FLYING FIT Carnacon’s Cora Staunton. Pic: Michael Donnelly
Preview
Ger Flanagan
MAYO champions Carnacon boast the advantage of a full complement of players as they welcome Galway rivals Kilkerrin/Clonberne to Clogher for a mouth-watering Connacht LGFA senior club football semi-final next Saturday.
The 22-time Mayo winners will be aiming to avenge their semi-final defeat to the same opponents at this stage last year, after a replay was needed to find an eventual winner.
Carnacon’s performance that day was hampered by the fact that Cora Staunton was only working her way back to fitness after a leg break while on duty with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in Australia.
This time around the Mayo ladies legend is flying fit and chomping at the bit to try and help Carnacon regain the Connacht championship for the first time since 2017.
Her former county team-mates Martha Carter and Marie Corbett have also managed to shake off slight knocks they picked up in the aftermath of their County Final victory over Moy Davitts.
Former All Star and midfielder Fiona McHale (who is also training the team this year), along with the Dowling sisters, Amy and Louise, and Brianna Bruton are also in good form at the moment.
Doireann Hughes is the only absentee from Beatrice Casey’s squad this year due to her studies in Scotland.
Kilkerrin/Clonberne regained their Galway senior title with a hard-fought win over Claregalway last Saturday afternoon, on a scoreline of 2-15 to 1-9.
A young and mobile side, they boast a number of Galway stars such as Louise Ward, her cousin, Nicola, and dangerous attacker Olivia Divilly. Annette Clarke at wing forward has also been producing some big displays recently.
Their veteran defender Nicola Ward is likely to try and curtail the influence of Cora Staunton.
Carnacon will only receive a limited number of tickets to allow their supporters into Ray Prendergast Memorial Park on Saturday, but they will still be determined to turn it into a fortress on the day and home advantage could have a role to play in what should be a tight game.
Carnacon can get the upper hand.
Fixture
Connacht LGFA Senior Club FC Semi-Final
Carnacon v Kilkerrin-Clonberne
Saturday, October 3
Clogher at 4pm
