Local derby with All-Ireland final place up for grabs

Westmeath and Roscommon ladies footballers will do battle for a place in an All-Ireland final on Sunday in Glennon Bros Pearse Park, Longford (throw-in 1pm).

The sides will meet in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate semi-final.

Lake County manager Sean Finnegan said he was eagerly looking forward to facing up their western neighbours.

“Every time you play in an All-Ireland semi-final, even though it might be the last Sunday in November, it is fantastic. I’ll be brutally honest, that’s where we expected to be when we started back, and that’s not being disrespectful to Longford or Louth. It’s a big challenge, but it’s great to be involved, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

When asked had he much information on next Sunday’s opponents, the Westmeath bainisteoir responded: “Up until last Sunday week, we didn’t even think about them. We dealt with Longford first and then Louth. It was only after we had beaten Louth that our minds turned to Roscommon. For the last few days, I’ve been watching their two matches this season against Wexford and Offaly. That’s the benefit of everything being on social media.

“We’ve looked at them in quite a bit of detail. They are a very good outfit and have been around a while at this level. They were unlucky in last year’s semi-final and they are a battle-hardened outfit. They are there on merit and we are going to have to play well to beat them.”

In contrast, Roscommon manager Michael Finneran believes his side have a bonus game against a side he described as excellent.

“All the pressure is on Westmeath. They are expected to bounce back up,” Finneran said, of his opponents who were relegated from the senior tier last season.

“This is bonus territory now and we can go and have a cut at it on Sunday and measures ourselves against a really good team," he added.

Finneran said spirits are very high in the camp ahead of the semi-final. “The girls are delighted. The fact that we were able to play football and the fact that their efforts have been rewarded to a certain extent, they are delighted.”

The panels

The panels

Westmeath intermediate ladies panel

Lauren McCormack Mullingar Shamrocks

Rachel Dillon Milltown

Lucy Power The Downs

Niamh Spellman Mullingar Shamrocks

Vicky Carr St. Lomans

Fiona Claffey Foxrock-Cabinteely

Ayesha Roche Kilbeggan Shamrocks

Johanna Maher Tyrrellspass

Tracey Dillon Milltown

Leona Archibold St Loman’s Mullingar

Anna Jones Mullingar Shamrocks

Lucy McCartan St Loman’s Mullingar

Sarah Dolan Garrycastle

Ciara Blundell St. Loman’s

Karen Hegarty Mullingar Shamrocks

Aoife Temple Athlone

Abbie Sheerin Milltown

Annie Dolan Clann Gaels

Chloe Smullen Mullingar shamrocks

Clodagh Dillon Milltown

Emma Ballesty Milltown

Emma Kelly Moate

Fiona Coyle St. Mary’s Rochfortbridge

Grace Halligan Garrycastle

Jennifer Rogers Milltown

Leanne Slevin Milltown

Lorraine Duncan Garrycastle

Sarah McCormack Moate

Sinéad Byrne Milltown

Sinéad Murtagh Coralstown/Kinnegad

Tara Fagan Mullingar Shamrocks

Jill Draper Kilbeggan Shamrocks

Roscommon intermediate ladies football panel

Helena Cummins Michael Glavey's

Honor Ennis St Ciaran's

Sinéad Kenny St Croan's

Elaine Murren Western Gaels

Niamh Watson St Dominic's

Ellen Irwin St Faithleach’s

Róisín Wynne Boyle

Caroline Conway Ballyboden Wanderers, Dublin

Jenny Higgins Western Gaels

Laura Fleming St Ciaran's

Natalie McHugh Kilglass Gaels

Joanne Cregg Michael Glavey's

Aimee O'Connor St Dominic's

Aoife Gavin St Dominic's

Sinéad Glennon Boyle

Sasha Lavin Western Gaels

Rachel Brady St Mary's

Sarah McVeigh St Barry's

Rachel Fitzmaurice St Ciaran's

Louise Brady St Mary's

Kate Nolan St Brigid's

Megan Kelly Clann na nGael

Rachel Corcoran St Dominic's

Saoirse Wynne Boyle

Ciara Corcoran St Dominic's

Mikaela McHugh Kilglass Gaels

Lauren Curran St Brigid's

Alanna Hanmore Castlerea St Kevin's

Shannon McGuinness St Barry's

Lisa O'Rourke Castlerea St Kevin's