TG4 Championship Round 1 Qualifiers Previews

TG4 Championship Ladies Football Championship Previews

 

This weekend sees the first round of TG4 Ladies Football Championship Qualifiers with 3 matches in the Senior championship and one in the Intermediate championship.

All Matches take place on Saturday, July 26^th.

 

TG4 Intermediate Football Championship Round 1 Qualifier

 

Tipperary v Wicklow,

Birr, 2pm (C. McManus)

 

Tipperary and Wicklow will meet in the TG4 Intermediate Championship knowing that there is no safety net as the defeated team will be the first to exit the championship this year. Tipperary reached the All Ireland Final last year but there has been a big turnaround in their playing squad as John Leahy has introduced plenty of youth. Tipp struggled in Munster shipping heavy defeats to both Waterford and Limerick but their young players will have gained plenty of experience and should show big improvements this weekend. Wicklow reached the last 4 of the league this year but they were knocked out of the Leinster championship by Longford. This will be a very tight match with very little expected to be between the two teams.

 

TG4 Senior Football Championship Round 1 Qualifiers

 

Clare v Westmeath,

Birr, 4pm (K. Delahunty)

 

Clare suffered defeats at the hands of two of the biggest teams in the championship as both Kerry and Cork made light work of the Banner County in the Munster Championship. However, they will now consider this to be the beginning of their championship season as they face a Westmeath side that may be low on confidence. Louise Henchy and Eimear Considine are big players for Clare and much will depend on their form. Westmeath were destroyed by Dublin in the Leinster semi final but prior to that they had taken some really positive steps as Martin Flanagan lead his charges to the Division 2 League Final where they acquitted themselves well versus Galway. Westmeath will hope to dominate midfield posession through their trio of Maud Annie Foley, Ruth Kearney and Johanna Maher and in Fiona Leavy they have a forward that is very much capable of doing some real damage should she get a chance.

 

Kildare v Tyrone,

Páirc Tailteann, 5:15pm (E O’Hare)

 

Kildare are another team that suffered destruction at the hands of Dublin in the Leinster Championship but their focus was always realistically on the Qualifiers. John Divilly has a young and inexperienced side at his disposal but with players like Aisling Holton available they will have plenty of hope. Tyrone were well beaten in the Ulster Championship by Armagh but the Orchard County went on to prove their quality as they claimed the Ulster title. Tyrone are used to operating at a high level as a Division 1 team and have some real quality to call on including Neamh Woods, Tori McLoughlin and sharpshooter Gemma Begley they have players that would make any team in the country.

Cavan v Meath,

Páirc Tailteann, 7:00pm (P. Swift)

 

Cavan tasted All Ireland glory in the TG4 Intermediate Championship last September but they were brought crashing back down to earth after receiving a heavy defeat in the Ulster Championship at the hands of Monaghan. However, Cavan will surely put that defeat behind them and will look to players like Donna English, Gráinne McGlade, Aisling Doonan, Roisín O’Keefe and Grainne Smith to lead the way. Meath lost out to Laois in the Leinster Semi Final in agonising fashion having lead for most of the match but their management will be keen to put that defeat behind them as soon as possible and a meeting with their great rivals will certainly help that case. Meath defeated Cavan when the two sides last met in the National League and with players like Emma Troy and Katie O’Brien they will fancy their chances. This could be the match of the weekend with two evemly balanced teams coming face to face.