TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship, semi-final
Cork v Galway, Parnell Park, Sunday, 1.30pm
TV
Live coverage on TG4 from 1pm
RADIO
Updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
WEATHER
Mainly dry, with Sunny spells. Very cold and frosty to start, with fog, gradually clearing. However, frost and fog may linger in some areas for much of the day. Maximum temperatures 3 to 6 degrees, light variable winds or calm conditions. More on MET.ie
Back to matters on the pitch
The build-up to the second of this year's semi-finals has been somewhat overshadowed by the furore surrounding the venue.
Originally set for Thurles to accomodate the Cork dual players, it was moved to the LIT Gaelic Grounds on the basis there was no clash with the Limerick senior hurlers. Their progression to the SHC All-Ireland final meant the Treaty men required the venue on Sunday and once again the game was on the move.
The players have simply got on with matters - Galway's Nicola Ward said she is happy to play a semi-final at any venue - and Parnell Park will now be the focus of attention on Sunday afternoon.
The meeting pairs the 2018 and 2019 runners-up, as Cork lost out to the Sky Blues two years ago, while the Tribeswomen came up short last year.
It's also a repeat of last year's league final, a game Cork won at Parnell Park.
When they last met in the Championship, Cork ran out comprehensive 6-19 to 1-10 quarter-final winners in Mullingar, while the Rebels had a two-point victory at the quarter-final stage in 2015 over Galway.
Also in 2015, Cork claimed a replay victory in the league final, and that recent sequence of big-game results suggests the Leesiders have the upper hand over the Westerners.
Galway are without suspended Fabienne Cooney for this one, as Sarah Gormally is handed her first championship minutes of the season in a starting role at corner back.
Cork and Galway women face off in the All-Ireland semi-final #RTEGAA #RTESport pic.twitter.com/0WorlLVMMw
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) December 4, 2020
Cork also make one change – Shauna Kelly getting the nod in defence, with dual player Meabh Cahalane dropping to the bench.
Kelly was introduced at half-time for Cahalane last time out against Cavan, and holds her place.
Cork beat Kerry and Cavan to make it to the last four, while Galway endured nerve-jangling one-point victories over Tipperary and Monaghan.
Cork will look to Saoirse Noonan (3-04 to date in the championship), Orla Finn (1-08), Áine Terry O’Sullivan (3-02) and skipper Doireann O’Sullivan (0-07) to fire them into the final.
"Cork are really experienced," says Galway defender Ward. "They know how to grind out matches as well. They have threats all over the pitch and such high quality forwards in Ciara O'Sullivan, Orla Finn [pictured above] and Aine Terry, who got three goals last time out."
Galway will be reliant on the scoring prowess of former skipper Tracey Leonard (0-11), Olivia Divilly (0-6), captain Louise Ward (1-2) and Lucy Hannon (1-2).
Brid Stack's verdict
"I'm really excited about the game this weekend. There's never been too much between Galway and Cork. They last met competitively in last year's league final and were only separated by two points. A mad game when you look back on it, with plenty of turning points.
"The two teams play a very similar brand of football, both are very attacking and are well set up. I can imagine we're in for a cracker again. It's back in Parnell Park where they met in that league final.
"Hopefully, for Cork, history repeats itself and they get over the line with a couple of points to spare."
Teams
Cork: M O’Brien; E Meaney, R Phelan, S Kelly; M Duggan, A Hutchings, E O’Shea; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; E Kiely, C O’Sullivan, O Finn; Á O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan (capt.), S Noonan.
Galway: L Murphy; S Gormally, S Lynch, S Burke; L Coen, C Cooney, N Ward; A Davoren, L Ward (capt.); O Divilly, M Glynn, L Noone; M Seoighe, T Leonard, L Hannon.
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