Ladies Finals Focus... Dunboyne out to cause treble for the Royal Gaels
Dunboyne v Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels - Sat 3pm, Ratoath
FERGAL LYNCH
After so many years of expectation the dominance of Dunboyne in the Meath Ladies SFC is well and truly in full flow as they bid to make it three-in-a-row when they take on the new kids on the block Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels in Saturday's SFC final at Ratoath, 3pm.
Calling them the 'new kids on the block' might be doing Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels a disservice because when it comes to be an significant influence on Meath Ladies football they certainly boast a serious reputation and have developed into an outstanding team since winning the IFC in 2020.
As this is their first appearance in a senior final that is why they are viewed as 'new kids on the block', but they a team not to be underestimated.
Boosted by players like All-Ireland SFC final player-of-the-match Niamh O'Sullivan and her fellow two-time Brendan Martin Cup winning team mates Niamh Gallogly and Meadhbh Byrne Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels will certainly fancy their chances of upsetting the odds and denying Dunboyne their cherished treble.
From the off of this year's championship Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels laid down a marker as they crushed last year's finalists Seneschalstown in the opening round. They needed to ride their luck a little when getting the better of Simonstown, but in their two subsequent games, against Donaghmore/Ashbourne in round three and against Seneschalstown again in the semi-finals, they excelled and propelled themselves into the genuine contenders category.
O'Sullivan's hat-trick of goals propelled them to that win over Seneschalstown and as well as Byrne and Gallogly, Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels will look to Meath camogie star Kristina Troy as well as outstanding midfielder Petra Reilly and talented defender for inspiration.
Despite their obvious talent Dunboyne are still favourites to retain their title.
Even without the talents of the mercurial Vikki Wall who is lighting it up in AFLW in Australia Dunboyne have been unstoppable with Emma Duggan their star attraction.
However Dunboyne are far from a one-player team and Duggan's outstanding abilities are supplemented by several key players who ensure Dunboyne function as a well-organised, superbly coached unit.
Captain elaine Doyle and Meath senior star Sarah Wall anchor the defence, while Duggan's attacking exploits are assisted by Shelly Melia, Aoife Boylan, Aoife Delaney and quick scan of their defence shows their strength in depth with Julie Kavanagh and Aoife Thompson all capable of making huge impacts.
This promises to be a wide open attacking game and the winners will be which ever side can organse their defence resolutely to curtail some outstanding attacking talent. expect Dunboyne to have the edge, but it could be tight. Verdict - Dunboyne.
Skryne's goal getting capabilities could prove the difference
IFC FINAL - Skryne v Na Fianna - Sunday, Walterstown 4.30pm
Sunday's IFC final will pit last year's JFC champions Skryne against recently relegated from senior Na Fianna and it should be a tight contest in Walterstown on Sunday.
This is a tough one to call. Any team with the calibre of players like two-time All-Ireland winning captain Shauna Ennis, former Meath senior star Meabh Downey, former minor star Leah Devine and a plethora of dual stars with supreme levels of fitness and ability like Na Fianna have to have a serious chance
When the teams met in round one Skryne's ability to grab goals proved to be decisive and since adding the services of renowned Irish athlete Elizabeth Morland back to their ranks that goal threat is even larger. Add in former Meath player Catriona Keogan, legendary former Seneschalstown player Fiona O'Rourke, and talented youngsters Ciara Smyth and Amy O'Dowd who were part of the All-Ireland winning Meath seniors it is easy to see why Skryne can be confident of becoming the first team since Simonstown in 2013/14 to win back-to-back JFC and IFC titles. Verdict - Skryne.
Tight affair could see Ultan's back at the top table
JFC FINAL - St Ultan's v Moynalvey - Sunday, Walterstown 2pm
The passing of time has seen St Ultan's drop through the grades. From senior kingpins St Ultan's are battling their way back and their form in the JFC has been such that it suggests that might be just 60 minutes away from a moving one step closer back to the top- table when they face Moynalvey in the JFC final at Walterstown on Sunday.
Both sides have tallied up huge scorelines in some of their games. Moynalvey's 1-24 in their drubbing of Dunsany in round one issued a serious statement of intent and then in round two St Ultan's countered with 6-18 against Moylagh.
Even the two lines of form most relevant between the finalists struggled to separate them. When Moynalvey faced St Patrick's in the group stages they had three-points to spare, in the semi-final against the Stamullen side St Ultan's manage one more goal than Moynalvey did against St Pat's in their six-point win. The other games of note St Ultan's had 14-points to spare over Walterstown, while Moynalvey had four to spare over the Blacks in the semi-final, but the scoring return of Sunday's finalists in those games was similar.
It's going to be tight. St Ultan's will look to Aisling Marley, Lesley Buchanan, Rachel Casserly for their scores, while Moynalvey will hope their county goalkeeper Aoibheann Corcoran can keep them at bay while Louise Donoghue, Rachel Pender and others can fire them to success. Verdict - St Ultan's.