Women in Sport

08th Feb 2020

Four double headers as ladies football gets the stage it deserves

SportsJOE

By Jackie Cahill

The race for top-two finishes and Final places in all four Divisions of the 2020 Lidl Ladies National Football League intensifies this weekend – with Dublin and Cork preparing for a tussle under the lights at Croke Park.

The TG4 All-Ireland Senior Champions and Lidl NFL Division 1 holders clash as part of a double-header at GAA HQ – one of four over the course of the League weekend.

Dublin and Cork renew acquaintances in Saturday’s sole top-flight fixture – with the other three Division 1 ties down for decision on Sunday.

In Division 2, Monaghan and Kerry will be aiming to preserve 100 per cent records – while the Division 3 Leinster derby between Kildare and Wicklow will be streamed LIVE on the LGFA Facebook Page.

Ladies football previews

Dublin v Cork, 5.00pm, Croke Park (Sat)

All-Ireland Champions meet League Champions at Croke Park on Saturday.

When the sides last met, Dublin prevailed at GAA HQ in the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final, in front of 10,886 spectators.

Earlier in the season, Cork eventually had the measure of Dublin in a gripping Lidl NFL Division 1 semi-final, a tie that was played out in sweltering conditions at Kilkenny’s Nowlan Park.

These two are likely to be in the hunt when League and Championship honours are handed out again this year – and both will be eager to strike an early-season psychological blow.

Dublin manager Mick Bohan has brought Orlagh Nolan, Hannah O’Neill and Caoimhe O’Connor, who netted against Cork last August, into his starting line-up, while Cork are unchanged.

Dublin have three points from four to date, while Cork are chasing a third win on the spin.

Dublin (v Cork): C Trant; É Rutledge, M Ní Scanaill, M Byrne; L Caffrey, N Collins, O Nolan; L Magee, J Dunne; K Sullivan, S Woods, C Rowe; R McDonnell, H O’Neill, C O’Connor.

Cork (v Dublin): M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, S Leahy; L O’Mahony, M Duggan, A Hutchings; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; L Coppinger, B O’Sullivan, L Cleary; Á O’Sullivan, S Noonan, O Finn.

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 – Round 3 (Sat)

Tyrone v Clare, 3.30pm, Drumragh (G Chapman, Sligo)

Tyrone are fresh from an impressive victory over Armagh last Sunday, while Clare have lost their opening two fixtures.

Tyrone will now look for a second successive win to keep pace with leaders Monaghan and Kerry, who have registered maximum points so far.

Clare lost by 12 to Armagh in Round 1, before suffering an eight-point reverse to Monaghan last weekend.

The Banner County need to start picking up points – and fast – to avoid a relegation battle.

(Sunday)

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 – Round 3

Donegal v Galway, 12.00pm, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny

Donegal bounced back from their opening day loss to Mayo with a real smash and grab victory over Waterford last Sunday.

Full forward Emma McCroary was the goal hero at the death as Donegal emerged from Fraher Field in Dungarvan with a two-point win.

The challenges don’t get any easier in a competitive top flight, as Donegal prepare to welcome last year’s beaten League and All-Ireland Finalists Galway to Letterkenny for the first game of a double-header.

Galway were shocked by Waterford in their opening fixture but Roisin Leonard’s hat-trick of goals helped them to comfortable victory over Westmeath in Round 2.

Donegal boss Maxi Curran has named an unchanged side for this game, while his Galway counterpart, Tim Rabbitt, has called in Noelle Connolly and Ríona Ní Flatharta for starts.

Donegal (v Galway): A McColgan; A.M. Logue, E Gallagher, D Foley; N Carr, K Keeney, A Nee; N McLaughlin, E McGinley; A Boyle Carr, G McLaughlin, K Ward; N Gordon, E McCroary, C Sharkey.

Galway (v Donegal): D Gower; S Lynch, N Connolly, S Molloy; C Crowe, C Cooney, F Cooney; A Davoren, O Divilly; L Coen, S Conneally, R Ní Flatharta; L Hannon, T Leonard, R Leonard.

