Convent of Mercy return to Connacht final action

The Convent of Mercy are eyeing up a famous ambush when they tackle Sacred Heart, Westport, in this Thursday’s Connacht Senior A football championship final at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan (throw-in at 11.30 a.m.).

The mantle of reigning All-Ireland B champions, following last March’s victory against Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee, in the decider, may be resting on their shoulders, but David O’Reilly’s side have embraced playing at a higher level with two wins from three in the group stages.

“When you move up a grade, you don’t know what to expect, but the girls have taken to it like a duck to water,” said the manager.

A narrow 3-9 to 2-9 loss against Thursday’s opponents in the opening group game was followed by a 3-8 to 0-2 victory against Claregalway College. A comprehensive triumph followed against High Cross College, Tuam, to set up a rematch against Westport.

“We’ll be going into the game as underdogs. But if we show up, there’s a big performance in us. It’s a final, so anything could happen,” suggested O’Reilly.

The Convent will be without four starters from last season's All-Ireland B championship success — Aisling Hanly, Erin McDermott, Ellen Biesty and Ellen Tully. 

But players like captain Niamh Walsh from Oran, Ciara Dowd, Aisling Shanagher, Hazel Kelly, Michelle Rogers, Hannah Murray and Jenny Flynn will be expected to spearhead the Convent’s charge for victory.

A number of the players are involved in the school’s upcoming All-Ireland camogie quarter-final, while there are also personnel trying to nail down a place in the county minor and intermediate ladies’ football panels.

“We have similar challenges to last year but, overall, we have another good crop of players. It’s about getting the balance right, and hopefully we’ll give a very good account of ourselves on Thursday,” concluded O’Reilly.