GAA preview: Kerry and Galway aim to end long wait for All-Ireland

The All-Ireland ladies football finals take centre stage this Sunday in Croke Park, as Kerry take on Galway in the senior final.

Galway have not won an All-Ireland since 2004, while Kerry are aiming for their first title since 1993.

After a dissapointing league campaign, Galway defeated All-Ireland champions Dublin in the quarter-finals, before defeating Cork in the semi-finals to reach their first final since 2019.

For Kerry, they have lost their lost two finals, and will be eager to end their 31 year wait for the Brendan Martin Cup.

After losing the Division One final to Armagh, Kerry have gone unbeaten in the championship, with a win over Armagh in the semi-finals.

Kerry go with an unchanged starting line-up, while Emma Reaney replaces Ailish Morrissey on the Galway team, in the only change in personnel.

Galway: D Gower; M Jordan, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty; A Ní Cheallaigh, N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn, A Davoren (capt.); O Divilly, L Ward, N Divilly; E Reaney, L Coen, R Leonard.

Kerry: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody (capt.), N Ní Chonchúir, S O’Shea; D O’Leary, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

In the Intermediate final, Leitrim take on Tyrone, as they both aim for their second Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.

Leitrim won their last title in 2007, while Tyrone last lifted the trophy in 2017.

Tyrone have already had one final this season in Croke Park, as they came up short in the Division Two final to Kildare.

Victory for either side would see them play senior football next season, in what has been an excellent season for both Leitrim and Tyrone.

Leitrim repeated their Connacht Final win over Roscommon in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate quarter-final, before getting the better of a fancied Wexford outfit in the semi-final.

Tyrone were also handed tough tasks, overcoming last year’s runners-up, Clare, in what was a stand-out quarter-final result, before getting past the challenge of Ulster champions Down

Leitrim: M Monaghan; E Quigley, C Tyrrell, C Owens; S Reynolds, K Bruen, E Bruen; N Tighe, M Guckian (capt.); O Flynn, L O’Dowd, M Devaney; A Clancy, S Quinn, Á Redican.

Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; C Daly, M Corrigan, C Campbell; A McHugh (capt.), M Mallon; Á Grimes, A Horisk, E.J. Gervin; C McCaffrey, Z Loughran, M Canavan.

In the Junior final, Fermanagh and Louth get the action underway in Croke Park.

Fermanagh won all four of their games to top Group A, as Louth won their three Group B fixtures to finish on top of the pile.

That set up a semi-final for Fermanagh against Limerick, with the Erne County gaining revenge against the Shannonsiders after losing at the same stage last year, as Louth met Carlow again, which ended in another victory.

Fermanagh won the Junior title in 2017 and 2020, while Louth lifted the West County Hotel Cup in 1998, 2015, and 2019, when they defeated Fermanagh.

Fermanagh: M Maguire; C Clarke, M McGloin, E Keenan; S McQuade (capt.), C Murphy, C Bogue; B Bannon, L Maguire; D Maguire, J Doonan, A McCabe; B Bogue, E Smyth, B Smyth.

Louth: R Lambe Fagan; L Byrne, E Murray, E Hand; H Lambe Sally, Á Breen (capt.), C Nolan; A Halligan, E Byrne; L White, A Russell, C McDonald; N Rice, K Flood, S Matthews.