Mayo captain Claire O’Hara has revealed that the Mayo camp was happy to avoid reigning champions Cork in the draw for this year’s TG4 Senior All Ireland Championship semi-finals. O’Hara was speaking ahead of her side’s semi-final clash with Ulster champions Monaghan.

“In any other year we would have been happy to meet Cork at an early knock out stage of the Championship but with the difficulties we have had this season we are happy to avoid them for as long as possible,” said O’Hara.

“We have had such a delayed start to our season and we have so few games under our belts that we are not yet ready to take on Cork and do ourselves justice in a game against the All Ireland champions,” continued O’Hara.

The Mayo captain is still struggling with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play a significant role in Saturday’s semi-final in Pairc Tailteann. But she believes that Monaghan were also happy with the draw.

“We would have been happy with either Tyrone or Monaghan and I believe Monaghan are happy with the draw too as we haven’t exactly had the best season to date. We played each other in a Challenge Match a little over two weeks ago but both teams were holding back and the result of that match will have very little baring on Saturday’s game,” said O’Hara.

It is believed that the Westerners will make several changes to the side that sneaked by Kerry in the last round as they seek out their best combinations.

Monaghan made short shrift of Sligo in the Championship quarter-finals and will be looking to do a double over the Connacht finalists and end Mayo’s All Ireland ambitions.

Monaghan’s last appearance in a Senior All Ireland final was back in 2002 when they lost out to Mayo and with Niamh Kindlon and Edel Byrne in prolific scoring form a return to GAA headquarters is in the offing for the Farney women.

Monaghan has experienced a great deal of national success at school and club level and the fruits of those labours are coming to fruition in this team littered with young stars. Ciara McAnespie is one such star who has yet to fire on all cylinders in this year’s Championship and Mayo will be hoping she does not find her best form in Navan this weekend.

The Intermediate Championship semi-final between Wexford and Tipperary will be played as part of a double header with the Monaghan/Mayo game at Pairc Tailteann.

Wexford were relegated from the top flight of the National League earlier in the season but bounced back to progress from the ultra competitive Intermediate Championship Group B.

The Model County has never won a Ladies Football All Ireland title and were narrowly defeated in last year’s Intermediate final. They retain nine players from the team that started against Leitrim in last year’s final as they attempt to secure a second consecutive September outing at Croke Park.

Tipperary’s last appearance in an All Ireland Ladies football final was back in 1980 when they won the senior title beating Cavan in the final but it has been a lean time for ladies football in the Premier County since those heady days.

Tipp lost just one game on their way to the semi-final and that came against National League champions Clare who are seen by many as favourites for the Intermediate crown this term.

ENDS

Saturday 30th August, 2008

TG4 Junior Championship Semi Final

St Peregrines GAA Club, Dublin; London v Wicklow, 3.00pm

TG4 Intermediate Championship Semi Final

Páirc Táilteann, Navan; Tipperary v Wexford, 4.15pm*

TG4 Senior Championship Semi Final

Páirc Táilteann, Navan; Mayo v Monaghan, 6.00pm*