Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1504175
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SUMMER 2023 | 15 MATCH Preview Q: Q: Q: Q: A: A: A: A: considering the inconsistency in performance from both sides. It's very clear that Waterford need to drastically improve their attacking football. To use the old adage, scores win games and Waterford just haven't been getting enough of them to date. If they can improve that, then I see them coming through. With Kerry now through to play Mayo in the semi- finals, how do you see this playing out? This is a very interesting match-up as they have similar styles. Both are quick on the counter-attack, make good use of the kick pass and defend very well high up the pitch. Mayo's victory against Galway in the quarter-final was very impressive as they weren't playing well for large periods but held on, and when push came to shove they had the hunger to cross the line. That said, I think Kerry are more polished with this style of play, so it's Kerry for me. Who are the key players to watch out for on both teams? For Kerry, Cáit Lynch & Niamh Ní Chonchúir are essential to what they do. Not only for their work-rate but also, their heads-up football around midfield means that Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Hannah O'Donoghue are quickly supplied, giving them time and space to pick off scores. For Mayo, Aoife Geraghty is a powerful player in the middle of the field and to me, Mayo's chances improve a lot if Lisa Cafferky is fit to start. Sum up what lies in store and give us a predicted score? I think we'll see plenty of free-flowing, high-paced, exciting football. I also expect it to be higher scoring game than the other semi-final. I have serious questions over Mayo's back line as they seemed more effective at defending in their forward and midfield areas than in front of their own goal against Galway. The numbers were there but nobody was taking responsibility. They will have to improve on this because Kerry will exploit this badly. To me, Kerry are the better team overall so I'll say Kerry 2-12, Mayo 0-11. While we have you, how do you see the semi-final between Cork and Dublin playing out? This is a much harder game to call. In my opinion, neither team have been too convincing by their own standards but have managed to get the job done when called upon. Dublin disposed of Donegal quite easily but this was a poor Donegal performance and we've already seen better opposition expose some cracks in Dublin this year. Cork might be just another team capable of doing this so I'm going with Cork. Images top to bottom: 1 Niamh Ní Chonchúir of Kerry during the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 1 Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. 2 Aoife Geraghty of Mayo during the TG4 All-Ireland SFC Group A Round 2 match between Cavan and Mayo at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford. 3 Hannah O'Donoghue of Kerry during the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 1 Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin.