Progressive Galway set sights on retaining Connacht crown

SIX teams already know their fate regarding the new look round-robin All-Ireland ladies football series and Donegal are Ulster champions. But the first meeting between two genuine contenders takes place on Sunday at MacHale Park, Castlebar (4pm) when Galway and Mayo meet in the Connacht Final.

Some pundits may suggest that’s stretching Galway’s credentials, but the Tribeswomen are defending Connacht champions and only lost their league semi-final by one point to the reigning All-Ireland champions.

Nicole Owens’ injury time goal denied Galway a league final showdown with their neighbours in May, but despite having met two times already in 2018, preparations in both camps have been geared towards June 24.

Galway have won five of the last six CBE Cups (Connacht title) and were emphatic 3-12 to 1-8 winners in last year’s provincial showpiece but waited seven weeks for an All-Ireland quarter-final before being suffering a heavy beating by then defending champions Cork (6-19 to 1-10).

Mayo brushed themselves off to take out Donegal and the Rebelettes before finding Dublin’s attack too much in Croke Park. And in this year’s league, Peter Leahy’s team again fell too easily again to the Metropolitans. Throw in the return of Cora Staunton from Austraila and the task awaiting Galway in Castlebar is clear, but it’s an opportunity for the Tribeswomen to show they have improved.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.