Mayo champions Claremorris gunning for Connacht final spot

This weekend, Claremorris will fly the Mayo flag on the provincial stage when they make their way to the heart of East Galway for what promises to be a thrilling Connacht Ladies semi-final.

On Sunday at 1pm, Caltra Cuans will be a dangerous adversary, and those who fly the blue and white flags are right to be wary of the stiff challenge coming down the tracks.

Gaelic games in Caltra are on the crest of a wave at present. In 2025, both their men's and women's sides have brought home intermediate titles, and simultaneously joined the list of clubs vying for the senior crown in 2026.

Next weekend, Kilmeena will have the task of dashing the men's side's hopes of provincial glory. This Sunday, though, it will fall on Johnny Cummins' Blue Brigade to spoil the party.

Victory will be hard-earned. The girls in green came out on top of a thriller against Tuam-Cortoon to secure their first intermediate title since 2011.

The East Galway side, under the tutelage of Peter Birch, have no shortage of talent, including Emma Reaney, who has lined out in the maroon of the Tribeswomen in recent campaigns.

Reaney was her usual classy self in the decider, scoring 1-2, including a fine goal which proved decisive.

They may have been without fellow inter-county stars Mary-Anne Jordan and Aoife Ní Cheallaigh through injury, but they had plenty of players who put up their hands and were counted.

Saoirse Murray was exemplary, while the likes of Nicole Conway helped to shut up shop and restrict their opponents.

They'll have a hard time doing that when the Clare Lake-siders make their way to Caltra.

Claremorris continued to soar by dispatching Drumkeerin and are hell-bent to end the campaign with at least one more crown.

They have a constellation of fine 'ballers, but the star who shines the brightest is young Bree Hession, the embodiment of the shovel-loads of potential across the turf.

Isobel Phillips and Síomha McNulty boss midfield regularly, while few can dispute the talents of Aishling Cummins in shoring up a water-tight rearguard.

Who comes away with a place in the decider from here is anyone's guess. Both sides have a staggering arsenal of talent that would be the envy of some sides in senior this season.

It'll be tight, tense, frenetic, and hard-fought, but I'd just back Claremorris to be bouncing back through Dunmore and Clonberne with their ticket punched to the final.

VERDICT: Claremorris