PREVIEWS: Action in all four provinces over the coming weekend

THERE’S action in all four provinces in the TG4 provincial championships over the coming weekend.

At senior level, the round-robin series in Leinster and Munster concludes, with Dublin and Meath, who have already qualified for the Leinster final, meeting at Parnell Park on Sunday in a dress rehearsal ahead of their May 12 decider.

Down south, Cork and Tipperary will battle it out in Mallow on Saturday for the right to play Kerry on May 18 in the provincial final.

The TG4 Leinster Intermediate Final pairing between Wexford and Westmeath is already confirmed, and the two counties will engage in some shadow boxing on Sunday ahead of the decider.

Elsewhere over the weekend, the Leinster Junior Final pairing will be confirmed, there are two Ulster Intermediate semi-finals down for decision, and there’s action in the Connacht Intermediate and Munster Senior B competitions.

Both of the weekend’s Leinster Senior championship games will be live-streamed via Leinster LGFA on YouTube and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3JIvC9w)

Saturday’s Kildare v Laois game is live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlmQPAu3zJQ while viewers can watch the Dublin-Meath game on Sunday at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j1YpqGO4U0

 

2pm unless stated

 

Friday May 3

 

TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship

 

Roscommon v Sligo; Ardcrane Park, St Michaels GAA, Roscommon, 7.30pm

 

Leitrim will play Roscommon in the 2024 TG4 Connacht Intermediate Final on Sunday May 12.

With Sligo in the junior ranks, the round-robin phase of the provincial Intermediate championship provided Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim with some valuable game time.

A youthful Sligo suffered a heavy defeat to Leitrim last time out and they’ll hope for a much better showing against Roscommon here.

 

Roscommon: L McCawley; A McGrath, A Shanagher, J McDermott; S Fleming, S Wynne, C Cregg; L O’Rourke, K Nolan; E Thompson, L Shanagher, S Farrell; N Fleming, A Gavin, N Feeney (capt.).

 

Sligo: E McGuire; J Creegan, I Henry, C Dunne (capt.); E Lavin, A Morrisroe, T Breheny; S Cunney, S Regan; C Gilligan, A Haran, F Feeney; R O’Brien, A Molloy, L Normanly.

 

TG4 Leinster Junior Championship – Round 3

 

Louth v Longford; PPFS GAA Training Centre, Darver, 8pm

 

It’s all to play for ahead of the final round of fixtures in the group phase of the Leinster Intermediate Championship.

Longford, with two wins from two, sit on top of the pile, three points clear of Louth and Carlow.

A scenario could occur where all three counties finish the weekend on six points, and scoring difference will then come into play to determine the two finalists.

Longford are currently on +21, with Louth on +19 and Carlow, who play Kilkenny on Sunday, on zero.

A positive result for Longford will see them through to the Leinster Final while a Louth win would make things very interesting before Carlow play on Sunday.

 

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

 

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

 

Saturday May 4

 

TG4 Leinster Senior Championship – Round 3

 

Kildare v Laois; Manguard Park

 

Kildare and Laois can’t make the Final and this game will decide which groups in the TG4 All-Ireland series both counties are assigned to.

After defeat to Meath last time out, Kildare make ten changes for this one, with captain Grace Clifford among the absentees as she’s getting married on Saturday.

Anna Dunlea replaces Mary Hulgraine in goal and there are also starts for Aine Mernagh, Laoise Lenehan, Alex Reynolds, Aoife Kilkenny, Leah Doran, Elaine Keogh, Sarah Munnelly, Erin Brereton Foley and Holly Tyrrell.

Dropping out of the team along with captain Clifford are Hulgraine, Fiona Troute, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilbert, Hazel McLoughlin, Trina Duggan, Ellen Dowling, Claire Sullivan and Neasa Dooley.

Following a heavy defeat to Dublin, there are six changes on the Laois team, with Naomi Luttrell replacing Eimear Barry in goal, while Rebecca Reddin, Aoife Gorman, Alice Walsh, Roisin Allen and Aisling Fitzpatrick also earn starts, with captain Clodagh Dunne, Isabel Finlay, Orla Hennessy, Lauren Kearney and Mo Nerney also sitting this one out.

 

Kildare: A Dunlea; A Mernagh, L Lenehan (capt.), A Reynolds; M Doherty, E O’Toole, L Murtagh; A Rattigan, A Kilkenny; L Doran, E Keogh, S Munnelly; E Brereton Foley, H Tyrrell, N Farrelly.

 

Laois: N Luttrell; S Farrelly, R Reddin, G Lalor; A Ryle, M Cotter, A Gorman; A Moore, C Malone; G Moran, E Lacey, A Walsh; R Allen, A Fitzpatrick, K Donoghue.

 

TG4 Munster Senior Championship – Round 3

 

Cork v Tipperary; Mallow Sports Complex, 2.30pm

 

With Kerry already through to the Final, Cork and Tipperary battle it out for the right to join them.

Cork and Tipp have both lost to Kerry but they did earn victories over Waterford to set up this shoot-out.

