WOMEN'S FOOTBALL:AFTER A seven-year absence, Monaghan are back in a TG4 All-Ireland senior women's football final tomorrow, but they face a stiff tested against reigning champions Cork, who are chasing four-in-a-row honours.

Monaghan, with Waterford, reigned supreme in the 1990s, with Mayo and Kerry notching up titles at either end of the decade, but they have faded in recent times and are hoping to take home the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time since 1997 tomorrow.

Captain Niamh Kindlon has been in sublime form to date in the championship scoring seven points during her side's 2-16 to 1-12 win over Mayo during last month's semi-final in Navan. Monaghan were flying in the second half, and Mayo scored just two points in the third quarter, and a late Cora Staunton penalty goal.

However as Monaghan manager John McAleer pointed out this week, this squad are far from a one-woman scoring machine. The county have produced seven players who have raised at least one white flag this campaign, amassing 5-58 en-route to the decider.

However Cork also pose a huge threat, and are boosted by the availability of corner-forward Valerie Mulcahy after the 25-year only received a two-week suspension for a red card received in her side's convincing semi-final victory over Tyrone.

Two goals inside a five-minute spell from Amy O'Shea and dual player Mary O'Connor gave Cork a 2-1 to 0-1 lead by the eighth minute, and they led 3-8 to 0-7 at the break with Mulcahy completing the hat-trick.

Cork kicked five points without reply soon after the break to take absolute control of proceedings. With limited possession, and against a determined Cork side, a youthful Tyrone outfit found it hard to cope in the second half and they only managed two points in the final quarter, as Cork held out for a convincing 19-point win.

Mulcahy's red card was the only blip on an otherwise strong display from the champions; but Eamon Ryan's charges have also shown weaknesses this season. A disappointing first-half performance against Galway in their quarter-final in Roscommon could have signalled the end of Cork's four-in-a-row hopes. However, despite Galway winning the bulk of possession in the opening half, they kicked eight wides and Cork made them pay in the second half as they pulled clear for victory.

A hesitant nod is given to the Ulster champions but only by a whisker in what is set to be one of the most keenly contested women's finals in the past decade.

CORK:E Harte; C Walsh, A Walsh, L Barret; B Corkery, B Stack, G O'Flynn; J Murphy, N Kelly; N Cleary, M O'Connor, A Murphy; V Mulcahy, A O'Shea, D O'Reilly.

MONAGHAN:L Martin; G McNally, S Courtney, C O'Reilly; A McAnespie, A Lennon, F Courtney; A Casey, I Kierans; C McConnell, N Kindlon, T McNally; C McAnespie, E Byrne, N Fahy.

Clare cannot afford to show any complacency

CLARE HAVE beaten Tipperary twice already this year and so they must not let complacency slip in if they are to become the first county to win All-Ireland titles across all three grades.

Una Downes comes in to replace Niamh Keane in the only change to the line-up which overcame Longford in the semi-finals.

Tipperary also make one change with Claire Lambert in for Mairead Luttrell. Tipp beat last year's beaten intermediate finalists Wexford to book their spot in the decider, but will have to contain Clare's Eimear Considine and Magella Griffin if they are to claim the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.

CLARE:D Walsh; L Kelly, S Kelly, M Delaney; G Lynch, T Hehir, S Eustace; S Malone, L Henchy; M Considine, M Kelly, U Downes; A Kelly, E Considine, M Griffin.

TIPPERARY:P Hickey; A O'Dwyer, M Corcoran, C Carroll; A O'Dwyer, T McManus, S Costello; A McDermott, M Morrissey; C Lambert, S Carew, J Grant; E Carroll, G O'Brien, E Hanley.

Determined Derry aim to break new ground

LONDON ARE back with nine of last year's panel for tomorrow's final. The exiles haven't won an All-Ireland junior championship since 1993 but, having come so close to taking the honours last year when defeated by just a goal by Kilkenny, Larry O'Leary's charges will be fired up for victory.

Despite Derry chasing a first title in this grade, they have plenty of experience on their side. Kathy Conway and captain Louise Glass, who were in All-Ireland club final action last year with Glen, but lost to Cork's Mourneabbey, will be keen to make amends for that loss.

Derry and London have already met in the championship this season when in the second round of the round-robin series Derry prevailed by 3-10 to 1-10.

Opportunist goals from Ashleen Kealey and Shauna McCallion in the second half earned victory for the hosts, but the game was a tight affair and expect tomorrow's tie to prove similarly close.

DERRY:B Cassidy; N Doherty, N O'Hagan, N McMullan; D McMaster, U Harkin, C Lagan; MA Conway, K Conway; J Mc Laughlin, A Kealey, S McCallion; U Mullan, L Glass, A McCusker.

LONDON:R Cusack; A Murphy, S Daly, R McEvoy; L Tighe, M Jordan, N Keane; N O'Connor, AM Mohan; H Noonan, S Keogh, C Towey; D O'Riordan, L Lodge, B White.