Cork ladies footballers on brink of promotion as they head to Naomh Abán for Clare clash

If all goes Cork’s ladies footballers way then they could be celebrating on Sunday.

They take on Clare in Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League and a win might see them promoted back to the top flight.

The game is being played at Naomh Aban’s pitch at Ballyvourney, throw-in 2pm, a venue not too far from the Kerry border. It will be a huge day in the area and it is sure to draw a huge crowd as manager Joe Carroll brings his team to the area for the first time.

It will also be one to remember for the three Naomh Aban players on the Cork panel – Róisín Ní Chorcoara, Lydia and Amy McDonagh – as local supporters will get to see them in action for the inter-county side.

Should Cork win then it could be an extra special one and may go on long into the night.

Those celebrations, assuming the Rebels win, would depend on the result of the Monaghan v Galway game and if the Tribeswomen manage to come out on top then Cork would be promoted and also into the league final.

That would be the ideal scenario for the Rebels before they make the long trip north to face Donegal in their final league tie a week later.

With two round to go Galway are on 15 points as they top the table and they are followed by Cork on 12. Monaghan are third on nine and the league finalists, and the two sides to be promoted, will come from this trio.

All that plays in Cork’s favour as Galway will also know that a win over Monaghan secures promotion for them, so they won’t be taking this game lightly.

BONUS

But from a Cork perspective, they have to concentrate on their clash with Clare and take whatever happens afterwards as a bonus.

They will know they can’t afford to slip up as it would leave the door open for Monaghan, regardless of the result of their game with Galway.

Clare sit just one above Westmeath at the wrong end of the table and are fighting for survival so they also know what’s at stake for them.

The Rebels will look to the likes of captain Sarah Leahy, Maire O’Callaghan, Melissa Duggan, Katie Quirke, Emma Cleary and Laura O’Mahony to win and then home Galway do the same.

Speaking ahead of the match Cork manager Joe Carroll said all they can do is concentrate on winning and then see what happens.

“We will be concentrating on Clare and won’t be worrying about anything else. We just need to concentrate on our own task."

“Even though they are down towards the bottom of the table their results have been a bit mixed, they gave Tipperary a very good game who also gave us a good game so you never know in these games.

“We won’t be taking anything for granted but we are looking forward to playing at Naomh Aban’s pitch. They take their football very seriously down there and hopefully we will get a big crowd out on Sunday to support the girls,” concluded Carroll.