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Who'll get their hands on the Brendan Martin Cup? James Crombie/INPHO
Final Four

Dublin and Down final bound as LGFA championships reach semi-final stage

Galway and Leitrim will run them close though.

TG4 Senior All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Semi Final

Dublin v Galway
Cusack Park, Mullingar, 3.15pm

WILL Dublin progress to a first TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship final since 2010 or can Galway end a nine-year wait?

That question will be answered at Cusack Park in Mullingar on Saturday afternoon, when the Leinster and Connacht champions clash in the first semi-final.

The indications from last weekend’s quarter-finals suggest that this one will be close.

Galway had three points to spare against a Monaghan side that has regressed since contesting last year’s final while Dublin did enough to get past a Kerry team that may have missed the boat in the quest for Brendan Martin Cup glory.

Both sides will have been happy with the tests they received but Dublin showed a steely resistance in the face of a Kerry second half revival, a marked contrast to their collapse against Cork at the same stage of last year’s competition.

Former Monaghan boss Gregory McGonigle took over a talented Dublin panel and with a slightly more defensive emphasis, they are a better outfit in 2014, as evidenced by progression to a League final with Cork and subsequent Leinster glory.

Galway, meanwhile, are contesting a third successive semi-final and will hope that the door can finally swing open.

Betting: Dublin 4/9 Draw 10/1 Galway 2/1.

Verdict: Dublin

TG4 Senior All Ireland Ladies Intermediate Football Semi Final

Down v Leitrim
Cusack Park, Mullingar, 1.30

The curtain raiser to the first senior semi-final pits Down, one of the real favourites for TG4 All-Ireland intermediate glory, against a Leitrim side inspired by ace forward Áine Tighe.

Down lost last year’s semi-final by 13 points against eventual winners Cavan but have improved this year.

The Mourne County registered 13 wides in that game and had two players sin-binned in the second half.

Better discipline and more accurate shooting will make them a better proposition at the business end of the championship but Leitrim should not be underestimated.

Down may be Ulster champions but Leitrim are standard bearers from the intermediate grade in Connacht.

The form-line suggests a close game as Down, with Kyla Trainor in sparkling form, beat Sligo by just a point in their last outing, while Leitrim had five to spare against the same opposition in the Connacht decider.

Leitrim endured a difficult 2013 campaign but Tighe’s return has helped to spark a revival.

Down also possess a forward of rich quality in Trainor and this shootout between the free-scoring pair will go a long towards deciding who progresses to the September 28 decider.

Betting: Odds not available.

Verdict: Down

Information provided by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

QUIZ: Can you name these GAA grounds?

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