SHAMROCKS SET FOR ALL IRELAND SEMIS

Loughgile have earned their place by defeating Portglenone, Cushendall and Ballycastle in the Antrim Championship followed by a tough enouncter against Slaughtneil in Ulster.

Now the Shamrocks are just one step away from the showpiece final, but first they need to overcome Killimore.

Shamrocks Captain Una McNaughton is quietly confident that her team can go one step further than they did last year when they lost at the same stage to Oulart.

“Preparation has been going really well,” said Una. “Last year we made a lot of mistakes but we are ready to rectify those this time. I think last year we thought too much about things, so this time we are addressing our own game plan. We know nothing about Killimore but any team coming out of Galway must be treated with the upmost respect and they did win the All Ireland title in 2007.

“We have a good panel of girls and a great subs bench and there’s no doubt that expectations are high but yet realsitic.

“We have been at the semi final stage before and it’s hard to come home after being beaten. Things are different this year, there is a different attitude in the team and I believe the tough game we had in the Ulster final will stand us in good stead on Sunday.

“Everyone has shown great commitment, we have been training hard four nights a week and it would be good to have something to show for that.

“This is a great team to be part of and we know the final is within our grasp. If we can get to the final then we will be making club history. The self belief is there and there is such an amazing buzz about the club and the parish. We have gelled just at the right time and we are confident going into Sunday’s match that we are more than capable of winning - we certainly aren’t going to Clones to make up the numbers.”