaghan venue triumphant, although Foxrock-Cabinteely do have some insider information on their opponents – their management team of Pat Ring, Peter Clarke and Angie McNally are also the current Monaghan management team, with the majority of Donaghmoyne players making up the Farney county squad.

Their captain is Fiona Claffey, who plays for Westmeath while Dublin star Sinead Goldrick is a four-time Allstar and will be key to her side’s hopes, as will fellow county players Amy Connolly, Hannah Noonan, Niamh Collins and Niamh Ryan.

“Although we’ve never played Foxrock-Cabinteely we do know a good bit about each other,” said McElroy. 

“Monaghan played them in a challenge during the year and they have a good few county players in their ranks too. 

“Personally I would have played alongside a lot of them in college with UCD, so it’ll be an interesting encounter.”

“We will definitely have to up our performance another notch to get through the semi-final. 

“Foxrock are a very fit and fast team with plenty of runners that are capable of doing a lot of damage so we are going to have to put in another 60 minutes of hard work and focus.”

The other semi-final sees the 2014 beaten All-Ireland finalists Mourneabbey (Cork) host last year’s semi-finalists Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway (1.30pm).

All-Ireland Club Intermediate Championship semi-final: Cahir (Tipperary) v St Joseph’s, Glenelly (Tyrone) (Sunday, Cahir, 1.30pm)

THE last one out of Plumbridge on Sunday morning, please turn out the lights. 

A massive Glenelly contingent are expected to make the trek to Tipperary this weekend to support their Tyrone and Ulster champions against Cahir in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final.

As well as a supporters’ bus going down on Sunday morning, many are making a weekend of it and heading off tomorrow, with the team also beginning their journey tomorrow.

“We hope we do our supporters and club proud and make the long trip to tip worthwhile,” said captain Grace McCullagh, who isn’t prepared to see the season end just yet.

“This year has given us a great journey so far and we just want it to go on for as long as it can; we are working hard to ensure that our journey is not cut short.

“We have had a great run through Ulster but we cannot take our foot off the pedal at this stage. We want to continue on and stay focused on this imminent game just as we have done with the previous games.”

The celebrations at the final whistle in their very impressive Ulster final win over Donaghmoyne B showed just how much a provincial title meant to the rural Sperrins club and the players have been treated as heroes since.

“We have had fantastic response from everyone in the Plum and it has given the village a great boost. We went to the Plumbridge and Cranagh primary schools during the week with the cups and there was lots of excitement among the children,” she said.

“I hope this inspires some younger local girls and boys to participate in Gaelic games in the future.” 

At this stage of the season and the competition, any team who is still standing has as good a chance as the next of winning and Glenelly, despite not having home advantage, know that as well as Cahir.

“We are going in to this game ready for a good competitive game of football. These cold, wet and windy evenings that we are currently training in are instantly warmed up with the hope of winning our next game and potentially becoming the owners of an All-Ireland medal.

“I have no doubt that all the girls and management will give 100 per cent and as long as we do our best on the day we won’t have any regrets.”

Leinster champions Milltown (Westmeath) and Connacht champions Glenamaddy/Williamstown (Galway) meet in the other semi-final tomorrow (Milltown, 2pm).

All-Ireland Club Junior Championship semi-final: Bantry Blues (Cork) v Brian Ogs, Steelstown (Derry) (Sunday, Bantry, 1.30pm)

STEELSTOWN captain Emma Doherty is adamant the Derry and Ulster champions are not making the long trip to Cork this weekend for their crucial All-Ireland Junior Club Championship semi-final against Bantry Blues just to make the up numbers.

Doherty, who hit seven points in the Ulster final win over O’Neill Shamrocks, hopes her team’s winning streak can continue as they look to become the first Oak Leaf side to appear in an All-Ireland junior decider, and she believes that battle of wills against O’Neill Shamrocks two weeks ago will stand them in good stead against the Cork and Munster champions, whom they know little about.

“This group of girls will for sure give 100 per cent anytime they go out on the pitch and given the distance that we have to travel we are definitely not happy going down to make up the numbers. Whatever happens from now on, it’s already been a good season but we are keen to keep the winning streak going, as I’m sure Bantry will be too,” said Doherty.

“Winning Ulster was great but to win an All-Ireland title for your club is just the ultimate goal really. O’Neill’s were a strong physical team that pushed us all the way so hopefully that experience of a tight game, along with Trillick and Mullaghbawn, will have us prepared for the challenge of Bantry Blues.”

Naturally, with any provincial success comes an increased buzz, not just among the supporters but in the team too, but Doherty stresses it has been very much business as usual and, after the initial celebrations they have got stuck right back into training.

“This week has been exactly the same as any week leading up to any of the Ulster games. We have been trying to keep as normal as possible,” she said.

“We know very little about Bantry Blues but obviously any team coming out of Cork is going to be very strong given the strength of their county team.  And we know that they were taken to a replay in the Munster final which then went to extra time so they are obviously very fit and determined to come out on top, but so are we. The girls all realise that this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity so we will do everything we can to make it happen.”

The other semi-final sees Galway and Connacht champions Maigh Cuilinn host Meath and Leinster winners Dunboyne (1.30pm).