The Galway Senior Ladies footballers look to claim their 20th senior Connacht title when they face off with Mayo in the Connacht Senior Ladies Final this Sunday at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.
Daniel Moynihan's side return to action for the first time since their Lidl National Football League final defeat to Cork two weeks ago. The Tribeswomen will be eager to make an immediate response and there's no better way to get over that defeat than to get their hands on Connacht silverware.
The result in the league final did not do their campaign justice. The attacking potency that characterised their encouraging league displays was stifled by a solid Cork outfit in the second half. They will be particularly disappointed with the concession of crucial scores so late in the game.
With 10 minutes of the game to play, Galway led by four. A defensive lapse was punished by Katie Quirke to level it, 1-6 to 0-9. With two minutes on the clock, Cork took the lead for the first time in unusual circumstances. Rachel O’Regan fisted the ball towards goal, but it was touched by Chellene Trill, and as she was adjudged to have carried it over the line the goal was given. Late Quirke and Aine O’Sullivan points saw the Rebels run out five-point winners.
However, they will have to take the positives into their All-Ireland push. They will expect to beat what was a high-scoring Mayo side that finished third in Division 2 of the National Football League.
But Mayo will be eager to avenge the Connacht final loss of 2025 and leave a mark on their neighbours. They will need to maintain focus. A firing and confident Galway should seal their 20th Connacht honour and continue their aspirations of a deep All-Ireland journey.
Throw-in at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada is 3pm on Sunday.
