By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

WHAT do you get if you cross America's Next Top Model with The Sunday Game? The answer is The Underdogs, TG4's hugely successful football reality TV series, and it's back for another series.

This year, the bunch of players who have made it through the trials process will travel to London to take on the reigning All-Ireland junior champions in their own back yard. It's Underdogs v Bulldogs, and the drama is only beginning.

The series went to air two weeks ago and continues each Thursday (9.30pm, TG4) until the live decider on December 6. The Underdogs squad is drawn from players all over the country who for one reason or another have never had the chance to represent their county at senior level.

They are led by an expert management team of GAA legends - Jarlath Burns, Geraldine Feerick and Eamonn Ó Muircheartaigh. They have had just six months to select a panel of 30 unknowns to train under their watchful eye in the hope of improving their game and becoming strong enough to beat an All Ireland winning team.

There are tears along the way as each week the selectors must say goodbye to a player, further whittling the group down to a panel of 24 that will take on London. They train, bicker, gossip and bitch (and that's just the selectors!)

At present, Ulster have four representatives on the Underdogs squad. Two of the players hail from Armagh, Ballyhegan's Lisa Knox and Clann Eireann goalkeeper Catherine McAlinden. Also in the squad are Cavan's Pamela Crowe and Donegal's Naimh Gallagher from Ballyshannon's Aodh Ruadh.

McAlinden is getting set for another residential this weekend. Her sister Mags has been an ever-present in the Armagh squad for some years now, while her father Brian managed the Orchard men's side. Her club colleague Martina Hoye was on the squad last year, so it's no surprise that Catherine was coaxed into giving it a go.

"Everyone at the club and at home were saying to me that I should give it a go, they were kinda forcing me into it, but now I'm definitely glad that I went. It's been mentally and physically tough, but meeting new people and getting away to the residentials has been brilliant."

So far, the Underdogs have been to Carlingford for a weekend, Dublin for the ladies All-Ireland weekend, and a five-day residential over Halloween in Castlebar. This weekend they travel to Limerick, with more to follow over the coming weekends.

Catherine is facing stiff opposition for the number one shirt from a fellow Underdog from Wicklow, but the Armagh girl is hoping that she can stake a claim for a starting role between the posts. In the bigger scheme of things, she's also in All-Ireland league action with Queen's, with the Dowd Cup and O'Connor Cup campaigns to follow. Under new manager Gregory McGonigle, McAlinden is also hoping that she may get a run in county colours next season.

"Hopefully the Underdogs can keep me ticking over and help me to improve my own game over the winter. Playing football and being in new situations can only help me as a player, and hopefully I can do well in the series and that will leave me in good shape for the start of next season."

Donegal's Naimh Gallagher is the Underdogs dream. Having represented her county through the underage ranks, a move to university in Coleraine brought the curtain down on her inter-county career. She's currently studying for her Masters in teaching through the Irish medium at St Mary's Belfast, and is a very useful footballer into the bargain.

"It was as much for the craic that I went forward, because it's Irish and football and they're the two things I'm into. It looked like a bit of fun so I thought I'd give it a go. It's not that I'm in it to get on a county squad or anything like that, it's more for the show, the experience of it, and to have a bit of a laugh.

"What people don't realise is the amount of work that goes into making the programme. There's about a month's worth of action goes into one programme. I've been doing this for months and everyone's still saying 'We still haven't seen you playing any football!'"

Gallagher plays full-back for her club side, and is one of the most experienced on the panel despite the fact that she's only 23.

It's been a hectic time, combining her intensive study schedule with the demands of the programme. The Ballyshannon girl is staying with relatives in Antrim during the week to ease the travelling, but she's still been clocking up the miles.

"I've been living in my car over the past few months, I always seem to be driving somewhere! It's been hard work, but it's been worth it.

"I want to hopefully stay in the show until the end, to have a bit of craic and to enjoy the whole experience."

The paparazzi aren't exactly camped out on her doorstep yet... although they'd struggle to figure out what doorstep to camp out on. However, Naimh admits that she has been recognised out and about in her native Donegal a few times, and it's taking some getting used to.

"I've been out a few times in Donegal and I've had a few ones come up to me and say 'Ah, you're the one from the Underdogs!' which is still pretty weird. I think it's because friends of mine are working hard down there to plug the whole thing, through the local press and radio. So it's still all a bit strange."

The highlights for Naimh so far have included a fancy dress party to be screened over the next few weeks, and is certainly one not to be missed according to the Ballyshannon girl. Although she's been enjoying a few perks from being involved, it's not exactly celebrity status as yet, but Gallagher has been enjoying it none the less.

"We did a bus tour, like a booze cruise around Dublin on a party bus. We then arrived at Copperface Jack's and we were treated like VIPs so that was an experience... free drinks and everything.

