TG4 Ladies Football Provincial Championship Previews

 

There is TG4 Ladies Football Championship action in three provinces this weekend as the Summer programme gets into full swing. The defending champions in Ulster will get their campaign underway as Monaghan take on last year’s TG4 Intermediate champions Cavan, in Munster the All Ireland champion Cork team will aim to take the first step in regaining their provincial title when they meet Clare and in Leinster the much fancied Dublin side will hope to make it a three in a row of Leinster titles.

 

 

Friday, June 20^th

 

TG4 Munster Senior Football Championship Round 1

 

Cork v Clare

Venue TBC, 7:30pm (K. Delahunty)

 

Cork face the unusual situation of entering the Munster championship without being the defending provincial champions. However, Eamonn Ryan will have a confident side to call from having recently captured the TESCO Homegrown Division 1 title and discovering some great new talent on the way. The likes of Roisin Phelan and Vera Foley seem to have nailed down places for themselves whilst Eimear Scally and Emma Farmer have added to the attacking options. As usual there is vast experience in the Rebel ranks with Angela Walsh, Bríd Stack, Deirdre O’Reilly, Geraldine O’Flynn, Annie Walsh Valerie Mulcahy and team captain Briege Corkery amongst the household names.

 

Clare will look to build on a reasonable league campaign but there is some real talent in their ranks, especially players like Louise Henchy and Eimear Considine. However, the Banner know that there is a mountain to climb if they are to overcome their great rivals.

 

TG4 Munster Intermediate Football Championship Round 1

 

Limerick v Waterford

Venue TBC, 7:30pm (S. Joy)

 

Limerick have worked hard on introducing some new talent to their ranks with a promising minor side adding depth to the panel but Dymphna O’ Brien will again shoulder much of the scoring responsibility but she will be ably assisted by Marie Curtin and Aoife Meaney.

 

Waterford begin the process of reclaiming their Munster Intermediate title when they meet Limerick and will do so full of confidence after pushing a talented Armagh side all the way in the Division 3 final. There is an abundance of talent in their squad with the likes of the Wall’s, Michelle McGrath, Michelle Ryan and Hannah Landers to call on.

 

Saturday, June 21^st

 

TG4 Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi Finals

 

Monaghan v Cavan

Crossmaglen, 4:00pm

 

Monaghan are under new management this year with John Morrison entering his debut championship with last year’s beaten All Ireland Finalists. Monaghan lost out to Dublin the Division 1 semi final but it was an injury hit squad that took the field that day. Niamh Kindlon has made a return to form up front and she will be supported by some really talented players like Ciara McAnespie, Cathriona McConnell and Ellen McCarron but the loss of Caoimhe Mohan will be a blow to their chances.

 

It will be interesting to see how Cavan perform this year after earning promotion to the senior ranks via All Ireland Intermediate glory last year. The feeling is that Cavan are a coming team with loads of underage talent to call from. However it will be players like Gráinne McGlade, Donna English and Gráinne Smith that must lead their young team mates against this huge challenge.

 

Donegal v Armagh

Lisnaskea, 6:00pm

 

Donegal endured a very difficult Division 1 campaign in which they finished bottom of the table and were relegated. However, they were unlucky in many cases as they produced some excellent performances in defeat.

 

Armagh finally claimed promotion from Division 3 of the League and have since gone on to produce a big performance to defeat Tyrone easily in the previous round of the Ulster Championship. In Caroline O’Hanlon they have one of the best footballers in the country but they are packed full of talent with players like Fionnuala McKenna and Sinead McCleary making them a formidable opponent.

 

TG4 Ulster Intermediate Football Championship Semi Finals

 

Fermanagh v Antrim

Crossmaglen, 2:00pm

 

Fermanagh will need to be on form as they continue on their defence of their Ulster Intermediate title. Much will depend on how they have recovered from their last gasp defeat to Tipperary in last year’s championship. Caroline Little remains one of the very best forwards in the game and she will need to produce a big performance again for her county.

 

Antrim reached the Division 4 final where they were well beaten by Roscommon but they are an experienced outfit and will know how to bounce back. Claire Timoney, Mairead Cooper and Kirsty McGuinness will be the main threat to the Fermanagh rear guard.

 

Sunday, June 22nd

 

TG4 Leinster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round

 

Kildare v Dublin

Johnstownbridge GAA Club, Enfield, Co. Kildare

2:00pm

 

Kildare have a habit of springing surprises on Dublin and manager, John Diviilly, will be hoping that this is again the case. They couldn’t have got a tougher draw but with players like Aisling Holton they will retain plenty of hope.

 

Dublin are seeking their third Leinster title in a row and begin their campaign to retain their title as overwhelming favourites. There is plenty of cause for hope in the Dublin camp as they reached the Division 1 final for the first time ever and their Under 21’s claimed the Aisling McGing title last weekend. They are a team littered with stars like Sinead Finnegan, Siobhan McGrath, Carla Rowe, Noelle Healy and their potent full forward line of Lyndsay Davey, Sinead Aherne and Lindsey Peat. However, inspirational captain, Sinead Goldrick will miss the game through injury but there should be plenty in reserve for the defending champions. Westmeath await the winner in the Semi-Final.

TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship 3rd Round

Roscommon v Sligo

Friday, June 20th,

7:30, Boyle.

Roscommon and Sligo meet in the third round of the championship with plenty at stake as Leitrim await the winner of this match in the TG4 Connacht Immediate final. Roscommon will come into this match in confidence having secured the TESCO Homegrown Division 4 title but Sligo should provide stubborn opposition in this game. Choosing a winner between these two sides is a very difficult task but whoever does go on to win will have had the perfect preparation for the provincial decider.