Image: @Ladies Football
The ‘We Go Again’ rallying call is pretty apt this week because, just seven days after our agonising loss to Dublin in the All-Ireland final, there’s another All-Ireland against the same opposition set to be played at Croke Park. The LGFA SFC All-Ireland final between Mayo and Dublin throws in at Croke Park on Sunday at 4pm.
It’s our first ladies final in ten years. Back in 2007, when the blog was but a pup (a bit of an opinionated one at that), we were beaten by Cork in that year’s senior decider. The county’s ladies team last tasted All-Ireland success in 2003, when their fourth title in an incredible five-year spell was clinched with a win over Dublin by 1-4 to 0-5.
Sunday’s opposition have just one title to their credit – all of our four were won in that Golden Era from 1999 to 2003 – but it’s a more recent one than ours. This occurred in 2010, the one year since 2005 that Cork slipped up and failed to make the final, losing to Tyrone in the quarters. The Red Hand girls were no match for the Dubs in that year’s final, though, going under by 3-16 to 0-9.
Dublin have lost the last three finals – we feel their pain, really we do – all to Cork and all by narrow margins. In 2014, Cork came from well behind to win by one, in 2015 and again last year the margin separating the two teams was just one point. One point, eh … the yawning gap that exists between Gaelic football’s heaven and its hell.
But before anyone starts to feel too much sympathy for the Dubs, recall that they only beat us by a single, lousy point in quite agonising circumstances in last year’s semi-final. So, while they’ll be aiming to end a long run of final defeats, we’ll be fired up on a revenge mission. For sure in relation to last year’s loss. For definite to get one over on the Dubs more generally following the result in last Sunday’s men’s final.
The two counties’ progression to this decider in many ways mirrors how their respective male counterparts got on this summer. Like their lads, Dublin laid waste to all and sundry in Leinster before beating Waterford by 2-15 to 1-7 in the All-Ireland quarter-final and then walloping Kerry by 5-10 to 0-11 in the semis.
Our ladies, like the lads, lost to Galway in Connacht. But they picked themselves up in the qualifiers, although they only had the one round to negotiate there. Negotiate it they did, however, by beating Kildare on a scoreline of 3-20 to 0-8.
That win earned them a tilt at Ulster champions Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter-final, where a real battling performance saw them through on a 3-14 to 2-11 scoreline. Mighty Cork were next but, despite being complete outsiders, the Mayo ladies were once more superb, ending the champions long reign as they beat them by 3-11 to 0-18.
Dublin go into Sunday’s decider as strong favourites. Indeed, their 2/5 odds with Paddy Power mirror exactly what Jim Gavin’s team were priced at ahead of last Sunday. But what do you reckon: will it be the Mayo ladies who have the final say on Sunday?
Will we win the ladies final?
- Yes (85%, 169 Votes)
- No (16%, 31 Votes)
Total Voters: 200
Loading ...All the proceeds from this week’s Mayo GAA Lotto draw go to the ladies training fund. Play the Lotto here.
Interesting WJ, looked at the link to that article 10 years ago, no comments! You could put up a new article now stating “today is Wednesday” and it would start a debate about should the Mayo team start training on Wednesdays, if the Dubs have an advantage if they played on a Wednesdays as there are 2 “Ds” in the name and lots of other salient (at least to the authors) points as well.
I said it somewhere else, Croker is probably the last place many of us want to go Sunday but we owe it to Cora and her team mates to be there. I don’t believe the ladies game will ever see an athlete like her and she deserves the support, and whatever that might do to help her win her 5th All Ireland inter county medal.
Tickets are relatively cheap, especially for kids so lets pack it out again.
Hi yes I will be there on Sunday to support the ladies and was there last Sunday too….. come on Cora and the Mayo Ladies ..Keep her Lit xx
Its not that I feel sorry for mayo ladies as Im sure they will be hyped and ready to go at the wend..But the excitement that should be there for them has been dulled by the wend result and that is a shame..Hope Cora gets her just reward..She is amazing.
Heard Cora in an interview last night on otb on newstalk , excellent interview , and yes amazing woman , wishing the Mayo ladies all the best for Sunday
I am going and bringing my 2 girls with me ..
I’m thinking of going to the match I don’t know much about the Dublin ladies team but I know there’s plenty of character In the Mayo girls and they deserve our support
Hope to make it, they deserve our support, not putting that flag away yet!
Wiil be there too, to support the ladies. Listening to Cora last night one realised that for all the problems the men have had with management and Co Board it was nothing to what the ladies had to put up with during their years in the wilderness. I do hope that she writes her story when she eventually retires and that she stays involved in the game. I do beliieve that she has a great future as a sports pundit too.
These women need us the supporters to get behind them. Im heading up with my kids and I intend to be heard.
Planning to go with my husband and two little girls – weather permitting.
Will head to the game with the missus and our two young lads. We don’t have far to go living up here in the capital and it will make up for all of us not being able to make it to the men’s final. Maigh Eo Abu!
Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend the game due to being based abroad. However, I would to see the game on TV, so does anyone know how to see it abroad? There’s no way the local Irish pubs will show it, and GAAGO appear not to be streaming it. I saw the camogie final on RTÉ International Player, I suppose it’ll be the same for the ladies’ football final?
People have been saying all week “It’s an awful pity for the women, there’d have been a brilliant crowd there if the men had won”.
Ah now folks, come on. Seriously.
Do these women not deserve our support regardless of the result of the men’s game? Does Cora Staunton, who has achieved more in gaelic footballe than any male footballer in Mayo *ever* has, not deserve the support of the Mayo public for what will probably be her last game for our county? Does our emerging young talented players who have worked their backsides off for months to reach an All-Ireland Final – beating the best team of the past decade en route – not deserve to have supporters getting behind them against a massive home crowd?
Why should our sentiment towards these women, playing in an entirely different competition – who are vastly under-resourced, by the way – depend on what the men do? We can all make excuses about the time and the cost of travelling etc. etc. but if our game last Sunday had gone to a replay, would people be using that excuse?
Ladies’ All-Ireland final day is absolutely special – it’s a brilliant day full of colour and noise – and generally, excellent football. Tickets are only €25 (for three games) and €10 for children/students/OAPs. If it’s within your means, or if you didn’t get the chance to get to last Sunday’s game, head for Croker on Sunday. Pack up the car or get the bus with a few sandwiches and give the kids the day out – you won’t regret it.
It Means Nothing To Me, TG4 show the finals live on their player – but I’m not sure if you can watch them abroad. I can try to find out for you, though.
Many thanks, Anne-Marie. Had a gurch at TG4 Seinnteoir just now, but it didn’t mention whether one can see it outside the island of Ireland (without recourse to a proxy server, of course!) so would be grateful if you could find out.
Always enjoy your column in The Mayo News, dála an scéil !
Concerning the dirty tricks campaign from the Dubs’ ladies management, anyone smell a #thingscoradid campaign? 😉
Really looking forward to supporting the ladies on Sunday. Best of luck to Sarah, Cora and the team. Cora is inspirational for our young girls from all underage up. In her full career something like 59 goals and over 400pts. Incredible sportswoman.
Best of luck to our ladies on Sunday. This is their game and has nothing to do with last Sunday or revenge or anything like that. It’s the Dubs that have the ropey final appearances losing 3 on the spin and only barely pipping our girls last year.
Special word for 2 club colleagues, Orla Conlon named to line out at no.2 for Mayo and also Marita McDonald named to start at midfield for Fermanagh in the curtain raiser.
Best of luck to them both and safe travels to all.