Women's Football: All-Ireland semi-final previews

Meath v Mayo (Parnell Park, today, 2.0)

Meath will be making their third successive semi-final appearance, but having lost to Waterford in 1997 and Monaghan by two points last year, they will be looking to end the losing streak and make it to Croke Park.

Here they meet Mayo for the first time at a semi-final stage. As the only senior team in Connacht, Mayo had a direct route to the semi-final, as has been the case every year since they won the junior All-Ireland title in 1987. So far, however, a final appearance has proved beyond them.

All the indications are that this will be a close game. The sides ended up on level terms when they last met, in the league back in March. Mayo later lost their league semi-final to Waterford only after extra time, while Meath also went down at that stage, 3-9 to 0-13, at the hands of Monaghan.

Both Meath and Mayo will again look to their free-takers for much of the scoring responsibility. Meath's corner forward Elaine Duffy claimed all but one of her 0-6 total from frees in the Leinster final victory over Laois while Cara Staunton has been equally important for Mayo in the same role. Elsewhere, Meath will depend on a number of players from Summerhill, the Meath county champions, and are led by the experienced Deborah Mangan from Seneschalstown. Both teams will be forces in the future, with eight of the Mayo panel and six of the Meath squad still minors.

Meath: M Fox; J Quinn, P McNelis, D Shaw; D Mangan (capt), AM Dennehy, L McKeever; D O'Carroll, N McNelis; C O'Brien, D McGoldrick, M Maguire; E Duffy, E McAuley, R McNelis.

Mayo: D Horan; N Lally, N O'Shea, H Lohan; I Mullarkey, Y Byrne, M Heffernan; C Egan, M Staunton; O Casby, D O'Hora (capt), S Costello; C Staunton, C Heffernan, S Bailey.

Monaghan v Waterford (Parnell Park, today, 3.30)

Not only a meeting of the two great rivals, but also a repeat of the league final at the same venue on the last weekend of June. There, Monaghan surprised even themselves with a comprehensive 4-6 to 0-12 victory over the current All-Ireland champions.

Waterford, however, will be a much-improved outfit from that day. Their game on that occasion was significant for the number of wides as well as the consistent heroics pulled off by the Monaghan defence. They have also made a number of changes from the side which won the championship title last year, leaving only the full forward line of Aine Wall, Claire Ryan and Geraldine O'Ryan intact.

Among the changes they have made will be a centre forward start for the young Mary O'Donnell, with Rebecca Hallahan moving to right half forward. Caitriona Casey will also play in her more favoured role at midfield where she will partner Martina O'Ryan.

Monaghan will again hope to benefit from the scoring consistency of Edel Byrne, Angela Larkin and Ciara McGuinness in the forwards, each of whom picked up a goal in the league final. They also have two newcomers, with Christina Reilly starting at right half back and Linda Gartlan joining Terry Greenan at midfield. Brenda McAnespie, newly elected Sinn Fein councillor, will captain the team from right corner back. She played in goal in last year's All-Ireland final.

With Monaghan seeking their fifth consecutive final appearance in Croke Park, it promises to be as close as they come. The sides last met in the semi-final stage in 1996 and Monaghan's victory there marked their first ever championship win over Waterford. That already seems like decades ago.

Monaghan: M Gray; B McAnespie (capt), Anita O'Reilly, M Croarkin; C Reilly, Audrey O'Reilly, M Kelly; J Greenan, L Gartlan; E Byrne, A Larkin, N Kindlon; M Kierans, D Dempsey, C McGuinness.

Waterford: S Hickey; A Crotty, S O'Ryan, N Walsh; T Whyte, O Condon, J Torpey; M O'Ryan, C Casey; R Hallahan, M O'Donnell, AN Other; A Wall C Ryan (capt), G O'Ryan.