TG4 Senior All Ireland Qualifiers Preview

The qualifiers have gone with form to date with both Armagh and Down booking their places in Round 2 and Donegal are expected to join them and bring the number of Ulster teams in the pot to four.

Monday’s draw sees the provincial runners-up re-enter the Championship race with Kerry, Laois and Tyrone all considered to be genuine challengers.  Connacht finalists Sligo will also be drawn from the runners-up pot but will not relish either Armagh or Down who impressed last weekend.

Galway, who received a bye in Round 1, will be chomping at the bit after a disappointing provincial showing but will have their work cut out against a very strong group of provincial finalists.

Monday’s favourites Donegal knocked Armagh out of the Ulster Championship but had their own progress halted by Monaghan.  The Tir Connaill girls have built up a strong squad which includes former Irish soccer international and Leinster rugby triallist Nora Stapleton.

Kildare lost badly to Laois in the Leinster Championship and are without their midfield catalyst All Star Brianne Leahy.  Leahy suffered cruciate ligament damage earlier in the season but returns to the Lillywhites’ bench for this clash.

The All Ireland Minor Final between Tyrone and Dublin will take place at Breffni Park as a curtain raiser for the Kildare-Donegal game.  The Tyrone side boasts a number of senior stars including keeper Sinead McVeigh and forward Clodagh Poyntz but Dublin will go into the game as strong favourites.

Dublin lost out to Cork in last year’s final but have returned this year determined to claim the minor crown.  Senior players Natalie Hyland and Sinead Cullen, sister of Dublin star Bryan, will lead the attack for the junior jackies.  Both games at Breffni Park will be televised live by TG4.