Mayo to double their return

A repeat of last year's final and a similarly decisive route to Croke Park has pitched Mayo against Waterford to decide the women's All-Ireland football title in Croke Park tomorrow (3.0; Network Two).

Mayo made history by winning their first honour in the grade last year over the side who, in the previous decade, had clearly established themselves as the best in the country. Times appear to have changed, however, and Mayo have taken over as the team to beat.

The sides have met twice already this year and, although Waterford comprehensively won their first league meeting, it was Mayo who triumphed in the more exclusive semi-final meeting to set up their first league win in four attempts.

Since then both sides have cut an impressive route to the final. Tyrone may have held a seven-point lead at one stage of their semi-final meeting with Mayo, but that proved useless against the late surge of full forward Cora Staunton. She ended up with 3-6 of the 5-10 to 2-12 victory and is again likely to be the most dangerous member of their attack.

Waterford had a similar cut through Meath - winning 1-17 to 0-8. Perhaps if Meath had taken all the chances in the first half the margin would have been less startling, but Waterford are clearly back, and mean business.

Mayo have made just one change from their semi-final win over Tyrone, but do make significant positional switches. Orla Casby takes over at wing back, with Martha O'Malley, centre forward the last day, the player to lose out.

Elsewhere, Nuala O'Shea switches into left corner back in a swap with Niamh Lally and Assumpta Bohan is now at centre back. Among the forwards, Christina Heffernan is at centre forward and captain Marie Staunton is on the wing.

The Waterford personnel remains unchanged from the team that beat Meath, but there are positional adjustments. Niamh Berry takes the place of Rebecca Hallahan at half forward, the latter moving to the centre. Claire Ryan moves to full forward.

The internal unrest that followed Mayo's win last season didn't appear to be longlasting. Joint managers Jonathan Mullin and Finbar Egan have reassembled a panel of youth and determination and no less hunger than last year. For those reasons, the title should stay in the west.