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20 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association Neamh Woods, Tyrone, in action against Aisling Leonard, Kerry. NEAMH WOODS (TYRONE) PEIL Autumn | Issue No 3 | Volume 14 By DARAGH SMALL f all of the teams in Croke Park on All-Ireland finals day, Tyrone were the ones who really went out and made a statement. They won't be pushed around in the senior ranks next year. Tipperary won the 2017 final and performed well in esteemed company this year. But it can often happen that a team gets promoted to the senior grade, cannot compete against the most elite teams in Ladies football, but still slips down a tier again. Tyrone were desperately close to replacing Tipperary in this year's senior championship, but they were edged out 1-13 to 1-10 at headquarters in last year's final. However after Gerry Moane's team gave a brilliant account of themselves in Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League, they coasted through the Ulster championship and round robin phase. They saw off Wexford and Sligo with two outstanding performances and that set up the final against Meath. Tyrone captain Neamh Woods fired two goals in the final, as her side were resounding 6-8 to 1-14 winners. Now attention turns to whether they will be able to compete against the likes of Donegal in Ulster next year. Woods is confident they will be ready and willing to take the fight to any senior team. "Division 2 of the National League is a good stepping stone for us. You have senior teams playing in that as well, so it prepares you well heading into the Ulster SFC," said Woods. "We as players, you want to play at the top level, you want to play against the biggest teams and the top players. We really will look forward to it and be as prepared as we can." Woods is one of the more experienced players in this new look Tyrone outfit, and she was part of the team that were hammered 3-16 to 0-9 by Dublin in the senior final in 2010. Dublin would not secure another Brendan Martin Cup until 2017, and now they have put their successes back to back. The 29-year-old Drumragh native made her debut way back in 2006, and finally winning in Croke Park after two big final defeats, was a big weight off of her shoulders. "There is a few of us; Shannon Lynch, Gemma Begley and myself, that have played in three All-Irelands. We lost the 2010 senior final, last year's intermediate and it was certainly third time lucky," said Woods. "No words can ever describe that heartache in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day when you are on the wrong side of the result. Certainly that pushed us on from last year to get the win." It was a massive occasion for all concerned on the Jones' Road on 16 September. And with a record Back in the BIG TIME O We as players, you want to play at the top level, you want to play against the biggest teams and the top players. We really will look forward to it and be as prepared as we can.