All roads lead to Croke Park this coming Sunday (September 28th) as the TG4 All-Ireland ladies football finals kick off from 11.45am.
In the senior final which throws in at 4pm, Cork and Dublin go head-to-head for the ultimate prize.
Cork will be looking to make it four-in-a-row, and indeed a double whammy this year having already scooped the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie title a few weeks ago.
Cork, who are also this year’s National League Division 1 champions, have won eight out of the last nine senior football titles, with this Sunday’s opposition, Dublin, being the only stumbling block in that blazing run of glory when they took the title in 2010 (after overcoming Tyrone).
This weekend’s encounter is set to be another cracker. Both sides last met in the All-Ireland final in 2009 – where Cork took the honours.
It will be all to play for on the day in what is set to be a tough test of grit, heart and determination.
Angela Walsh and Annie Walsh celebrating.
“It’s gonna be a very tough competitive game,” acknowledged Cork’s Annie Walsh. “We (Cork and Dublin) have come across each other a number of times over the last few years. This year alone, we have met twice already in the league with both games finishing very close, ” the 28-year-old continued.
“I’ve been playing football since I can remember! I had two older sisters who played for my local club, Inch Rovers, and we used to go to all their games for years.
“I used to play club camogie but I retired this year. On the field I was basically a footballer with a hurl so I don’t think I’m too much of a loss!” she laughed, adding that she joined the senior county football panel in 2008. “I have five All-Ireland senior medals, six Munster senior medals and six Division 1 National Football Leagues.”
As a result, the talented player obviously has a number of sporting highlights.
“Winning an All-Ireland is very special,” she agreed, before adding, “but winning with your club is an unbelievable feeling! We won the All-Ireland Senior Club title with my club, Inch Rovers in 2010 beating Carnacon from Mayo after they had beaten us in the 2007 and 2008 deciders. Another highlight was winning the 2013 All-Ireland Final against Monaghan by the narrowest of margins – one solitary point – and scoring in Croke Park on the day!”
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, she acknowledges that although the hard work at training is tough, it all pays off.
“Sometimes it can be challenging, but it’s just as much a part of my life as my occupation and study and I just find that I get on with it and make it work!” explaining that she is also studying part time in the evenings.
“Work are really good to me if I ever need some leeway, and I always find time to catch up on study when I need to on those weekend nights in! Sometimes choices have to be made to juggle it all, but almost 100% of the time, football is always the winner.
“Dublin are a team on a roll and have come through to the final winning their Leinster title fairly comprehensively and beating some very formidable teams including Kerry and Galway in the All-Ireland Series. Therefore they will have serious confidence and momentum coming into the game.
“We will approach this game like we do all others. The panel has worked hard over the last few months and will aim to put in a good performance on the day. Hopefully that will be good enough to come out on top. It’s one more hour of football and the fact that it is in Croke Park makes it that bit more special!” she continued.
“It’s all worth it, definitely! Football is something I choose to do and is a major part of my life! There are only a few years in it and not too many others get to experience everything that we do, so we may aswell keep doing it and enjoying it while we can!”
All in all… it’s game on!
Make sure you tune in to the TG4 All-Ireland ladies finals tomorrow, starting with the junior final at 11.45am, the intermediate final at 1.45pm and the senior final at 4pm.
