by John O’Sullivan

Sligo ladies captain Jacqui Mulligan believes the Yeats County will have their work cut out in Saturday’s Lidl National Football League Division 3 final against Meath.

The sides face off in Clones with a 4pm throw-in – the Division 4 final between Antrim and Fermanagh takes place beforehand at 2pm – and Mulligan believes that Meath possess dangers right through the spine of their team.

From back to front Meath have an abundance of quality, Mulligan believes, but the St Farnan’s star thinks that playing against such talented opposition will be beneficial to Sligo’s championship aspirations.

“We played in Division 2 before and you’re playing better teams up there, so it prepares you better for the championship,” said 37-year-old Mulligan.

“We’ve our eyes sets on getting to Croke Park and getting to an intermediate final this year. 

“So, with that in mind, we know we need to be playing top level teams to be able to compete at the higher level at intermediate and possibly the senior grade.

“Look, Meath are a very good side. They’re a solid side. If you look from one – their goalkeeper (Monica McGuirk) is superb in the nets – and then you go right up to their full-forward line they are full of talent.

“They have 16-year-olds who are putting away four or five points every game. So, they’re a top class side and we’re under no illusions that we’ve a huge task ahead of us.”

There has been plenty of change in the North West this year, with new players and returning stars coming into the fold. Long term manager Paddy Henry was replaced by the duo of David Curran and John O’Hara, but Mulligan believes, after an initial bedding in period, that the team has hit new heights.

“We had a slow start then, but I suppose the lads were probably looking at the new players that’s coming into the squad and the players coming back this year.

“It just took us a couple of games to settle ourselves. But once we got the win in Down, we haven’t looked back since and here we are now in a league final.

“So, we’re happy with how it has gone so far and we know we have a big challenge ahead of us this weekend.”

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