Cork’s four-point loss to Kerry has led to manager Shane Ronayne opting for five changes in personnel, with Caoimhe Richmond replacing Sarah Murphy in goal, while Aoife Healy, captain Maire O’Callaghan, Libby Coppinger and Laura O’Mahony are also handed starting berths.

Sadbh McGoldrick, Amy Ring, Lydia McDonagh and Leah Hallihan also drop out of the starting team for this crucial clash with the Premier County.

Tipperary, meanwhile, are unchanged following their impressive victory over Waterford.

The winners will face Kerry in the provincial decider on May 18.

 

Cork: C Richmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, A Ryan; S Leahy, A Healy, K Smith; M O’Callaghan (capt.), K O’Driscoll; A O’Mahony, D Kiely, A McDonagh; L Coppinger, L O’Mahony, E Cleary.

 

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

 

Munster Senior B

 

Cork v Limerick; Mallow Sports Complex, 4.40pm

 

The Munster Senior B Final pairing for May 18 has already been confirmed, with Limerick to face Cork in Mallow.

The group stages conclude on Saturday with a dress rehearsal between the county sides.

 

Cork: D Creed; M Burke, C Heffernan, E Buckley; E Murphy, R Shanley, D Murphy; K Redmond (capt.), A Corcoran; A McTaggart, E Hurley, A O’Connell; A Hallahan, C Russell, R Murphy.

 

Limerick: A Kiely; S Doellken, J McGuire, S Dillon; L Ryan, L Coughlan, G Mullane; R Ambrose (capt.), M MacNamara; C MacNamara, I Kennelly, A Murphy; M Cumes, K Heelan, A Cleary.  

 

Sunday May 5

 

TG4 Leinster Senior Championship – Round 3

 

Dublin v Meath; Parnell Park

 

Champions Dublin and Meath will complete the group stages of the TG4 Leinster Senior Championship on Sunday – with both teams already through to the final at Croke Park on May 12.

Meath appear to be keeping their powder dry ahead of the Final, with Katie Newe, who captains the team at Parnell Park on Sunday, the only survivor from the side that started against Kildare last time out.
Goalkeeper Robyn Murray, Ciara Lawlor, Olivia Gore, Karla Kealy, Tori Foster, Isabel O’Connor, Aisling McCabe, Rachel Casserly, Meadhbh Byrne, Seona Lynch, Orlaith Mallon, Megan Collins, Kerrie Cole and Ailbhe Leahy all start on Sunday, with a host of key names held in reserve.
Going out of the team are goalkeeper and regular captain Monica McGuirk, along with Áine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Nicole Troy, Niamh Gallogly, Lisa Young, Máire O’Shaughnessy, Aoibhín Cleary, Meghan Thynne, Shelly Melia, Ciara Smyth, Ella Moyles, Marion Farrelly and Emma Duggan.

Dublin, in contrast, have opted for a very strong starting line-up on Sunday, with ten changes in personnel from the team that beat Laois comprehensively.
In come Leah Caffrey, Martha Byrne, Niamh Crowley, Aoife Kane, Jennifer Dunne, Lauren Magee, Caoimhe O’Connor, Orlagh Nolan, captain Carla Rowe and Hannah Tyrrell, with Niamh Donlon, Jessica Tobin, Claire Kirwan, Kate Murray, Olwen Carey, Grace Kós, Caitlin Coffey, Kate Sullivan, Chloe Darby and Niamh Hetherton dropping out.

 

Dublin: R Fleming; L Caffrey, M Byrne, N Crowley; H McGinnis, S Goldrick, A Kane; J Dunne, L Magee; C O’Connor, O Nolan, C Rowe (capt.); A Timothy, H Tyrrell, N Owens.

 

Meath: R Murray; C Lawlor, O Gore, K Kealy; T Foster, I O’Connor, K Newe (capt.); A McCabe, R Casserly; M Byrne, S Lynch, O Mallon; M Collins, K Cole, A Leahy.

 

TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship – Round 3

 

Wexford v Westmeath; Starlights, Bellefield, Enniscorthy

 

Wexford and Westmeath meet in a pre Leinster Final dress rehearsal in Enniscorthy.

Both teams are already secured of a final place, even though Offaly could join Westmeath on four points in the round-robin standings by close of play on Sunday.

Westmeath are through, however, as they registered more points over the bar (11) in their 1-11 to 2-8 draw with Offaly.

Wexford are the form team in the Leinster Intermediate grade to date, with two wins from two, and they’ll be anxious to maintain a 100 per record.

 

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

 

Westmeath: L McCormack (capt.); 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.

 

Offaly v Wicklow; Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore

 

Just pride to play for here in Tullamore as Offaly and Wicklow go head to head.

It’s still an important game, however, as finishing positions in the provincial championships determine groupings in the All-Ireland series.

Offaly are a point clear of Wicklow in the Leinster round-robin group and the third-placed finisher, currently Offaly, will join Clare and the beaten Ulster Finalist in Group 2 of the TG4 Championship.

