Davoren hopes mixed season can end with All-Ireland win

Moycullen did not get to welcome an All-Ireland winning captain last weekend and while Seán Kelly was not lucky enough to bring home the Sam Maguire cup, the west Galway village has another leader aiming to walk up the steps of the Hogan Stand this Sunday.

Though based in Dublin and playing her football with Kilmacud Crokes, Ailbhe Davoren will lead the Tribeswomen out at Croke Park against Kerry in the All-Ireland senior ladies football final.

Daniel Moynihan's side were unlikely finalists following league relegation, but they earned their place in a first decider in five years after overcoming reigning champions Dublin, and Cork.

"We were delighted," Davoren said following the semi-final against the Rebelettes.

"I don’t know if we’re an emotional bunch, but I had an odd tear. We couldn’t believe it."

However, the 25-year-old, who’ll head to Kenya later this year as part of the 'Plant the Planet Games’ initiative, insisted the squad never doubted their ability.

"Who’d have thought from the outside, but we would have thought from the inside which is brilliant," she said.

Davoren added: "Certainly, there wasn’t a lack of belief in the group. When you think back to some of those days in the league, we were within a few points, a few scores of these teams although we got relegated.

"We rectified some of those mistakes and we got a bit of momentum in the Connacht final.

"Even then, we went into our first round of championship and lost our first round. Still the camp never lost faith. That’s shown that now in a key part of the year," she said.

Despite that, Davoren is aware of the threat posed by Kerry who have won their last four meetings, including the 2023 league final when the Kingdom ran riot in a 5-11 to 1-10 victory.

"One to