PREVIEW: Ladies Junior Championship gets under way this Sunday
CHAMPIONSHIP Top two from groups make semi-finals
Group A
Killygarry B V Shannon Gaels, Sunday, August 9 2pm
Crosserlough B V Shercock, Sunday, 2pm
Similar to the senior championship the top two from each group in this year’s Fresh Today Junior championship will progress to the championship semi-finals. Killygarry B who are flourished with youth face Shannon Gaels on the opening day. The Gaels will be calling on the McLoughlin sisters, Aine McGovern and Aisling O’Hara to try and get a victory over the hosts who have many of last year’s victorious minor team at their disposal including Joanne Reilly, Molly Mai O’Meara and Maria Lovett. In the other Group A clash Crosserlough B host last year’s beaten finalists Shercock. This is a new venture for Crosserlough entering a junior team but similar to Killygarry and Lacken it is a great opportunity to give more girls football within the club. Many of last year’s U16 division 1 championship finalists team will feature for Crosserlough making them tough opposition for Shercock who are without several of last year’s team including key forward Martha Coyle. However Lauren Browne who featured on the championship team of the year will again be a key player along with Rachel Daly, Theresa Clarke, Emma McIntyre and Ava Sheridan.
Group B
Butlersbridge V Lacken B, Sunday, 2pm
Cavan Gaels V Drumgoon, Sunday, 11am
In group B Butlersbridge enter their first adult championship since the reformation of the ladies club in 2016. The ‘Bridge have a mix of young players coming up from last year’s U16 squad and players transferring back to their home club. Captain Ella Murphy is central, leading the squad by example. Niamh McCorry is also a big player for the team as is former Cornafean players Bronagh McGovern and Helen McDermott. Their opposition Lacken B will be hoping for a similar result to last weekend when the two met with Lacken victorious. Lacken have plenty of young talent, with the likes of Aine Bogue, Lucy Keogan and Bonnie McKiernan.
In the second group B game Cavan Gaels host a Drumgoon side who were dropped from Intermediate this season. The Gaels are in transition but nonetheless possess several talented players including Laura Lynch, Katie Leddy, Ciara Crotty, Amy Johnston and captains Niamh Briody and Sophie Graham to name a few. While Drumgoon will be on the quest for promotion back to Intermediate and will call on the experience of the McGorry sisters Aoife and Siobhan and the likes of underage players Catherin Ahearne to help them do so.