Gemma McGuinness gunning for All-Island Cup glory with Galway United 

Gemma McGuinness says her Galway United side simply have to make the most of their Avenir Sports All-Island Cup final encounter with Cliftonville on Sunday at the Showgrounds, Sligo.

The Greencastle native was the star of the show in their semi-final win over Wexford Youths, netting the winning penalty to give the Tribeswoman victory.

And the former Sligo Rovers star hopes that her familiarity with the home of the Bit O’Reds can make the difference as she looks to fire Galway to the win. 

“Yeah - when the venue was picked I was immediately looking forward to it,” she said. “I’ve really good memories of last season in Sligo. I got on with everyone and it was such a great environment. 

“It’s a great venue too and a brilliant stadium so I’m really excited about going back there with Galway”. 

In their first season in existence, just passing the midpoint in the National Womens League, Galway find themselves on 22 points and in a very encouraging fifth spot. Her former club Sligo are currently second from bottom with just four points on the board. 

At the time of departing the Showgrounds, McGuinness admits she did wonder if she was making the right decision, moving from an established outfit to one just getting off the ground. But, she says, both boss Phil Trill and the club have delivered on all their pre-season promises. 

“We’re really looking forward to the weekend,” she said. “It’s an All-Island Cup final, and there’s a novelty to that as well. At the start of the season, joining a new club like Galway, some were probably wondering why I was making that switch. 

“But the progress made has kind of solidified that whole decision. The manager, at the time, had a really clear picture in regards to what he and the club wanted to build and that process was very well laid out. 

“And the fact that we have the potential to get our hands on a trophy so soon is just amazing. It’s been such a journey so far and we’re only halfway through the season. So it’s very encouraging”. 

McGuinness had previously commuted between Greencastle and Sligo and it was a round trip, made numerous times in the week, that eventually took its toll. 

Having upped sticks and made a permanent move to Galway at the start of this term, she says that decision has had a real impact on how she trains and the performances she’s delivering. 

“It was two and a half hours one way and that was really difficult. So it’s just not as stressful now and I can give that little bit more time to my football. 

“The outcome at the weekend, it would be lovely to pick up a medal. But for Galway, because we are such a young club, we have to look at the entire process and the progress we’re making along the way. 

“And I know that, talking about the ‘process’ is a little bit of a cliche, but for us it really is about moving things along in progressive fashion. 

“I think when the focus is on that, what you’re trying to build or create long term, the rest will then follow or hopefully look after itself”.

In regards to Cliftonville and what they’ll bring to Sunday’s All-Island decider, she says they’re aren’t that familiar with their cup final opposition. 

They’ll look at them a little closer before the weekend but, by and large, they’ll continue to focus on their own gameplan as much as possible. 

“Because they’re from a different league, we just won’t know that much about them. They’ll be in the exact same boat. So it brings a bit of a different dynamic. Personally, I would have played against quite a few of the Cliftonville girls from my time with Derry in the Northern Ireland League.

“But we have a style of play  that we’ve been working really hard on since the start of the season. And we’re constantly looking at how to progress and evolve that. So that will be the main focus for us again on Sunday”.