Captains from the six competing teams gathered at Croke Park on Monday ahead of next Saturday’s 2023 ZuCar All-Ireland Minor Championship Finals.
With the countdown well underway to what promise to be three cracking games, the respective team captains Aoibhinn Eilian (Galway), Eimear Glancy (Kildare), Róisín Rahilly (Kerry), Laura Foley (Sligo), Aoibhe Shankey (Waterford) and Niamh Harkin (Donegal), visited Croke Park for a pre-Finals photocall.
In next Saturday’s Finals, Galway take on Kildare at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford, in the A Final at 2pm, with Kerry pitted against Sligo in the B Final at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, at 2.30pm.
The C Final will see Donegal up against Waterford, and that fixture will have a 2.30pm start in Kinnegad.
The A Final will see Galway, runners-up in 2022, up against Kildare, who are appearing in a very first A Final.
In total, this will be an 11th A Final appearance for Galway, who have been crowned champions previously in 2018, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2005 and 2002.
Kildare’s march to a first Minor A Final is an historic achievement and indicative of the great work being done in the county, with the Lillywhites also preparing for a TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final on Sunday August 13.
Kildare were All-Ireland Minor B champions in 2018 and will now aim to seal a first A title at the first attempt.
Meanwhile, Kerry and Sligo will both appear in a B Final for the very first time.
Kerry have appeared in Minor A Finals in the past, winning all three appearances in 1995, 1981 and 1980, and this game will revive memories of the recent All-Ireland U16 B Final between the counties.
Kerry came out on top on that occasion but Sligo will be hoping to gain revenge here and claim what would be a very first piece of national silverware at minor level.
And in the C grade, former A champions Donegal and Waterford will aim for national glory again, as first-time C Finalists.
Donegal are three-time A Finalists in the past, winning in 2009, while Waterford have played in seven A Finals, winning in 2001, 1997 1996, 1993 and 1991.
Looking ahead to the games, Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Mícheál Naughton, commented: “I’m looking forward to three terrific games. The six teams contesting the Finals are very much here on merit, and I wish each and every one of them the very best of luck.”
“We are also in the very fortunate position to have wonderful competition sponsors in ZuCar, who are also our Gaelic4Teens programme sponsors, and official Performance Partner of the LGFA.
The ZuCar All-Ireland Minor A Final will be streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube Page while the B and C Finals will be available to view on the LGFA Facebook page
All three games will be available to view free of charge via the LGFA Streaming Service.
