Teams named for Busy Weekend of TG4 Action

It is a hectic weekend of TG4 action ahead and the teams have been named for all of the matches that will take place tomorrow and Sunday. We have previewed all of the matches and posted the teams below. Tomorrow we want everyone to get to a match and show their #serioussupport for our game and to help us to #changetherecord

TG4 All Ireland Senior Football Championship

Cavan v Laois,

Birr,

2:00pm (D. McEnery)

Cavan and Meath are coming into this fixture in very different mindsets. Cavan reached an Ulster final, losing out narrowly, they performed well in the League and they have shown continous signs of improvement. In contrast Laois have had another tough Leinster Championship campaign and survived relegation from Division 2 of the Lidl NFL by the narrowest of margins.

Cavan have shown signs in recent years that they are capable of reaching the elite level of the game but in order to do so they must avoid defeat this weekend. They can call on some very talented players especially in defence where Rachael Jordan and Laura Fitzpatrick backbone the team and captain, Sinead Greene, will attack regularly from the wing. Donna English and Rosie Crowe are a very powerful mifield unit and up front Roisín O’Keefe and Aisling Doonan will be expected to provide the scores necessary.

Laois are in the middle of a rebuilding period that has seen them slip down the ranks but they can still boast some top players amongst their ranks. 2014 TG4 All Star goalkeeper, Ciamh Dollard, is a brilliant player between the sticks. Maggie Murphy has been one of the best players for Laois in recent years and her partnership with Fiona Dooley could be vital if Laois are to surprise Cavan. Aileen O’Loughlan will captain the side from full forward where she will be joined by the dangerous Noirin Kirwan who could prove to be the catalyst for a Laois win.

Cavan go into this match as favourites and their defensive solidity will make it very difficult for Laois to get the scores necessary to create that upset but Laois are a team that are always capable of upsetting the odds and they will have no fear of their opponents.

                        

 

TG4 All Ireland Senior Football Championship

Kerry v Waterford,

Birr,

3:45pm (M. Kenny)

The second match in the Birr double header will be  the fascinating All Munster clash between Kerry and Waterford. These sides have met already in the championship when Kerry defeated Waterford to reach the TG4 Munster Championship final but they were given plenty to worry about by the emerging Waterford team.

Kerry relinquished their Munster championship crown to Cork earlier this Summer and will undoubtedly be disappointed with their level of performance. However, this Kingdom team is brimming with potential with some real impact players being held on the bench. Aislinn Desmond has been a stalwart for Kerry for much of the last decade and the 2015 All Star will lead the team from fullback. Caroline Kelly plays in the centre of a particularly strong half back line where she is flanked by Eilis Lynch and Denise Hallissey. Their midfield pairing is very strong where Bernie Breen is one of the best in the business alongside the excellent Emma Sherwood. Up front Laura Rogers is a potential match winner but all eyes will be on Sarah Houlihan and Louise Ní Muicheartaigh who are both devastating attackers.

Waterford have been enjoying their return to the Senior ranks so far. They won the Lidl NFL Division 3 title and, although they lost to both Cork and Kerry in the Munster championship, they looked like they belong at this level. Their win over Armagh in the last round was a surprise to many but this well organised team were more than a match for anyone that day. Michelle McGrath, Mairead Wall and Linda Wall will all need to be at their best against a strong Kerry inside forward line as will Karen McGrath and leaving cert student Emma Murray in the middle of the field. Their half forward is particularly impressive where free taking sensation Maria Delahunty will be vital along with the tireless Gráinne Kenneally and the 2^nd of the Murray triplets, Katie. Aileen Wall is set to start at full forward but she will wander all around the pitch and will be a real danger to Kerry’s hopes.

This will be a fascinating encounter between the established Kerry and the emerging Waterford. Form and tradition is on Kerry’s side but they will be made fight all the way by a Waterford team that could spring yet another surprise. A quarter final date with Monaghan awaits the winner of this game.

                      

Sunday, August 7^th,

 

TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Football Championship

Down v Wicklow,

Fingallians,

2:00p (C. McManus)

The race for the Mary Quinn Cup takes another step forward this weekend. Down will fancy their chances of getting their hands on the trophy but they will face a Wicklow team that have made a habit of upsetting the favourites.

Down will want to avoid any upsets in this fixture and in their full forward line they certainly have the firepower to ensure that they can get the scores necessary. 2014 All Star, Aileen Pyers, is capable of running up big scores herself and is very dependable from placed balls and she will be joined by Laura Mason who is a strong attacker. Wicklow will welcome back their star player, Jackie Kinch, who will start on the bench. Down will be well warned about Amy Murphy who netted 4 goals in Wicklow’s surprise defeat of Roscommon and Kim Connors will be hoping to reprise her goalkeeping heroics on Sunday.

Limerick v Clare,

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

2:00pm (K. Delahunty)

On Sunday we will say goodbye to a strong Munster team as neighbours Limerick and Clare take the field at the Gaelic Grounds. These teams will know each other well having met alreay in the Munster championship, a game that Clare won.

Limerick will go into this match confident of causing an upset especially as they can call on one of the best midfielders in the game in Niamh Richardson. Richardson’s duel with Louise Henchy could go a long way to deciding who will will this match. Ailish Considine will be an important player for Clare as she is a great playmaker for the inside forwards. However, the winner of this encounter could depend on the impact of the two team’s star forwards. Niamh O’Dea will play at full forward for Clare whilst Dymphna O’Brien will be the focal point of the Limerick attack. If either of these two superb players hits form it may decide who will go forward to face Tyrone.

TG4 Junior Football Championship

Derry v Carlow,

St. Treas PS, Ballymaguigan,

2:00pm (G. Chapman)

Derry and Carlow are two very evenly matched teams. Derry own one victory over Carlow this year already having defeated them when the sides met in Lidl NFL Division 4 earlier this year. The reward for the winner is a guaranteed passage through to the TG4 Junior All Ireland semi final whereas the loser must take on the winner of the British Championship.

Antrim v Longford,

St. Paul’s,

2:00pm (Y. Duffy)

This should be a very good match. These two teams are amongst the strongest in the division and both could still find their way to Croke Park regardless of the result this weekend. Avoiding the long route to the semi final is the reward for victory this weekend, a reward both sides will be keen to take.