Although their form has been largely untested this season, it remains difficult to bet against Mayo taking their third successive All-Ireland senior women's football title at the expense of Laois in Croke Park tomorrow.
Mayo made history two years ago by winning their first honour in the grade over a Waterford side who, in the previous decade, had clearly established themselves as the best in the country. They then repeated the win over Waterford last year and are now widely regarded as the team to beat.
Manager Jonathan Mullin has admitted the difficulties in finding testing opposition in the build-up to the championship. As the only senior side in Connacht, they emerged from the province once again without the benefit of any competition and yet were sharp enough to comfortably get past Clare in their semi-final.
Cora Staunton remains their most potent scoring weapon and after doing so much damage in the course of last year's championship will be an obvious target for the Laois defence. Staunton scored 3-6 in their semi-final victory last year and went on to collect 2-2 in the win over Waterford.
Laois return to the final for the first time since the dramatic loss to Monaghan five years ago. Having beaten a highly regarded Dublin side in the Leinster final and then surprising Tyrone, the challenge of facing Mayo is daunting but certainly not overwhelming.
Mayo's win last year, however, was built on timely goal-taking and tremendous mental resolve in the closing minutes when they held out under fierce Waterford pressure. The ability to score more efficiently and consistently than their opposition has been their strength for the last three years and the simple reason why the Brendan Martin Cup should stay in the west.
MAYO: D Horan; A Bohan, H Lohan, E Biggins; O Casey, N N∅ ShΘ, M Staunton; C Egan, C Heffernan; J Moran, E Mullin, D McDonagh; D O H≤ra, M Heffernan, C Staunton.
LAOIS: T Swayne; M Phelan, P Fogarty, A Connolly; A Casey, C Casey, G Dunne; M Casey, K O'Reilly; S Ramsbottom, T Lawlor, L Brennan; M Keogh, L Carroll, M Kirwin.
