ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: DUBLIN V TYRONE
By Daire Walsh
THE Dublin ladies footballers will begin the latest defence of their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title with a Group Three opener against Tyrone at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan on Saturday (throw-in 2pm).
Mick Bohan’s Jackies are searching for a fifth consecutive Brendan Martin Cup and will be hot favourites against a Red Army side that were national intermediate champions three years ago.
Interestingly, Tyrone provided the opposition when Dublin won their maiden senior crown at Croke Park in 2010.
There is strong local interest in the capital squad with Clondalkin native Hannah Tyrrell arguably the in-form player in the country at the moment.
Now playing her club football with northside outfit Na Fianna, the former Ireland rugby international was named at right half-forward on the Team of the Division One National Football League.
Joining Tyrrell on this selection was Lucan Sarsfields’ Abby Shiels – just reward for the 18-year-old’s superb displays in Dublin’s march towards a top-tier league success.
Her place may well come under threat from the more experienced Ciara Trant, but Shiels’ form is offering Bohan a welcome headache.
In their Division One final triumph over Cork at GAA HQ last Saturday week, Thomas Davis stalwart Siobhan McGrath showcased her enduring quality with a powerful ‘Player-of-the-Match’ performance.
She has been rejoined on the panel this year by her club-mate Olwen Carey, who was centre half-back on the aforementioned team of the league.
Ballinteer St John’s star Orlagh Nolan has also been threatening a breakthrough into the Jackies defence and is expected to feature prominently as the summer progresses.
Following this weekend’s game, Dublin will face Waterford at Baltinglass on July 17. The top two-teams in each group will advance to an All-Ireland quarter-final and a win on Sunday will give the holders one foot in the last-eight.