Tuam Cortoon ladies set for Connacht final

Galway Intermediate champions meet Pádraig Pearses from Roscommon

After securing promotion to senior ranks, Tuam Cortoon manager Kevin Reidy admits his side are in 'bonus territory' entering Sunday's Connacht Intermediate Club Football Championship final with Pádraig Pearses from Roscommon. Fr. Kilcoyne Park in Tubbercurry is the venue with a 1 o'clock throw-in time.

Tuam Cortoon bounced back strongly from last year’s county decider loss to Caltra Cuans and were the standout team at the grade in Galway this campaign. Victories over Naomh Anna Leitir Móir (1-9 to 0-4), Bearna Na Forbacha (2-14 to 1-4) and Oughterard (0-16 to 1-9) amounted to strong form at the group stage.

Clodagh Fallon, the local championship's top scorer, and Aoife O’Rourke combined for 2-8 in their semi-final victory over St. Fursey's from Headford (2-13 to 1-5). O'Rourke turned in a player of the match display and, along with Lara Finnegan, was among the goals when Bearna Na Forbacha were defeated for a second time in an impressive final performance (2-9 to 1-5).

"It was great because they're a very committed bunch," Reidy told Herald Sport. "Last year hurt them [losing to Caltra Cuans] and they were thrilled. We're in bonus territory now. We said that to them, to enjoy their football from here on in and see where it brings us.”

Momentum built in Galway was carried into the provincial arena where Kiltubrid from Leitrim (0-15 to 2-4) and Mayo's Moy Davitts (1-11 to 0-6) were accounted for, taking Tuam Cortoon to within 60 minutes of a second piece of significant silverware.

The team features three of Galway's All-Ireland senior medal winners in Kate Geraghty, Aoife O'Rourke and Eabha Smith. Geraghty lifted the Brendan Martin Cup in Croke Park in August and is in contention to pick up her second All-Star award in mid-November. Reidy speaks in glowing terms about what the trio bring to the club.

"They are very influential in the group. Their experience and the way they perform on the day of a game, even at training, it's a different level. Obviously, the rest of the girls are trying to match them. They're three great girls. Kate is our captain as well. She goes about it in a very quiet way, but she's a great leader.”

They weren't the only intercounty players to bring All-Ireland medals back to Tuam Cortoon as Saoirse Melia and Sarah Banks also won an U-20 All-Ireland title with Galway in July.

Add Galway minors in Clodagh Fallon, India Cunniffe and Molly McGrath, as well as Eimear Fallon, who was on the county's provincial title winning team at U-16 level, and Tuam Cortoon's adult team is reaping the rewards of excellent development work.

"There's an awful lot of underage coaching going on with good people involved and committed people. Obviously, we're getting the finished product at adult level. We have to be very thankful to the people that are doing the coaching and who started them off. They put in a lot of the work. Also, the schools are putting in plenty of work as well. They're great girls and their attitudes are just so spot on. Those younger girls, they just love their football."

Along with Reidy, the Tuam Cortoon management also includes Ian Halligan, Derek Smith, Donal Marley, Alma Finnegan, Gerry Reynolds (stats) and Alannah McCarthy (physio).

"Derek took the junior team and Ian took the minor team," explained Reidy. "We'd all train together. We've a big group there and we'd all work and row in together and help out. You're talking about the same group of players. We'd be training all the same together. It's a good setup and we all work very well together. If there's one missing, it doesn't matter, it doesn't weaken the session at all.

"I am enjoying it because it's so easy enjoy it with these girls because they just turn up, they play, and there's no drama. They get on with it. I've a great management team, they're excellent. We all work together and there's no major pressure on one person.

"The girls are just so committed. Once we got everyone back, it took a while because some of the players were unavailable during the league. Their commitment has been brilliant once we got going."

For Tuam Cortoon, it’s a fourth straight weekend of action. Several members of their panel also featured in a narrow Minor A championship final loss to Claregalway recently.

Their opponents Pádraig Pearses hail from Woodmount, just outside Ballinasloe, and defeated CT Gaels from Sligo in their rescheduled semi-final on Bank Holiday Monday.

"They're a good team,” says Reidy. “They're similar to ourselves in that they've a good few minors and have a bit experience as well. They have some exceptional minors that would have played with Roscommon this year that were beaten in the All-Ireland final.

“It should be a good game of football. Obviously, the games are coming thick and fast at the minute. It's play the game, try and get a bit of recovery and one training session in really. We trained Wednesday night and will go for a kickabout on Friday night. They're all looking forward to it."

The Tuam Cortoon team that started against Moy Davitts in Foxford last weekend was: Aoife Higgins; Eimear Fallon, Sarah Banks, Laura O’Dea; India Cunniffe, Kate Geraghty (captain), Jenni Reidy; Lara Finnegan, Aoife O’Rourke; Clodagh Fallon, Molly McGrath, Saoirse Melia; Eabha Smith, Gemma Casserly, Sharon Devaney. Subs used: Emer Roche, Ayla Whelan, Gemma Gavin.