"Apart from that, there's not too many perks! The accommodation and the likes when we're away is excellent, but there's nobody carrying my bag around St Mary's or anything!"

The Ulster quartet will be hoping that they can avoid the dreaded eliminations from now until the finish, and go on to play a key role for the Underdogs on their London mission in just over a month's time.

VICTORY over Moville in last weekend's Ulster Senior Club final replay ensured Donaghmoyne regained their Ulster crown, but the Monaghan girls had little time to dwell on their success as they go straight back into action this weekend in their All-Ireland semi-final clash with Mayo's Carnacon.

It took a sterling Donaghmoyne performance to eventually see off the challenge of the young Donegal girls who showed over the two games that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for some time to come on the Ulster stage.

It's a busy time for the Monaghan champions, but victorious captain Joanne Geoghegan wouldn't have it any other way and was delighted to once again have the Ulster championship trophy in her grasp.

"I'd actually say that this one was even sweeter than the other wins. After losing the final last year, there was such excitement to win it back. Our aim at the start of the season was to win the Ulster title back. We put our hearts and souls into it, and to win it on the day I think was right up there with winning the All-Ireland.

"We were back to training on Monday night. With the All-Ireland semi on this weekend, there wasn't really a chance to celebrate, so we've put them on hold until the All-Ireland run is over."

Donaghmoyne eventually ran out winners by 1-14 to 1-9 over Moville, having led by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break, helped in no small part by a ten point haul from Catriona McConnell. Lorraine Daly bagged the crucial goal for the Monaghan champions, while on the opposition side Niamh Hegarty once again excelled, scoring three points and picking up the player of the match award.

"They are a great team. We knew very little about them the first day, but the second day both teams knew what to expect. We played well, and they're one of the best teams we've come up against. They're a great side to be so young," she said.

As they prepare to make the trip to Mayo this weekend, Geoghegan and her colleagues are well aware that they will need to raise their game to another level if they are to emerge victorious. They've been in this position before, they know what it takes to win. Lessons were learned from their first outing against Moville which served them well the second day, and the school teacher knows that further improvement is required, as well as more hard work.

"We made a couple of changes for the replay, a few tactical switches, but I think our workrate was the key. All over the pitch the girls worked hard, if we lost the ball then we worked to get it back. It was great to see the forwards defending, and it definitely helped us defenders out."

That workrate will be crucial this Sunday as they bid to topple Mayo and Connacht champions Carnacon. The westerners are hugely experienced at this stage in the competition, and this Sunday's game will be a repeat of the 2006 All-Ireland final between the two sides.

On that occasion, Donaghmoyne emerged victorious by 1-11 to 0-13 with McConnell scoring 1-9 and Amanda Casey firing over from long range in the dying minutes to secure a famous win.

The Carnacon side is packed with household names, players like Sharon McGing, Claire Egan, Martha Carter and of course Cora Staunton. However, Geoghegan is not bothered by their line-up. The Donaghmoyne captain is confident that her side can more than match their opponents in every aspect, and record another victory over the Mayo outfit to book their passage to the All-Ireland decider.

"Carnacon are a very experienced side. There's a host of names in their team that you've known for years. Cora Staunton's a great player. But the last time we played them and in the inter-county game she was marked by Sharon Courtney, and Sharon did a great job on her so I'm confident that she can be marked.

"We've played them before, so we'll not have any fear of Carnacon, and I'm sure they'll not have any fear of Donaghmoyne either. When you get to this stage you just have to go for it, and we'll definitely not be holding anything back this Sunday."

The Ulster junior and intermediate champions will also be in action this weekend, and it's very much Monaghan versus Mayo with Ulster and Connacht champions in all three grades from the counties go up against each other.

On Saturday Emyvale host the Neale in the intermediate semi-final, while on Sunday Ulster junior winners Truagh are away to Knockmore for the junior semi-final.

This weekend's VHI Ladies All-Ireland Club championship fixtures

Saturday November 8

All-Ireland intermediate semi-final

Emyvale (Monaghan) v the Neale (Mayo) at Emyvale (2.00pm)

All-Ireland senior club semi-final

Inch Rovers (Cork) v Mountmellick Sarsfields (Laois) at Killeagh (2.00pm)

Sunday November 9

All-Ireland junior club semi-finals

Knockmore (Mayo) v Truagh (Monaghan) at Knockmore (2.00pm)

Maynooth (Kildare) v Kilmichil (Clare) at Maynooth (2.00pm)

All-Ireland intermediate club semi-final

Killoe (Longford) v Ballingeary/Inchigeela (Cork) at Killoe (2.00pm)

All-Ireland senior club semi-final

Carnacon (Mayo) v Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) at Clogher, Mayo (2.00pm)