TESCO NFL Previews

TESCO NFL Round 5 Previews

 

TESCO NFL Division 1

 

Galway v Kerry

Tuam Stadium

1:00pm (M. Kenny)

 

There are a lot of paralells between the seasons that both Kerry and Galway have had to date. The two counties have had impressive league campaigns and both suffered 1 point defeats away to Cork. Galway drew with Dublin at home whilst Kerry were victorious against last years beaten finalists. The two team are considered as dark horses for both the league and championship and both have made significant advances in recent years. This is the match that will define the season for these two sides as the winner will become favourites for the knock out stages whilst the loser will depend on other results to getting through to the semi finals. Galway are the home side and have been playing well but do seem to struggle when one of the top ranked sides are the opposition and Kerry are definitely a top ranked side. This will be an intriguing battle between two up and coming sides with plenty at stake. Galway will again look to Edel Connolly to keep up her goal scoring form whilst Kerry have quality in Louise Ní Muircheartaigh and Sarah Houlihan. Home advantage and a greater need for points should see this go the way of the home side but by the narrowest margins.

 

Monaghan v Mayo

Blackhill

2:00pm (G. Corrigan)

 

This is the meeting of the form teams in Division 1. Both sides lost on the opening weekend and have since gone on to claim every available point. Monaghan had a brilliant win over Cork in front of a great local crowd and will take particular encouragement from the nature of their late victory over Cork, a result that the champions usually inflict. Mayo too have turned their form around with a great win over Dublin standing out as the highlight so far. A win for either of these counties will push either to the top of the table and will all but guarantee their progress to the knockout stages. For Monaghan, the return of Laura McEnaney after taking a year out has been a welcom boost as she has been their star turn to date, Catriona McConnell has also shown signs of the form that earned her an All Star two years ago. Mayo will again look to Cora Staunton but with Fiona McHale and Yvonne Byrne also having good league campaigns they are far from a one player team. This game will depend on the match up between Cora Staunton and Sharon Courtney who is one of the best defenders in the game, if Courtney can hold her own then that should set Monaghan on the path to victory.

 

Laois v Dublin

Crettyard GAA Club

2:00pm (J. Flood)

 

Laois have struggled so far in the league, they are yet to earn a point and have been on the receiving end of some real drubbings. However, there is still a very optimistic atmosphere in the camp as there is a feeling that they have been getting stronger with some good players returning to the panel to increase their strength in depth. On the other hand it has been a tough few weeks in the Dublin camp as they are on a two game losing steak and are sitting 5 points behind the leaders. Dublin will be aware that they can’t afford to lose any points especially with their final, and possibly crucial, game coming against Cork. With confidence affected after results against Mayo and Kerry this is possibly the perfect match for Dublin to generate that winning feeling but Laois will need no more encouragement than to see their great rivals come to town. It would be a huge shock if this is anything but a Dublin win but they may struggle with the tag of favouritism.

 

Cork v Tyrone

Fermoy

2:00pm (K. Delahunty)

 

Cork’s last two home games have resulted in one point, last gasp wins against Galway and Kerry. This is a chance for Cork to re establish their aura of invincibility against a Tyrone team that is yet to earn a point. Cork will want to have their qualification for the semi finals wrapped up before they host Dublin in the final round of the league so they will not be in any way complacent with the bottom team coming to town this weekend. Tyrone will approach this match knowing they have nothing to lost. Nobody will expect them to get a result after the long trip South but this will certainly suit them. There is some real quality in Tyrone’s ranks with players like Gemma Begley and Neamh Woods who would play in any team in the country and there is a feeling that they are startng to gel again after a slow start to the season. Qualification for the play offs is out of the reach of Tyrone so they will know that they just need to keep improving as they keep an eye on what will probably be a relegation decider against Laois in Round 7. Cork should win this match and whilst it might not be as exciting as their last few home matches, the margin should still be quite small.

 

TESCO NFL DIVISION 2

 

Westmeath v Kildare

St. Loman’s, Kinnegad

2:00pm (K. McKeever)

 

Westmeath will possibly be dissappointed with their League campaign to date, last year’s beaten finalists find themselves lying in 4^th place 6 points adrift of the top spot. Anything but wins from their next 2 matches will leave Westmeath needing to get a result away to Donegal in Round 7 so that makes this a big game against their great rivals this weekend. Kildare have had some poor results since they managed to defeat Meath away from home but a tough run of fixtures since have meant that they have not been able to build on that result. This weekend Kildare will have to be at their very best if they are to defeat a very strong, if underperforming, Westmeath side. Westmeath will be very disappointed if they do not claim victory this weekend and it would be a great surprise if they do not.

