PREVIEWS: Final pairings up for grabs at Senior level; Connacht silverware on offer

A pivotal Sunday lies in store in the TG4 provincial championships, with senior final pairings to be confirmed in Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

In the round-robin series in Leinster, Laois and Meath will battle it out for the right to join holders Dublin in the final, while the final round of Munster group fixtures will determine the final pairing.

Cork are at home to Waterford in Clonakilty, while Tipperary welcome Kerry to Galtee Rovers GAA grounds in Bansha.

In Ulster, meanwhile, Cavan’s clash with Armagh in Clones is a crucial fixture.

Victory for Armagh will guarantee a final against Donegal but a Cavan win would see Cavan, Donegal and Armagh all locked together on three points, with scoring difference then used to determine the final pairing.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the TG4 Connacht Intermediate final sees Roscommon at home to Leitrim in Kiltoom.

In Leinster, the Leinster Intermediate semi-final pairing will be determined, while Antrim will take on Tyrone in a dress rehearsal ahead of their intermediate final clash.

Derry take on Fermanagh, meanwhile, needing a win to progress to the TG4 Ulster junior final.

A draw or a win for Fermanagh would see the Erne County set up a final clash with Down.

In the Munster Senior B championship, Clare take on Limerick.

 

All fixtures 2pm unless stated 

 

Saturday, May 13

Leinster IFC Group B 

Louth v Westmeath, Ballinlough GAA, 5pm 

Victory is a must for Louth this weekend. They were convincing winners over Wicklow in the opening round and slumped to a two point defeat to Offaly in Bretland Park last time out. If they are to give themselves a chance of making the knockout stages, they must secure victory against Westmeath on Saturday evening and hope Wicklow defeat Offaly on Sunday. With both Louth and Offaly currently on three points, a place in the semi-finals may even come down to score difference.

Kit Henry names an unchanged side in the most important game of the season so far for the Wee County.

For Westmeath, they have secured narrow victories in the opening two rounds including just a four point win against Wicklow last time out. Michael Finneran makes two changes to that team with Melek Fagan and Johanna Quinn replacing Mary Dunne and Niamh Nolan. 

Louth: R. Lambe Fagan; E Murray, D O’Connor, E Hand; S Matthews, S McLaughlin, M Duffy; Á Breen (C), A Halligan; L Collins, N Rice, L Boyle; A Russell, K Flood, C Nolan. 

Westmeath: L McCormack; M Fagan, L Power, A Roche; K Boyce Jordan, T Dillon, C Kelly; V Carr, J Quinn; A Ruane, C Blundell (C), R Dillon; M Monaghan, A Jones, A Connolly.

 

Sunday May 14

Connacht  

 

TG4 Intermediate Championship Final

Roscommon v Leitrim; Kiltoom, 1pm 

Leitrim make the trip to Kiltoom looking to retain the TG4 Connacht Intermediate title.

In last year’s Final, a Leah Fox goal separated Leitrim and Roscommon, as the winners secured a 1-14 to 0-14 win.

They meet again on Sunday, with Leitrim looking to retain the silverware and get their hands on a trophy after losing out to Antrim in the Lidl National League Division 4 Final.

Both sides enjoyed comfortable victories over Sligo in the round-robin stage of the competition.

 

Roscommon: H Cummins; E Hagan, E Irwin, S Wynne; J McDermott, R Fitzmaurice, R Wynne; C Cregg, L O’Rourke; M Hagan, A Gavin, N Feeney; A Hanly, L Fleming, N Fitzgerald.

 

Leitrim: C Guckian; C Tyrrell, J Maye, M Murphy; S Reynolds, K Bruen, C Le Guen; N Tighe, A Gilmartin; L O’Dowd, A Clancy, S Quinn; B O’Rourke, M Guckian, E Bruen.

 

Munster

TG4 Senior Championship 

Cork v Waterford; Clonakilty

Everything is on the line in Clonakilty as Cork entertain Waterford in a clash which will see the winners advance to the final.

Cork have named an unchanged side from that which drew with Kerry last weekend, although there are several positional changes in attack.

Waterford go into this showdown boosted by a 1-9 to 1-7 win over Tipperary last weekend when a goal from Lauren McGregor proved decisive.

Waterford have named the same starting 15, although there are a host of positional changes throughout the field.

Cork: M O’Sullivan; M Duggan, E Meaney, R Phelan; A Ryan, S Kelly, E O’Shea; S Leahy (capt.), H Looney; L Coppinger, K Quirke, E Cleary; E Kiely, D O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan.

 

Waterford: E O’Brien; C Murray, E Power, A Murray; N Power, Karen McGrath (capt.), Kate McGrath; A O’Neill, E Murray; B McMaugh, K Murray, K Hogan; C McCarthy, A Fitzgerald, L McGregor.

Tipperary v Kerry; Galtee Rovers GAA, Bansha

A win for Kerry will see them through to the Munster final and they have made five changes to the side which drew with Cork last weekend.

