There is no doubt that if Stabannon are to become the first Louth team to win an All-Ireland Intermeadiate Club Title that they will have done it the hard way. On the way to Sundays decider they have overcome the champions of Laois, Dublin, Meath and Cork. Sundays opponents Lisnaskea will provide a formidable challenge with outstanding players throughout the field in what promises to be a classic encounter.

The Fermanagh champions are backboned by county stars Aine Martin and the Little sisters,Caroline and Sharon.They beat a strongly fancied Newtownbutler to take the Erne county title before disposing of Gowna (Cavan) and Monaghan Harps on their way to the Ulster final and scoreing an impressive 8-25 along the way.  In a closely contested provincial decider they got the better of Omagh St.Endas by 2-08 to 1-09. They booked their place in Sundays final when they beat Parnells (London) by 0-13 to 1-09, whose ranks had been boosted by a lare number of Irish exiles, the winning score coming in added-on time from Fermanagh ace Caroline Little,whose brother Mark has been a main stay on the county team for some time. Lisnaskea last won their county title in 2007  and went on to take the Ulster title beating Crossmaglen in that years final. They still have many of that side available but their hopes of All-Ireland glory this year took a knock after the provincial success as two of their leading players Derbhilia Murphy and Louise Curran left for Australia.

However there are plenty of reasons for Stabannon to be cheerful heading into Sundays game in Scotstown which has a 2oc starting time. They have turned in some very impressive displays in reaching the final, most notably in the victory over Bride Rovers (Cork) and in the Leinster final win over Oldcastle. A notable feature of their performances has been their high fitness levels as they finish games very strongly. Grace and Kim Lynch are expected to start in mid-field, and if they can take hold of the middle, which will be difficult, then Parnells will be hard to stop.While Lisnaskea will offer a challenge, their main ambition might be to halt  Stabannon from clicking into gear. Because when the Louth  champions find their stride in attack, they excite and will inflict damage on any team. With forwards such as Jenny McGuiness, Tara Lynch, Mary Maloney and Grace Rogers they should be capable of racking up a decent score-line. Jenny McGuinness is not the rising star she was a few seasons ago, she is an established county player who is enjoying  possibly her best ever season, and the only way to deny top players  like McGuinness influencing the game is to stop the supply line into the forward line and no doubt that is  what  Lisnaskea will attempt to do. In defence Andrea Carney is back to her best form while AnnMarie Lynch is  a player that makes her team feel assured. The  Giggins sisters have impressed this year too,while Orla Byrne has passed every test she has faced this season and is sure to be in Louth manager John Hanrattys plans.. This Stabannon team have played together for some time now  and are growing stronger with each match. They have put the disapointment of defeat in theL einster final last year firmly behind them. They know the pain of losing in a final appearance, with a number of their members also on the Louth team which was beaten by Limerick in last years final in Croke Park. Manger Ciaran Marks will remind them of  the feeling in the dressing after those losses and to use it as a motoivational tool on Sunday.

It should be an enthralling encounter and while the Stabannon defence will be tested, Parnells  can   rise to the challenge, with their forwards releasing the shackles and hammer home just how much they want this All-Ireland title

Meanwhile Pat Carr has congratulated Stabannon on reaching Sundays All-Ireland final.  The Louth Chairman has urged as many people as possible to  get along to Scotstown to support them in their efforts to bring All-Ireland honours to the county. They have got to this national final on the back of some superb displays and have been fantastic ambassadors for Ladies Football in Louth. Regardless of the result on Sunday, I have no doubt that they have made their families, their community and their club extremley proud by their achievements on the football fields both locally nd nationally. Victory on Sunday would top off  what has been  a wonderful year for all associated with the club, concluded the Geraldines clubman

[Report: Dermot Woods]