 

Cavan v Armagh

Kingspan Breffni Park

2:00pm (J. Niland)

 

This is the biggest match of this, and possibly any, division this weekend. Cavan have surged to the top of the table with an unbeaten start that has seen them claim maximum points but the visit of Armagh is a totally different proposition to what they have faced before. This is the biggest test for Cavan to date in 2015 as they welcome the Ulster Champions to Breffni and they will know that they will have to be at their very best to keep up their impressive record to date. Armagh have steamed through all comers since they were defeated by Donegal and will be anxious to make their mark against a Cavan side that will also be competing for their ulster title this Summer. Caroline O’Hanlon is the player to watch in this match as she is so often the one that dictates how Armagh will play. Cavan are something of a surprise package this season and it is usually folly to bet against the form team but with a strong Armagh side who want to put down a marker for the rest of the year it might be a first defeat for the home side.

 

Donegal v Meath

Red Hughs GAA, Killygordon,

2:30pm (G. Chapman)

 

They might have been seen as dark horses for the league before the season before their Division 2 campaign got underway but they have totally blown that tag out of the water as Donegal have made short work of the League to date. Donegal have been particularly impressive at home and when they welcome Meath to Killygordon this weekend they will face a team that has not been great on the road. One feels that Meath will be hoping to produce a performance rather than a result this weekend and that they may attempt to contain the league leaders. Donegal should still have a 100% record on Sunday evening and may also have secured their qualification for the knock out stages depending on results.

 

TESCO NFL Division 3

 

Fermanagh v Longford

Brookeborough

12:00pm (P. Swift)

 

Fermanagh have struggled in Division 3 where they would have been expected to be amongst the favourites to reach the knock out stages. Last year’s All Ireland Intermediate champions have only claimed one victory and that was last time out against a pointless Tipperary side, this weekend they host the other pointless team, Longford. Longford have a very young side that is slowly finding their feet in the division and they have been improving. Fermanagh need to win to keep their promotion hopes alive and they should do so this weekend.

 

Tipperary v Wexford

Clonmel ÓgGAA Club (Ned Hall Park)

2:00pm (J. Mullins)

 

Tipperary have yet to win a match in Division 3 but they are starting to show real signs of improvement following a narrow one point loss to Fermanagh in the last round. The indications are that Tipperary can start to get some results but they might come too late to push into the promotion reckoning. Wexford are acquiting themselves quite well to date in the League following their TG4 Junior All Ireland victory in September and they sit within reach of a play off place should they claim victory this weekend. Tipperary’s improvement allied to home advantage against Wexford should see them claim their first victory of 2015.

 

Leitrim v Sligo

Ballinamore

2:00pm (K. Corcoran)

 

Leitrim are in superb form as they boast a 100% record to date following a huge victory over Longford last time out. Their neighbours, Sligo are the visitors this weekend and these two teams are no strangers to each other after some great battles in recent years. Sligo need the points more than Leitrim but they will be given nothing easy by their great rivals. Áine Tighe is the scoring inspiration for Leitrim and should she maintain her form that should be more than enough to power the home side to victory.

 

Waterford v Roscommon

Fraher Field

2:00pm (J. Murphy)

 

Waterford are the other unbeaten team in the division and sit on the top of the table by virtue of score difference over Leitrim. Roscommon, who just got promoted last year, have been a real surprise as they have competed at the top of the table to date and sit in third position. This improving Roscommon team are in good form and although the trip to Waterford might not produce the result that they want this weekend one feels that these two sides might be meeting again later in the year.

 

TESCO NFL Division 4

 

Limerick v Derry

Martinstown

12:00pm (N. McCormack)

 

This is a meeting of top versus bottom as Limerick defend their 100% record at home to a Derry side that are yet to pick up any points. Depending on the results this weekend a victory for Limerick should see them qualify for the knock out stages, any other result will be hard to see.

 

Wicklow v Louth

St. Pat’s

2:00pm (C. McManus)

 

This is the crunch game in the division as both teams sit level on three points in the knowledge that a win for either team will push them towards the play offs whilst defeat will be a huge blow to promotion hopes. Louth are the team that will be expected to take the points available  and put themselves firmly in the frame for promotion.

 

Offaly v Antrim

Tubber

2:00pm (C. Forde)

 

Offaly defend their 100% record at home to Antrim this weekend. Offaly were relegated from Division 3 after only a year last season and have shown that they plan on making a swift return to the top division, the return of Mairead Daly has been a huge boost for Offaly and with home advantage they should be able to maintain their 100% record.