Saturday, 25th July
TG4 Intermediate Championship
London v Wexford, Fingallians, 2:30pm (G. Corrigan)
This will be second meeting of these two sides after they were also paired together in the Leinster championship. Wexford travelled to London that day and came away with a narrow victory. Although they are not the home side on this occasion the journey to Dublin will be far less arduous than the flight to London was. London will be hoping to score a victory in this match and are more than capable of doing so but the odds are in favour of Wexford.
TG4 Senior Championship
Cavan v Down, Clones, 4:45pm (J. Niland)
This is a meeting of the last two counties to win the TG4 Intermediate Championship but there can be little doubt that Cavan have made the better adjustment to life in the senior grade. Cavan competed well at the top of Division 2 of the League and were competitive despite losing to Tyrone in the Ulster Championship. Down have had a long year to date losing every competitive match they have played including a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Donegal in the Ulster Championship. There will be little doubt that Down will give it their all to claim a victory but they are up against it when they play Cavan.
Armagh v Laois, Clones, 6:30pm (G. Chapman)
Armagh and Laois met at the same stage last year and it was a comprehensive victory for the then Ulster Champions. Up to May of this year this match would also have been considered a foregone conclusion as a Laois side that were relegated from Division 1 after losing every match were in disarray. However, Laois have shown loads of signs of recovery as they played Dublin in the Leinster Championship and pushed them all the way. Armagh were on the crest of a wave after achieving promotion to Division 1 earlier this year but their momentum was ended in the Ulster championship by Monaghan. This match is one that Armagh will still fancy themselves to win but it might be a closer affair than the 2014 version. Watch out for the Armagh young gun Aimee Mackin who is a real emerging star of the game.
Sunday, July 26th
TG4 Ulster Intermediate Championship Final
Antrim v Fermanagh, Clones, 1:15pm (G. Corrigan)
Fermanagh will hope to reclaim the Ulster Intermediate crown when they meet Antrim in this weekend’s final and will go into this match as favourites. It has been a disappointing year for Fermanagh since their All Ireland disappointment last September. They were unimpressive in Division 3 of the League failing to reach the knock out stages and suffered the blow of losing their manager recently. Antrim have been under the radar and will hope to catch Fermanagh on the hop. Antrim will look to their leader Claire Timoney to show the way along with Mairead Cooper and Kirsty McGuinness. Fermanagh will have Caroline Little who is a brilliant footballer and will hope that Aisling Moane can supply enough possession to get the scores they need.
TG4 Ulster Senior Championship Final
Donegal v Monaghan, Clones, 3:15pm (B. Rice)
There is little doubt that this is the match of the weekend. Monaghan showed their class when they avenged last years defeat to Armagh by defeating the Orchard in the semi final. It has been a return to form for Monaghan under Peter Clarke this year as they have shown signs of recapturing the form that made them one of the top sides in the country for the past decade. Donegal are a team a lot of people fancy to have a real chance to reach Croke Park later this year. Donegal is the home of the All Ireland Club Champions and a county very much on the up. Sharon Courtney is the Monaghan captain and will surely be given the task of marking either Geraldine McLoughlin or Yvonne McMonagle. McLoughlin is returning to form following injury but when she is on form there is no better forward in the country. At the other end of the pitch Monaghan will be needing big performances from Caitriona McConnell, Ciara McAnespie and especially Caoimhe Mohan against what is a very tight Donegal defence.
This will be a close encounter between two good teams, whoever wins will immediately be installed amongst the favourites for All Ireland glory later this year.
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