Mayo and Galway prepare for final showdown in Kiltoom

Mayo and Galway are putting the final touches to their preparations for the the TG4 Connacht LGFA Senior Championship final, which will be played in Kiltoom on Sunday (2 p.m.).

Both teams concluded their Lidl National League campaigns in contrasting styles against Waterford.

Mayo beat the Déise to conclude their Division 1 programme on a positive note with top flight status retained, but Galway lost to Waterford and suffered relegation to Division 2 as a consequence.

Galway will hope that the championship brings much better fortunes, while Mayo will be aiming to retain the provincial crown they won last year against the Tribeswomen.

Galway were aiming for five-in-a-row in the province but Mayo came good to land the title for the first time since 2016.

Both counties have been inactive in a competitive sense since the league campaign concluded, with Galway preparing for their first outing since April 7 while Mayo haven’t played since March 24.

It may take both sides a little time to settle into the game but a cracking encounter is anticipated.

Galway have made just one change to the team that lost to Waterford, with Chellene Trill coming in for Emilie Gavin in defence.

Mayo, meanwhile, have opted for three changes in personnel, with captain Saoirse Lally, Ciara Durkan and Aoife Staunton coming in for Hannah Reape, Saoirse Delaney and Sinead Walsh.

The Mayo team will line out as follows: L. Brennan; S. Lally, N. O’Malley, K. Sullivan; E. Ronayne, C. Durkan, D. Caldwell; A. Geraghty, E. Murray; F. McLaughlin, C. Needham, S. Cafferky; A. Staunton, M. Cannon, L. Cafferky.

The Galway team is: D. Gower; M. Jordan, S. Lynch, C. Trill; K. Geraghty, N. Ward, C. Cooney; M. Glynn, A. Davoren; O. Divilly, S. Hynes, M. Walsh; E. Reaney, L. Coen, R. Leonard.