Hi °C | Lo °C Tyrone ladies face the challenge of Mayo tonight for a place in the TG4 All Ireland Ladies senior football final.
Kingspan Breffni Park is the venue for the tie (7.00), a repeat of the 2000 last four decider that saw Cora Staunton inspire the Connacht side to the final when she scored 3-6
En route to tonight's clash, Tyrone beat last year's All Ireland finalists Armagh at the quarter -final stage with Gemma Begley their scorer-in-chief hitting a remarkable 3-6.
It will, though, take a massive effort to see off Staunton and Mayo tonight.
Tyrone will be without the services of injured defenders Neamh Woods and Eimear Teague.
Influential full-back Maura Kelly is also carrying a knock into the crucial encounter.
Kellie Meehan is expected to come in for Woods while Sinead McLaughlin and Carol McClinchey will remain in the corners.
Manager Jimmy McCloughan has no injury problems in his forward unit, though - and that's certain to be a cause of concern to Mayo.
With Begley in super form, Tyrone are also blessed with the Donnelly duo, Cathy and Joline, while veteran forward Eilish Gormley, who struck 0-9 in her side's only other senior semi-final appearance against Mayo, will start at centre-forward.
A lot is expected of Begley, though. The teak-tough full-forward, who has 6-11 from four TG4 championship outings, will certainly be the focus of attention but the battle at the other end between Cora Staunton and Lynda Donnelly could well provide the platform for a Tyrone victory.
Manager McCloughan is looking forward to the task, but after all he's been here before as joint manager of the Tyrone Vocational Schools team.
"It's a bit different to the vocationals, but the way you build up your team, the preparation and all that is similar. You focus and get the players focused on the task, in that regard we have no worries there, the players are geared up for Mayo and I know they are up for this game"
