Championship action continues in three provinces

Ladies Football weekend previews

Compiled by John Fallon

THE TG4 Provincial Championships will continue over the coming weekend – with action scheduled in Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

On Saturday in Munster, Tipperary host Waterford, as Cork make the trip to Brosna for a clash with Kerry, in what is a repeat of last year’s provincial decider.

On Sunday, it’s over to Leinster for Round 2 of their Senior Championship, with Laois hosting Dublin, while Meath take on Kildare.

The Meath v Kildare fixture will be live-streamed on the Leinster LGFA Facebook Page and YouTube channel.

Elsewhere over the weekend, Kerry play Limerick in the Munster Senior B tournament, there are Leinster Championship fixtures in the Intermediate and Junior grades also, while Leitrim host Sligo in the Connacht Intermediate Championship.

 

2pm unless stated

 

Saturday April 27

 

TG4 Munster Senior Championship – Round 2

 

Kerry v Cork, Brosna

The old rivals began their campaigns with contrasting victories last weekend, with Kerry scoring a big win over Tipperary, while reigning Munster champions Cork were pushed all the way by Waterford before emerging with a two points victory.

That 1-10 to 0-11 triumph was Cork’s first win in three months and now they will hope to put relegation from Division 1 of the Lidl NFL firmly behind them and concentrate on their championship campaign.

Seven players scored for Cork in last weekend’s success, with Laura O’Mahony pouncing for the only goal of the game in the opening half to give them a 1-5 to 0-3 lead.

Waterford rallied after the restart but with Katie Quirke taking her haul to 0-5 from frees, Cork held on for victory.

Manager Shane Ronayne has made three changes as Cork continue their bid for a third Munster title in a row. Sarah Murphy takes over from Caoimhe Richmond in goal while Sadbh McGoldrick and Sadhbh O’Leary replace Aoife Healy and Libby Coppinger.

Danielle O’Leary led the way with a superb tally 0-8 as Kerry opened their campaign with a 2-14 to 0-5 win over Tipperary. She kicked five points in the opening half but it was a goal from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh which put daylight between just before the break.

That helped Kerry lead by double scores at 1-5 to 0-4 at the break and the All-Ireland finalists of the past two seasons pushed on from there to run out winners by 15 points.

They have made just one change to the side with Ciara Butler taking over from Mary Ellen Bolger in goal.

 

Kerry: C Butler; E Lynch, D Kearney, C O’Brien; A O’Connell, K Cronin, C Murphy; M O’Connell, C Lynch; A Galvin, N Carmody, A Harrington; K Brosnan, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh, D O’Leary.

 

Cork: S Murphy; M Duggan, D Kiniry, A Ryan; S Leahy, S McGoldrick, K O’Driscoll; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh; D Kiely, K Quirke, S O’Leary.

 

 

Tipperary v Waterford; Bansha

Waterford’s second-half rally against Cork last weekend came up short when they went down by 1-10 to 0-11 and they will be hoping for better fortune this weekend.

They have made two changes with Aoife Morrissey coming in for Lucie O’Shea, while Bríd McMaugh replaces Annie Fitzgerald.

McMaugh scored two points when she came on against Cork and they will be hoping for a bigger return from their forwards in this clash, with Kellyann Hogan landing four frees in the opening day loss.

Tipperary, too, will hope that their attack can fire much better in this one. They were trailing Kerry by just a point approaching half-time last weekend but the concession of a goal before the break ended their challenge.

Two points apiece from Emma Morrissey and Aishling Moloney had kept them in touch for most of the opening half against Kerry.

But a point from Anna Rose Kennedy is all they could manage after the break and Tipperary, who are unchanged for this encounter, know they will need a much more productive attack this time if they are to secure victory.

 

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; E Kelly, L Spillane, E Cronin; C O’Dwyer, M Curley, S English; L Morrissey, AR Kennedy; E Morrissey, A McGuigan, A Moloney; N Towey, K Downey, E McCarthy.