The team that finishes bottom of the Leinster pile will face the Connacht champions (Leitrim or Roscommon), and the loser of Sunday’s Ulster semi-final between Monaghan and Tyrone in the group stages of the All-Ireland Championship.

 

Offaly: K Cunningham; N Buckley, M Mann, E Hackett; R Ennis, N Farrelly, C O’Brien; E McEvoy (capt.), M Rouse; K Farrelly, A Stafford, A Gavin Mangan; F Dempsey, E Hand, R Cockram.

 

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

 

TG4 Leinster Junior Championship – Round 3

 

Carlow v Kilkenny; Netwatch Training Centre, Fenagh

 

Champions Carlow will know what they have to do ahead of throw-in on Sunday.

The outcome of Friday evening’s game between Louth and Longford will determine the approach of the Barrowsiders at home to the Cats.

If Louth beat Longford, Carlow will know that a win will take them onto six points alongside their provincial rivals, and scoring difference will then determine who makes the final.

A win for Longford, however, and Lidl NFL Division 4 winners Carlow would just need to avoid defeat to make it through to the Leinster final.

Carlow are currently level on three points alongside Louth ahead of the weekend games, with both sides three adrift of pace-setters Longford.

 

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

 

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

 

TG4 Munster Senior Championship – Round 3

 

Kerry v Waterford; Cordal GAA, 1pm

 

Kerry are already safely through to the TG4 Munster Senior Final on May 18, where they’ll face Cork or Tipperary.

Victory over Cork in their last outing booked another provincial final slot for the Kingdom and joint-managers Declan Quill and Darragh long have made eleven changes to the team that lined out against the Leesiders.

Kate O’Sullivan, Aoife Dillane, Eilís O’Connor, Róisín Rahilly, Lorraine Scanlon, Róisín Smith, Jess Gill, Hannah O’Donoghue, Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Emma Dineen and Jadyn Lucey have the chance to stake a claim for a Munster final slot, with Ciara O’Brien, Kayleigh Cronin, Ciara Murphy, Mary O’Connell, Cáit Lynch, Anna Galvin, captain Niamh Carmody, Amy Harrington, Katie Brosnan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Danielle O’Leary held in reserve.

Rahilly and Smith will both make their Kerry senior debuts against the visiting Déise, who have made four changes following defeat to Tipperary.

In Pat Sullivan’s starting line-up, Cora Murray, Caragh McCarthy, Lauren McGregor and Kaci Brazil come in for Alannah McNulty, Mairead O’Brien, Annie Fitzgerald and Bríd McMaugh.

 

Kerry: C Butler; K O’Sullivan, E Lynch, A Dillane; E O’Connor, A O’Connell (captain), R Rahilly; L Scanlon, R Smith; J Gill, H O’Donoghue, N Ní Chonchúir; D Kearney, E Dineen, J Lucey.

 

Waterford: E O’Brien; C Murray, H Power, K McGrath; N Power, E Murray, E Power; A O’Neill, K Murray; A Murray, E Bolger, C McCarthy; K Hogan (capt.), L McGregor, K Brazil.

 

 

TG4 Ulster Intermediate Championship semi-finals

 

Monaghan v Tyrone; Éire Óg, Smithborough

 

Tyrone are fresh from gaining promotion to Division 1 of the Lidl National League, while also appearing in a Division 2 Final against Kildare at Croke Park.

Now, the focus switches to the Ulster Intermediate championship and a semi-final meeting with Monaghan, who preserved Division 2 status this season.

The winners will face holders Antrim or Down in the provincial showpiece.

 

Tyrone: C Donnelly; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; C Campbell, E Mulgrew, C Daly; A McHugh (capt.), M Mallon; E.J. Gervin, A Daly, A Horisk; M Canavan, Z Loughran, E Conroy.

 

Monaghan: Ó Kelly; A Bannigan, N Cogan, K Nolan; A Garland, M Monaghan (capt.), Á Loughman; J Duffy, E Carolan; S Tierney, É Sherry, C Treanor; L Maguire, J Drury, L Garland.

Antrim v Down, St Joseph’s, Glenavy

Down booked their spot in the semi-final with a preliminary round victory over Cavan.
Buoyed by that success, the Mourne County will fancy their chances of knocking out Antrim, the current provincial champions.
Antrim have endured a difficult campaign to date, suffering relegation back to Division 4 of the Lidl NFL, but after winning Ulster last year and reaching the last four of the TG4 All-Ireland series, the Saffrons will hope for better fortunes come championship time.

Antrim: A Murray; D Coleman, E Ferran, C McKenna; C Finnucane, C Brown (capt.), G McGroarty; A Mulholland, L Dahunsi; T Mellon, C Taggart, B Ni Cahail; A Taggart, E Duffy-Rogers, L Agnew.

Down: A McGivern; A Greene, C Byrne, P Smyth; C Mulvenna, N McKibbin, O Duffy; M Doherty (capt.), A Laverty; N Scullion, N King, L Duffy; N McClory, S Dougherty, V McCormack.