1. Áine O’Sullivan (Cork)
O’Sullivan made one hell of an impact on her senior championship debut, scoring 3-5 from play as Cork hammered Meath by 40 points in the qualifiers.
The Beara player wasn’t even listed to start against the Royals but took her chance to impress, delivering a scintillating display which has earned her a second championship appearance against Galway on Saturday evening.
O’Sullivan is a player that Galway wouldn’t have known a whole lot about but having earned the player of the match award against Meath, her cover is now well and truly blown.
2. Fiona McHale (Mayo)
Carnacon boast a footballing superstar in the form of Cora Staunton but clubmate Fiona McHale is another key figure for Mayo.
McHale is a driving force from midfield for the Westerners and was joint manager of the University of Limerick team that retained the O’Connor Cup this year.
McHale is also a hugely-influential administrator with the Women’s Gaelic Players Association, serving as secretary of the fledgling group.
3. Tracey Leonard (Galway)
Cork know all about the scoring threat posed by Tracey Leonard.
The lethal Galway forward scored eight points, including six from play, in the drawn Tesco Ladies National Football League Division 1 final between the counties earlier this year.
Cork deployed Geraldine O’Flynn in a marking role in the replay but Leonard still managed to bag two points from play in defeat.
4. Bernie Breen (Kerry)
Former Kerry skipper Breen remains one of the team’s most influential players from midfield.
The Laune Rangers player is a former Allstar nominee and her intercounty career dates back to the late 1990s.
Breen will be partnered in the Kerry engine room by Emma Sherwood, sister of Kerry senior football panellist Jack.
5. Briege Corkery (Cork)
It’s another huge weekend for Cork colossus Corkery, who is the dual holder of 14 All-Ireland senior medals.
The St Val’s powerhouse will anchor the Cork midfield against Galway at the Gaelic Grounds before turning her attentions to Sunday’s All-Ireland camogie semi-final clash with Kilkenny.
If there’s one player who can cope with two fixtures in as many days, it’s Corkery but it’s still a big ask for the 28-year-old.
6. Cora Staunton (Mayo)
Staunton is the major threat for Munster champions Kerry in the TG4 All-Ireland quarter-final.
The ace Mayo forward is arguably the greatest player ever to grace the ladies game and has been in devastating scoring form recently.
Staunton bagged 1-15 against Galway in the Connacht final, hit 9-12 in a club game for Carnacon and then notched 2-10 as Mayo strolled past Tyrone in the qualifiers.
7. Geraldine Conneally (Galway)
Long-serving Conneally is a survivor from Galway’s 2004 All-Ireland senior win and still going strong.
The Dunmore player continues to produce big performances from the Westerners and despite the passing years, her energy levels and hunger for more glory remain as high as ever.
Conneally has been named at midfield for the clash with Cork and has the potential to cover plenty of ground.
8. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry)
Flame-haired Kerry forward Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh is a scoring machine.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored 1-5 as the Kingdom shocked Cork in last month’s Munster final and now has Mayo in her sights.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s scoring duel with Mayo star Cora Staunton should be one to savour and the Kerry star, a former O’Connor Cup winner with UCC, boasts strong credentials ahead of the Gaelic Grounds showdown.
