By DARREN KELLY

FOLLOWING a rollercoaster 2024 that resulted in an All-Ireland final appearance, Galway’s senior ladies footballers commence the new season on Sunday (Sean Treacy Park, 2pm) when they take on Tipperary in the National League.

While the year just gone will be remembered for their Connacht championship success against Mayo, Aoife O’Rourke’s winning All-Ireland quarter-final goal against Dublin, and making a first Croke Park final appearance in five years, it began with league relegation from the top flight.

Daniel Moynihan’s charges lost six of their seven spring fixtures (by a total aggregate margin of just seven points) and will now operate in the second tier over the next three months.

“We found ourselves in a situation where we got relegated from the league,” said the Galway manager. “That’s unfortunate, but I think the fact that we performed quite well and were building momentum as we went along into the championship.

“With this situation, we’re into a Division 2 campaign with possibly some teams that we haven’t played in competitive football for quite a while. A little bit of the unknown that will add to the work as a management we need to get right to prepare ourselves for games.”

Cork, Westmeath, Roscommon, Monaghan, Clare and Donegal are future opponents but the maroon and white start against a Premier County outfit who also produced a positive championship showing despite needing to beat Laois in a relegation semi-final.

Eight of the Galway team that started last August’s defeat to Kerry were involved in December’s All-Ireland club finals representing Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Nicola and Louise Ward, Niamh and Olivia Divilly), Kilmacud Crokes (Dearbhla Gower and Ailbhe Davoren) and Ahascragh-Caltra’s camogie side (Aoife Ní Cheallaigh and Emma Reaney).

While some players are already back with the county squad, it’ll be interesting to see how many of those, plus Maryanne Jordan, Sarah Lynch, Kate Geraghty, Charlotte Cooney, Mairead Glynn, Leanne Coen and Róisín Leonard, will take to the field on Sunday.

Pictured: Galway star Nicola Ward attending the launch of the Ladies National Football League at Croke Park. The Tribeswomen face Tipperary in the opening round on Sunday.