An Taoiseach launches 2008 season

An Taoiseach Launches New Ladies Football Season

2008 Suzuki National League Gets Under Way

An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern TD launched the 2008 Suzuki Ladies National Football League at Croke Park today.  The 2008 Suzuki Ladies National Football League season aims to build on the successes of the new three division format which was established last year.

Reigning Division 1 champions, Mayo will be amongst the favourites again in 2008 but All Ireland Champions Cork will be out to remind everyone why they have lost just one game in almost three years.

Mayo will be expected to advance from Division 1a with Armagh or Tyrone likely to join the westerners in the knock-out stage.  In Division 1b Cork will again be the team to beat with Galway and Kildare the closest challengers.  Dublin will find it hard in Division 1b but much is expected from the girls from the capital after returning to the top flight this year.

All Ireland Intermediate champions Leitrim will be one of the favourites to emerge from Division 2a along with Waterford who were relegated from Division 1 last year.

Kilkenny and London, who competed for the Junior All Ireland title back in September, will fancy their chances of emerging from Division 3b while Roscommon will be looking for a speedy return to Division 2 from the other side of the draw.

At today’s launch, An Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said, “I would like to commend the Ladies’ Football Association, its sponsors and the many clubs and colleges for everything they have done to foster Ladies’ Football at home and abroad.  We would have no games without the thousands of players who train hard and put in the long hours to bring us the best of sporting moments.  I wish the teams participating in the League every success.  I’m sure you will bring audiences around the country many, many moments to savour.”

Uachtarán Cuman Peil Gael na mBan, Geraldine Giles said, “The Suzuki National Leagues kick start our Inter-County season and the new format adopted last year proved a huge success.  We are all looking forward to an exciting competition yet again this year and with the continued support of Suzuki this competition will continue to flourish.”

“We are delighted and honoured to be sponsoring the Ladies National Football League for a sixth successive year. It is the hard work and dedication of the players, mentors, officials and county boards that makes this league the huge success that it is,” said Niall O’Gorman, General Manager, Suzuki Ireland.

TG4 have announced that they will broadcast the Division 1 and Division 2 ladies NFL finals live on May 4th.

Division 1a	Division 1b	Division 2a	Division 2b	Division 3a	Division 3b
Kerry Armagh Wexford Laois Mayo Tyrone	Kildare Cork Dublin Monaghan Galway Meath	Clare Sligo Waterford Leitrim Westmeath	Donegal Fermanagh Down Longford Tipperary	Cavan Louth Offaly Roscommon Carlow	Wicklow Antrim Derry Limerick Kilkenny London