Preview: Dublin Ladies SFC final

New Ireland Assurance Senior Championship Final

Friday, September 28, 7.30pm

Venue: St Margaret’s GAA club

Foxrock Cabinteely v St Brigid’s

Foxrock Cabinteely and St Brigid’s will be contesting the 2018 Senior Championship final tonight in St Margaret’s GAA club, throw in 7:30pm.

Foxrock Cabinteely are looking to claim their fifth County crown having won their first title back in 2012 since that inaugural victory they have gone on to achieve the “three in a row” winning the 2015, 2016 and 2017 finals. Without question Foxrock Cabinteely have been a dominate force in club football at senior level over the last six years contesting the senior final every season since 2012 with just the one exception, 2013.

The honour of being the only team to defeat Foxrock Cabinteely in a championship final goes to Na Fianna who defeated the Southside club in the 2014 decider.

However, reigning champions, Foxrock Cabinteely will come into Friday’s finals as firm favourites based not only on their form in the championship to date but also on the overall strength of their current senior squad. Team manager, Pat Ring has amassed a group of talented footballers made up of players who have come up through their juvenile ranks combined with number of girls who originally played their football outside of the capital.

Westmeath’s Fiona Claffey was instrumental in securing their semi-final win over Kilmacud Crokes bagging two vital side half goals for her adopted club. While Aedin Murray (Meath), Lorna Fusciardi (Wicklow) and Laura Nerney (Laois) all contributed well to the teams victory over their great rivals from Stillorgan.

Foxrock Cabinteely’s county panellists, Emma McDonagh, Sinead Goldrick, Niamh Collins, Tarah O’Sullivan, Amy Connolly and Hannah O’Neill will all play a key role in Friday’s contest. While county minors Jodi Egan, Lisa Davies, Sarah O’Leary, Faye O’Connell Bell and Emma Hughes are primed to do a job from the bench for the reigning champions if called upon.

In contrast to their opponents, St Brigid's are seeking to win the Michael Murphy cup for a historic first time having lost out to Foxrock Cabinteely in the 2015 and 2016 finals.

St Brigid’s have also enjoyed an impressive run in the championship although they did experience a late scare in their semi-final victory over Thomas Davis as a shot on goal late in injury time came back off Ciara Trant’s cross bar to deny the Tallaght club the possibility of brining the game to extra time.

Key players for St Brigid’s this season has been their Dublin representatives, Ciara Trant, Dee Murphy and 2017 footballer of the year Noelle Healy. While former Dublin senior player Sorcha Furlong and U21 All Ireland winner Leah Mullins have played a huge part in St Brigid's returning to contest a county final.

Kerry intercounty footballer, Emma Sherwood was also immense at midfield for the Blanchardstown club in their semi-final win over Thomas Davis scoring four points, three of which came from play.

The loss of Barrett sisters, Shona and Colleen both unavailable for team selection due to serious knee injuries will be a major blow to St Brigid’s and indeed their aspirations of bringing Foxrock Cabinteely’s reign to an end.

However, St Brigid’s have nothing to lose and will bring experience, huge grit and determination into Friday’s contest making it a game not to be missed.

Referee John Doherty (Garda) will get the action underway at 7:30pm on Friday night keep up to date with the match with Dublin LGFA with LIVE score updates available via our Twitter page

Foxrock Cabinteely Senior Panel: Aedin Murray, Aisling Tarpey, Amy Connolly, Amy Ring, Cara Cooke, Ciara Murphy, Ciara Ní Mhurchadh, Ciara O’Riordan, Emma Hughes, Emma McDonagh, Fay O’Connell Bell, Fiona Claffey, Hannah O’Neill, Hazel Dennedy, Jodi Egan, Katie McNally, Laura Nerney, Laurie Ahern, Lorna Fusciardi, Niamh Collins, Niamh Ryan, Roisin McGovern, Sarah Quinn, Sinead Delahunty, Sinead Goldrick, Tarah O’Sullivan.

St Brigids Senior Panel: Aimee Molloy, Amy Fitzpatrick, Anne Marie Troy, Aoife Coffey, Aoife Joyce, Carmel Monahan, Caroline Brogan, Ciara Trant, Clare McCormack, Colleen Barrett, Deirdre Murphy, Emma Sherwood, Enya Farrell, Leah Mullins, Louise Reilly, Mairead McCarthy, Niamh Jacob, Niamh O’Donovan, Noelle Healy, Sarah Patton, Shauna Hinkson, Shona Barrett, Siobhan Devlin, Sorcha Furlong.

Foxrock Cabinteely Path to the Final:

16.05.2018 Rd 1

Foxrock Cabinteely 1-19 Thomas Davis 0-10

23.05.2018 Rd 2

Foxrock Cabinteely 3-20 St Brigids 3-08

30.05.2018 Rd 3

Foxrock Cabinteely 3-21 Parnells 2-04

09.06.2018 Quarter Final

Foxrock Cabinteely 1-12 St Sylvesters 1-10

22.09.2018 Semi Final

Foxrock Cabinteely 2-10 Kilmacud Crokes 1-07

St Brigid’s Path to the Final:

16.05.2018 Rd 1

St Brigid’s 1-07 Thomas Davis 0-07

23.05.2018 Rd 2

St Brigid’s 3-08 Foxrock Cabinteely 3-20

30.05.2018 Rd 3

St Brigid’s 7-15 Thomas Davis 1-07

09.06.2018 Quarter Final

St Brigid’s 10-16 St Maurs 0-05

22.09.2018 Semi Final

St Brigid’s 1-7 Thomas Davis 0-7

Senior Championship Roll of Honour:

Ballyboden St Endas 11 (2000-2010)

Portobello 6 (1992, 1995-1999)

Marino 4 (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993)

Foxrock Cabinteely 4 (2012, 2015-2017)

Robert Emmets 2 (1991, 1994)

Na Fianna 2 (2011, 2014)

Rathcoole 1 (1985)

UCD 1 (1986)

St Monica’s 1 (1989)

Fingallians 1 (2013)