 

Waterford: E O’Brien; H Power, E Power, A Murray; K McGrath, A McNulty, E Murray; B McMaugh, K Hogan; A O’Neill, C Walsh, C Carroll; M O’Brien, K Murray, L McGregor.

 

 

Munster Senior B

 

Kerry v Limerick; Fr Casey’s GAA, Abbeyfeale, 1pm

 

Kerry lost heavily to Cork last weekend in the opening round of the Munster B Championship.

Now, the Kingdom turn their attentions to a clash with Limerick, who will play in the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship later in the summer.

The Shannonsiders, who contested the recent Lidl NFL Division 4 Final against Carlow, will be hoping to go one step further in the All-Ireland series, after losing out to Down in the 2023 Final.

 

Kerry: K Hannan; C Hudson, K Sugrue, L Cox; E O’Keeffe, S Murphy, K Furey; C Gannon, K Mahony; M Higgins, M O’Connor, N Mahony; E Cotter, M Sheehy, G Musgrave.

 

Limerick: S Hennessy; S Dillon, J McGuire, R Browne; G Mullane, L Coughlan, G Lee; M McNamara, L Ryan; K Kennedy, D Murphy, C McNamara; E Woulfe, M Kavanagh, A Cleary.

 

Sunday April 28

 

TG4 Leinster Senior Championship – Round 2

 

Laois v Dublin, Laois Hire O’Moore Park

 

Reigning Leinster champions, Dublin, travel to Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday with three points already in the bag after last weekend’s 4-15 to 2-4 defeat of the Lilywhites. Dublin skipper Carla Rowe hit 1-4 of Dublin’s tally while Orlagh Nolan hit 1-3 for the Sky Blues, while Kate Sullivan and Caoimhe O’Connor also found their way past Mary Hulgraine in that opening round win.

This weekend, they face a Laois outfit that are on the hunt for points after defeat to Meath at Páirc Tailteann. Led by Captain Clodagh Dunne and under new management in Stephen Duff, Laois will be eager to make an impact on home ground. While the result in Páirc Tailteann might have always been with the home side, Laois put the Royals under considerable pressure. Lauren Kearney found the back of the net while Mo Nerney chipped in 0-6.

Laois and Dublin met in Round Two of the 2023 Championship where Dublin ran out 3-14 to 0-3 winners. Hannah Tyrrell, Carla Rowe and Kate Sullivan all raised green flags for Dublin.

Stephen Duff makes two changes for Laois as Aerin Ryle comes in for Ciara Malone at wing back and Andrea Moran starts ahead of Rebecca Reddin in the centre of the field.

On the other hand, Mick Bohan has completely shuffled his pack ahead of the meeting with Laois with just five players from that opening round win retaining their starting positions; Niamh Donlon, Jessica Tobin, Olwen Carey, Grace Kós and Niamh Hetherton. With Dublin Captain Carla Rowe listed among the substitutes and Leah Caffrey not included in the matchday squad, it falls on Niamh Hetherton to assume on field captaincy duties.

Testing the breadth of his squad, Bohan has handed Championship debuts to five players: Ashling Nyhan, Hannah McGinnis, Kate Murray, Claire Kirwan and Katie Murphy, with two further debutants on the bench in Kerri Owens and Hannah Hegarty. Of those, Nyhan, McGinnis and Murphy have come from the Minor grade last season so it will be interesting to see how they fare at Senior Championship level.

Laois: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne (C), I Finlay, G Lalor, M Cotter, A Ryle; A Moran, A Moore; G Moran, O Hennessy, L Kearney; M Nerney, E Lacey, K Donoghue.

Dublin: R Fleming; N Donlon, A Nyhan, J Tobin; H McGinnis, K Murray, C Kirwan; O Carey, G Kós; N Owens, C Darby, E Deeley; A Timothy, N Hetherton (C), K Murphy.

 

Meath v Kildare, Páirc Tailteann

Kildare’s twenty three match winning streak was ended last weekend by Dublin in Parnell Park. It was a magnificent run of form that catapulted Kildare right back into the Senior Championship and most recently the Division One League for 2025. However, it had to end at some point and there was no shame in it happening against the reigning All Ireland Senior Champions.

The Lilies came up against a Dublin juggernaut that were in scoring form. The loss of Róisín Byrne to injury before the throw in seemed to unsettle the Lilywhites and they will be boosted by Byrne’s return to the starting fifteen this weekend. Byrne’s replacement on the day was Niamh Farrelly and she hit 2-2 for Diane O’Hora’s charges and proved a handful for the Dublin defence.

Kildare travel to Páirc Tailteann knowing that nothing but a win against the Royals will do to keep their hopes of a Leinster SFC Final place alive.

Meath had contrasting luck last weekend as they saw off the challenge of Laois and will be hoping to make it two from two this weekend.

Between them, Marion Farrelly and Emma Duggan struck 3-6 of Meath’s total tally of 3-11 last weekend and O’Hora’s charges will have to keep a close eye on the pair if they are to have a hope of getting their first points of the competition.

O’Hora, who returns for the first time to face the county she managed back in 2015, makes one change from the team that started against Dublin with Byrne resuming her place at full forward while Farrelly drops to the bench. Shane McCormack also makes one change as Áine Sheridan comes in ahead of Ciara Lawlor.

The game will be live streamed on Leinster LGFA Facebook with Jerome Quinn bringing all the action from Páirc Tailteann.

Meath: M McGuirk; A Sheridan, MK Lynch, N Troy; N Gallogly, L Young, K Newe; M O’Shaughnessy, A Cleary; M Thynne, S Melia, C Smyth; E Moyles, M Farrelly, E Duggan.

Kildare: M Hulgraine; F Troute, A Clifford, M Doherty; L Murtagh, R Sargent, L Gilbert; G Clifford (C), H McLoughlin; T Duggan, E Dowling, C Sullivan; N Dooley, R Byrne, A Rattigan.

 

 

TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship – Round 2

 

Wicklow v Westmeath, An Tochar, Roundwood

A late Chloe Kelly point coupled with a Leanne Slevin free was enough to rescue a draw as Westmeath started their IFC campaign last weekend against Offaly. They travel to An Tochar knowing that they need to get some more points on the board.

However, home side Wicklow were defeated in their opening round fixture against Wexford and they too will be going at full pace in the hunt for all three points. Niamh Caffrey hit 1-4 for the Garden County and her scoring prowess will undoubtedly be needed again this weekend.

Both sides held their own in their respective Lidl NFL Divisions and will both fancy their chances on Sunday. Both managers name unchanged sides as they go in search of their first victory in this Leinster campaign.

 

Wicklow: E Griffin; M Corr, L Dunne, S Goetelen; N Caffrey, C Murphy, R Byrne; A Gorman, S.J. Winders (C); S Evans, S McGettigan, A Harmon; E O’Brien, N Cullen, M Healy.

 

Westmeath: L McCormack (C); L McCartan, K Boyce Jordan, L Kiernan; C Kelly, L Power, R Dillon; V Carr, T Dillon; A Ruane, L Slevin, A Jones; K Hegarty, S Dillon, F Coyle.

 

 

Wexford v Offaly, Starlights Bellefield

After a tough National League campaign, Wexford would have been delighted to get their opening win in this year’s TG4 Championship last Sunday against Wicklow. Kellie Kearney hit 1-2 for Lizzy Kent’s team, while Aoife Cullen also chipped in with 0-3. They will be looking forward to repeating that feat this week as Offaly pay a visit to Starlights.

Offaly battled and led through much of their game against Westmeath and will feel themselves hard done by to come away with a draw. They will be eager to get their first win this weekend and with Emma Hand and Ellee McEvoy scoring 2-6 between them last weekend, that is a distinct possibility.

Both managements will line out with the same starting fifteen this Sunday as the Championship heats up!

 

Wexford: S McCarthy; K English, M Byrne, A Power; C Banville, A Halligan, S Harding-Kenny; R Murphy (C), C Donnelly; R Hughes, K Kearney, A Cullen; C Ni Nuallain, G Donovan, C Murray.

 

Offaly: L Dunne; A Grehan, M Mann, N Farrelly; R Ennis, E Maher, N Buckley; A Gavin Mangan, M Byrne; K Farrelly, E Hand, M Rouse; C Walsh, E McEvoy (C), C Sheridan.

 

 

TG4 Leinster Junior Championship – Round 2

 

Longford v Carlow, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Longford recorded a comfortable win over Kilkenny last weekend. Clodagh Lohan hit a brace of goals while Grace Shannon and Kamille Burke also raised green flags.

This weekend, they face a sterner test against a Carlow side that are riding on the crest of a wave. Victory in the recent Lidl NFL has propelled Carlow into this year’s Leinster Championship in buoyant mood.

Carlow were narrow 2-8 to 1-8 winners over Louth last weekend and they will take confidence from that result, going with an unchanged team to Pearse Park.

Pat Tiernan’s team is certainly one in transition, but they have players that can cause Carlow problems. Tiernan makes two changes to face Carlow with Ciara Mulligan and Ella O’Reilly coming in for Anna Hayden and Niamh Brady.

 

Longford: R McGrath; L Shannon, E O’Brien, G Kenny; C Mulligan, O Nevin, C McCormack (C); S Gallgher, S Hagan; E O’Reilly, G Shannon, K McKeon; C Lohan, K Burke, J Whyte.

 

Carlow: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S McCullagh; R Bermingham (C), N Murphy, N Forde; E Hayden, R Bailey; B Nolan, R Sawyer, S Doyle; E Molloy, E Coogan, C Ní Shé.

 

Kilkenny v Louth, MW Hire Kilkenny Training Centre, Dunmore

Kilkenny host their second Championship game of the season and while they haven’t recorded a win this season yet, they have continued to improve every game and give precious game time to players.

Louth travel to Dunmore to get their Championship hopes back on track after what some in the Wee County might have deemed a shock defeat to Carlow last weekend. Ciara Woods did find the net for Louth, but they know they will have to improve on their performance if they are to keep hopes of a provincial final alive.

Aoibhe Ryan replaces Caitlinn Moore on the Kilkenny team while Louth boss Paul Hanlon makes three changes from the team that faced Carlow with Caitlin O’Reilly, Rachel O’Connor Leonard and Louise Byrne coming in for Anna Whyte, Seoda Mathews and Ciara Woods.

 

Kilkenny: K Fitzpatrick; R Crowley, S Smith, L Brett; J O’Keeffe, A Galwey, A Ring; K Comerford, Ruby Roche; E Lawlor (C), S Corcoran, H Brennan; A Ryan, A O’Neill, Rebecca Roche.

 

Louth: R Lambe Fagan; C O’Reilly, C Boyle, E Murray; H Lambe Sally, Á Breen (C), C Nolan; A Halligan, E Byrne; M Duffy, R O’Connor Leonard, A Russell; N Rice, K Flood, L Byrne.

 

TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship

 

Leitrim v Sligo; Shane McGettigan Memorial Park, Drumshanbo, 1pm

 

Leitrim and Roscommon will contest the TG4 Connacht Intermediate Final on May 12, with Sligo gearing up for their TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship campaign.

For all teams to get valuable game time, Leitrim will play Sligo on Sunday, before Roscommon tackle Sligo on Friday May 3.

Roscommon beat Leitrim in the 2023 Connacht Intermediate decider, running out 2-13 to 1-7 winners.

Leitrim will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing the Lidl NFL Division 4 semi-final against Limerick in their last competitive outing, while Sligo are smarting after suffering relegation from Division 3.

Leitrim: M Monaghan; E Quigley, V Tyrrell, C Owens; S Reynolds, K Bruen, E Bruen; N Tighe, M Guckian; V Egan, L O’Dowd, M Devaney; A Clancy, S Quinn, A Redican;

 Sligo: E McGuire; N McDonagh, E McDermot, C Dunne; E Lavin, A Morrisroe, T Breheny; S Cunney, S Regan; C Gilligan, A Haran, F Feeney; C Gorman, N Brennan, L Normanly.