Claremorris make one change for All-Ireland final showdown

MAYO and Connacht champions Claremorris have made one change to their starting line-up for this weekend’s currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Club Championship final.

Isobel Phillips comes into the full-back back line in place of Sarah Dee, who started the All-Ireland semi-final win over Erin’s Own Lavey from Derry.

Aidan Brennan’s women are aiming to become Mayo’s first All-Ireland Junior club champions when they take on Cork side O’Donavan Rossa on Sunday.

MacHale Rovers (2019) and Knockmore (2008) both fell short but hopes are high that Claremorris can end the county’s junior drought.

The South Mayo ladies survived a tough test against Sligo’s CT Gaels (Tubbercurry) in the provincial semi-final before defeating an excellent St Brigid’s from Leitrim in the Connacht Final.

With home advantage for their recent All-Ireland semi-final, the blue and gold flags were waving proudly in the town as Claremorris geared up for a clash with visitors Lavey from Derry.

On the day, goals proved crucial for Claremorris in a 5-4 to 2-11 win, with Nina Wallace (two), Bree Hession, Ashleagh Sammon and captain Laura Kelly finding the net.

Their opponents O’Donovan Rossa are no stranger to adversity, having recovered from losing the 2022 Cork Junior A Final to win the title in 2023.

Their 2022 conquerors, Naomh Abán, went all the way to last year’s All-Ireland final, where they lost out to Galway’s Salthill-Knocknacarra, and O’Donovan Rossa will be hoping to go one better.

In 13 previous seasons, Cork clubs have appeared in an All-Ireland Junior club final, with success achieved in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and in three successive years from 2017 to 2019.

O’Donovan Rossa’s form is good coming into this one. Having moved on successfully through Munster with victories against Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney, Clare’s Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clounmacon/Moyvane of Kerry, the Skibbereen-based club beat Glasgow Gaels in Scotland before playing host to Wexford’s Gusserane at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.

O’Donovan Rossa scored a 2-12 to 0-6 victory over Gusserane, with six points from Éabha O’Donovan and goals from Fionnuala O’Driscoll and Triona Murphy proving decisive.

Sunday’s currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Club Championship final throws in at 2.00pm in Dublin’s Parnell Park.

Claremorris: Claire Keane; Isobel Phillips, Ellie Maguire, Aisling Cummins, Amy Cummins, Síomha McNulty, Síle Hughes; Alana Fitzpatrick, Joanne Regan; Marina Cawley, Rebecca Kean, Bree Hession; Ashleagh Sammon, Nina Wallace, Laura Kelly (captain)

O’Donovan Rossa: C Fitzgerald; M Donnellan, E McCarthy, A Tobin; F Leonard, S Hurley, L Harte (capt.); L O’Mahony, T Murphy; J Beechinor, E Hurley, K O’Connell; É O’Donovan, K O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll.