Cavan ladies footballers go in search of Suzuki Division 3 NFL final place Cavan ladies footballers play Derry on Sunday, 6th of April in St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown in this year's Susuki Division 3 National football league semi-final. The Cavan side qualified for the semi-final when they were awarded the points from a walkover in their final round game against Carlow. They overcame Louth by 3-12 to 1-2 in their opening game in Nobber and next was the challenge of Roscommon where they were defeated 4-3 to 0-9 in Edgeworthstown. Their final group game was at home to Offaly in Lacken where they emphatically beat the midlands by 0-18 to 0-2. The backline have been very efficient with Siobhan McGorry leading the charge at full back. The Drumgoon player has been in superb form recently. Along with the likes of Joanne Moore, Shaena Kiernan, Aisling Harton and Donna English, they will be ready for the Derry attackers. Cavan team-manager Eamon Lynch has a real asset in Claire Murtagh. The Kingscourt girl is a key player for any of the Cavan games. She has been playing along with Patricia Lynch, Renee Murphy and Ailish Cronyn with competition high for a place. The forwards have had some good scoring opportunities in the opening rounds. A total of 3-39 has been scored with Aisling Doonan in top form. Sharon Cassidy, Catriona Leddy, Grainne McGlade and the return of Bronagh Sheridan from injury have all added to Cavan's scoring profile. The surprise of the season has been Lacken's Roisin O'Keeffe who has matured from minor grade over the summer and is playing with more confidence this year. She is sure to be a threat to the Derry defence. The only worrying aspect for the Cavan management was the performance against Roscommon in the league. Cavan lost 4-3 to 0-9 in a game that Cavan controlled for almost forty minutes. Slackness in defence that day proved to be fatal and a repeat would spell defeat. The one positive from that game was the Breffni girls' sheer determination in going forward. Manager Eamon Lynch and his backroom staff are confident of a win Derry defeated Leitrim, Wicklow, Antrim and London along the way only losing to All-Ireland Junior champions Kilkenny. They have amassed a score of 14-45 playing just games more than Cavan. But there are flaws in their defence also with the defence conceding 9-35. The winners will play Ros-common or Kilkenny in the final on Saturday May 3rd. Cavan ladies footballers play Monaghan in the Ulster Minor Championship Cavan play Monaghan in their opening round on Saturday April 12th. Their next round is against Donegal on April 19th. Again numbers are falling and clubs are requested to have two players present for training. Contact Pamela Crowe, Barry Martin or Eamon Reilly if clubs wish to know about training. Cavan squad busily preparing for ladies football U-14 Ulster Championship There has been a huge response to the county training sessions held with over thirty players attending and many clubs still to send in their quota of players. At a recent meeting it was decided that if a club cannot send in five players then leniency will be allowed and two players will suffice. All clubs are asked to make huge efforts to get players involved in the age group. March monthly meeting of Cavan Ladies Football Board (Presentation to Tom Dowd, President of Cavan Ladies GAA) To mark the presidents 80th birthday the county board warmly congratulated Tom, and thanked him for all his efforts. Co. Board Chairman Raymond Brady added that there isn't a county in Ireland that has an iconic figure in sport such as Tom Dowd who attends monthly meetings on a regular basis. He wished him all the best for the future and thanked his wife Maureen for all her help also down the years. Co. Managers address recent Ladies Football Co. Board meeting Several of the Cavan county team-managers addressed the meeting with relevant issues concerning their teams. All the under-age management representatives spoke of the fear that not all clubs are sending in their players and may not be serious about the importance of playing with their county with They all agreed that while they have panels of players, these panels are not enough if there are any injuries sustained and this could prove to be problematic. Present at the meeting were Conor Lennon, Eamon Reilly and Gerry Leinster representing the under-age county managements. Venues availability for training, especially around the centre of town was also an issue. County senior team-manager Eamon Lynch complimented his backroom staff and all the players for their commitment so far this year. However he said that over the next few months the senior panel would be losing some of its players due to travel and study, and that there were many players with the potential to play for Cavan. The Chairman Raymond Brady urged clubs to contact their managers and make available where appropriate any ladies they might think are able for county football. He added that people like Eamon Lynch, Finian Farrell and Concepta Traynor had done great work over the years and that it was people like these that elevated Cavan into the top four teams in Ulster. He said that he would not like to see Cavan slipping down into the B grades at any level. It was agreed that all clubs would take these issues back to their committees and send in their best players. Cavan in training for U-16 Ulster Championship Regular training will take place in Kingspan Breffni Park on Fridays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Parents and clubs are asked to make sure all players are in this week-end as the Ulster championship commences on Tuesday 8th April with an way game against Down in the Semi Final. A week later they will play Down at home in Cavan. The aggregate score will decide the winners who go through to the final. Other Cavan Ladies Football Board news Competition cups/trophies: All clubs were asked to make available the trophies and cups that were won last year and have them ready for the April monthly meeting. These would be collected by the competitions committee. Feile evenings - proving a great success Host evenings - The recent host evenings proved a huge success, according to county secretary Martha Brady. She stated that they were well attended and that all clubs were now fully aware about the Feile festival of football this summer. Clubs had a chance to meet Feile committee members and ask questions about their preparation so far. She thanked the clubs and the venues for looking after them. Many of the clubs spoke about the great help the host family evening meetings had been and that clubs were more comfortable now with the hosting of players. They thanked the county board for their efforts. It was suggested that nearer the time of Feile that the host family evenings exercise be rolled out again to finalise clubs preparations. Referees course: Code of Ethics course will take place on May 10th. All Feile officers, U-14 club managers and children's officers are asked to attend. Tweet

Most Read Stories