Three of the changes are in defence, where Ciara O’Brien, Ciara Murphy and Louise Galvin come in for Eilís Lynch, Aoife Dillane and Aishling O’Connell.

Up front, Hannah O’Donoghue replaces Fiadhna Tangney and Danielle O’Leary takes over from captain Síofra O’Shea.

Tipperary can’t make it to the final after two losses and they have made four changes, with Katelyn Downey, Maureen Murphy, Aine Delaney and Emma O’Sullivan coming into the side.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; C O’Dwyer, L Spillane, E Cronin; K Downey, L Morrissey, E Kelly; E Morrissey, M Curley (capt.); M Murphy, M Creedon, A Delaney; C English, A Moloney, E O’Sullivan.

 

Kerry: C Butler; C O’Brien, K Cronin, C Murphy; L Galvin, E Costello, C Lynch; L Scanlon, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, A Galvin; H O’Donoghue, D O’Leary, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh (capt.).

Senior B 

Clare v Limerick; Doonbeg

Clare will be hoping to continue their good run here which has already seen them chalk up wins over Cork and Kerry, but they will know they will need to be on their guard against neighbours Limerick.

Clare: A Lenihan; E Hynes, S Ní Chonaill, R Doohan; L Griffin, L Ryan, J Doohan; C Blake, A Reidy; F Marrinan, C Harvey (capt.), A Sexton; L Griffey, C Moloney, M Downes.

 

Limerick: C Bateman; F Bradshaw, Y Lee, S Dillon; G Lee, L Walshe, E Woulfe; L Coughlan, R Ambrose (capt.); C McGrath, A Ryan, C O’Meara; C Brosnahan, L Browne, A O’Dea.

 

Leinster 

 

TG4 Senior Championship 

Laois v Meath, Laois Hire O’Moore Park 

Sixty minutes standsbetween Laois and Meath and a place in the 2023 TG4 Leinster Senior Championship Final. This third and final round will decide who faces reigning champions, Dublin in the final on May 28^th in O’Moore Park.

Laois will have been disappointed with their performance last weekend against Dublin as they slumped to a 3-14 to 0-3 defeat against Mick Bohan’s side. Undoubtedly, they will be hoping to give a better account of themselves this weekend on home turf. Donie Brennan has named an unchanged side from that defeat last week and lessons learned during last weekend’s contest will surely be put into practice this Sunday.

Meath lost out to Dublin by two points in the opening round in Páirc Tailteann and they will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Sunday to ensure another clash with Dublin. Davy Nelson has also named an unchanged side and with a provincial final place up for grabs, there will be no stone left unturned on Sunday. The game will be streamed live by Jerome Quinn and his team and can be accessed (€) at this link: https://bit.ly/3Wbm7FD 

Laois: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne, A Kelly; S Havill, E Healy (C), L Nerney; A Healy, A Moran; E Galvin, O Hennessy, E Fitzpatrick; M Nerney, SA Fitzgerald, L.M Maher.

 

Meath: M McGuirk; Á Sheridan, M.K Lynch, K Newe; N Gallogly, S Ennis (C), A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, A Minogue; M Thynne, V Wall, E Duggan; M Byrne, S Grimes, N O’Sullivan.

 

Leinster IFC Group A

Wexford v Kildare, Chadwick’s Wexford Park

 

With two wins each, Wexford and Kildare will meet in Chadwick’s Wexford Park to decide top spot in Group A. Both sides have recorded wins over Carlow and Longford respectively, however Kildare seem to be the in-form side as they have racked up 6-26 in their two games thus far. Wexford struggled to get scores on the board against Longford in the opening round and came from behind to defeat Carlow last Sunday. However, this will matter little when the sides meet with top spot up for grabs.

Diane O’Hora makes one change; Mary Hulgraine returning to the goalkeeper position in place of Niamh Barnes. Lizzy Kent and John Nolan have shuffled up their pack and made four changes to the side that defeated Carlow last week. Shauna Murphy, Beibhinn McDonald, Áine Lacey and Chloe Fox are named to start while Karen Tomkins, Aoife Cullen, Emma Tomkins and Ciara Roban make way.

 

Wexford: L Moore; A Halligan, K English, S Murphy; B Breen, R Murphy (C), S Harding Kenny; A Walsh, C Banville; B McDonald, C Murray, C Donnelly; C Fox, A Murphy, Á Lacey.

 

Kildare: N Barnes; L Gilbert, L Lenehan, A Clifford; T Duggan, R Sargeant, S Munnelly; G Clifford (C), A Rattigan; C Sullivan, N Dooley, R Forde; E Dowling, C Price, L Curran.

 

Longford v Carlow, Grattans GAA

 

It hasn’t been an encouraging championship so far for Longford, but talent abounds in their panel and they will relish a home tie this weekend against Carlow. Carlow were impressive against Wexford last weekend and it was only the final quarter where Wexford ensured victory with two late goals casting a gloss on the scoreline. Carlow will take plenty of confidence from that performance as they take on Longford.

Longford name an unchanged side for Sunday’s fixture while Carlow have made two changes with Ella Molloy and Oonagh Fitzpatrick replacing Rachel Sawyer and Anne Roche.

 

Longford: R McGrath; S McCormack, L Keegan (C), E Doris; C McCormack, M Kelleher, G Kenny; G Shannon, E O’Brien; H Glennon, Caoimhe Lohan, K. Crawford; K. McKeon, Clodagh Lohan, E. Sheehy.

 

Carlow: N Hanley; A Carroll, O Fitzpatrick, M Doyle; R Bermingham (C), N Murphy, S McCullagh; E Hayden, R Bailey; A Hanley, E Molly, S Hayden; J Sawyer, C Ní Shé, S Doyle.

 

Leinster IFC Group B

 

Wicklow v Offaly, Baltinglass GAA

 

Wicklow have struggled to find their feet in this year’s Intermediate Championship but a four point loss to Westmeath last weekend was a good result for Captain Sarah Jane Winders and her team. Reaching the knockout stages of the Leinster Championship is still not impossible but victory over Offaly on Sunday is vital if they are to put themselves in the running.

The task ahead of Offaly is similar to Louth’s. If they are to give themselves a chance to make the knockout stages, victory in Baltinglass is a must and even then, the final semi-final berth may come down to scoring difference. Offaly have worked diligently in this year’s Intermediate Championship and while they were narrowly defeated by Westmeath in Round One, they were resilient and ensured a two point victory against Louth last time out.

Both sides have gone with the same teams as last week as semi-finals loom ever closer.

 

Wicklow: E Griffin; S Evans, S.J. Winders (C), R Byrne; N Kenny, L Dunne, J Byrne; A Maher, A Gorman; E O’Sullivan, N Cullen, Y Dagge; S Delahunt, M Kealy, H Dowling.

 

Offaly: K Cunningham; K Flynn, A Dolan, A Grehan; N Farrelly, E Nally, M Mann; E Maher, A Gavin Mangan; R Ennis (C), E Hand, S McGuinness; E Bailey, R Mealiff, R Cockram.

 

Ulster 

TG4 Senior Championship 

Cavan v Armagh; St Tiernach’s Park, Clones, 1.45pm 

There will be a huge Armagh following in Clones on Sunday and while the men’s team will be bidding for an Ulster title against Derry, the Armagh ladies know that victory for them will set up a final showdown with Donegal.

Armagh will go into this contest fresh from their 1-15 to 2-4 win over Donegal last weekend and they have made just one change.

Louise Kenny comes into the side and is selected at corner-back with Catherine Marley dropping out in a side that also includes several positional changes as they bid to secure a place in the Ulster final.

A Cavan win will mean it will all come down to score difference as they, Donegal and Armagh would all be on three points.

Cavan have named an unchanged starting 15 from that which went down by 1-6 to 0-4 against Donegal last time out.

Cavan: Roisin O’Reilly; G Faulkner, S Lynch, C Charters; Z Fay, N Byrd, Rebecca O’Reilly; C Finnegan, A Denneher; S Slowey, L McVeety, A Gilsensan; A Cahill, A Sheridan, G Smith.

 

Armagh: A Carr; S Grey, C McCambridge, L Kenny; G Ferguson, L McConville, C Towe; N Coleman, E Lavery; B Mackin, A Mackin, E Druse; N Marley, K Mallon (capt.), A McCoy.

TG4 Intermediate Championship 

Antrim v Tyrone; Davitt Park, Antrim

Antrim and Tyrone meet in a dress rehearsal ahead of their TG4 Ulster Intermediate Final.

Both sides are already assured of a Final place after key victories over Monaghan.

Antrim: A McCann; D Coleman, E Ferran, N McIntosh; O Corr, C Brown, S O’Neill; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon, C Carey (capt.), L Dahunsi; B Devlin, O Prenter, M O’Neill.

 

Tyrone: C Donnelly; K Murphy, C Campbell, J Barrett; J Lyons, C Magee, M Treanor; A Daly, A McHugh (capt.); N McElduff, G Rafferty, O Mulgrew; M Canavan, E Loane, S Byrne.

TG4 Junior Championship 

 

Derry v Fermanagh, Celtic Park, Derry

All to play for here as victory for either side will see them through to the final against Down.

Derry lost heavily to Down last time out, while Fermanagh’s previous outing saw them draw with Down.

Derry: T Cassidy; H Mullan, B Donnelly, D Stinson ; J Corr (capt.), A Frizelle, C Scullion ; L Casey, K Hargan; A Martin, E Doherty, A McGlone; A O’Loughlin, A Young, N Hannon.

 

Fermanagh: R Gleeson; E Keenan, M McGloin, C Clarke; S McQuade (capt.), C Murphy, S McCarville; R Reilly, A O’Brien; S Britton, D Maguire, A Maguire; B Bannon, B Bogue, L Grew.