Tipperary v Westmeath, 1.00pm, Moyne-Templetuohy (K Phelan, Laois)

Westmeath beat Tipperary in the corresponding fixture last year – but the Premier County had already preserved Division 1 status.

The Lake County also stayed up but they face a real battle to avoid the drop this time.

Westmeath have suffered two defeats from their opening two fixtures, while Tipp gained what could be a precious point away to Dublin in Round 1, before losing to Cork last weekend.

Tipp will look to make home advantage count and, privately, they’ll feel that a win here will almost guarantee Division 1 football again next year.

These two counties went in opposite directions in the Championship in 2019– Tipp winning the Intermediate title to regain Senior status, as Westmeath were relegated.

This is an interesting tussle to gauge the current state of play for both sides – and they’ve both plumped for unchanged starting teams.

Tipperary (v Westmeath): L Fitzpatrick; E Moore, L Spillane, E Cronin; M Curley, B Condon, S Lambert; L Dillon, C Kennedy; O Winston, E Morrissey, R Daly; S McKevitt, A Moloney, N Hayes.

Westmeath (v Tipperary): L McCormack; R Dillon, K McDermott, L Power; F Coyle, F Claffey, A Roche; J Maher, V Carr; A Dolan, L Archibold, L McCartan; T Dillon, S McCormack, J Draper.

Mayo v Waterford, 2.30pm, Swinford Amenity Park (S Coyle, Donegal)

Both sides will hope to return to winning ways after defeats last weekend.

After claiming victories in their Round 1 ties, Mayo lost to Dublin in Castlebar, while Waterford were stung late by Donegal.

A win for either side would revive hopes of a top-two finish – and there’s potential ground to be made up on a weekend when Dublin and Cork lock horns.

Every point is crucial in Division 1 – and Mayo will look to make home advantage count against the visiting Déise.

Mayo boss Peter Leahy has made four changes to the side that started against Dublin – while there are three changes for Waterford.

Both of these counties should be good enough to stay in Division 1 – but the winners here can set their sights higher than that.

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 – Round 2

Meath v Monaghan, 11.45am, Páirc Tailteann, Navan

Rejuvenated Monaghan have started life in Division 2 like a train, claiming two comprehensive wins from their first two games.

Relegation hurt the Farney County last year – but they look like a team on a mission right from the start of the 2020 campaign.

Meath are one of four teams locked together on three points – and three behind Monaghan and Kerry.

Monaghan will feel that this is a chance to see off potential promotion rivals – but Meath will hope for a big early crowd at Páirc Tailteann, in the first game of a double-header at the Navan venue.

Kerry v Armagh, 12.00pm, Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Two games, two wins for Kerry, who are the early pace-setters alongside Monaghan in Division 2.

Armagh opened with intent against Clare but they lost out to Ulster rivals Tyrone in Silverbridge last weekend.

These sides clashed at the semi-final stage in Division 2 last year, when Kerry came out on top.

Another victory for the Kingdom would put them in an excellent position for a top-two finish and Final place – but an Armagh win would really open up the promotion race.

Cavan v Wexford, 2.00pm, St Mathews Park, Denn, Crosskeys

Cavan were gutted to lose by just a point to Kerry in Round 1 – but they hit back to claim a very good win against Meath last weekend.

The Royals are considered Division 2 promotion dark horses after coming up last year – but Cavan were full value for a 3-10 to 2-5 triumph.

Wexford, in contrast, are in big relegation trouble already, pointless from two games and conceding heavily.

On paper, this should be a second Cavan win on the bounce, and Wexford will have to produce their best form to compete.

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 – Round 2

Laois v Longford, 12.00pm, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

After two rounds, Laois are already five points off the pace, as they aim for an immediate return to Division 2 following last year’s relegation.

Longford have also drawn and lost one of their first two games – and these Leinster rivals are carrying one point each into Round 3.

A defeat for either side could already leave them with surely too much to do in the hunt for the two Final places on offer at the head of affairs.

Fermanagh v Roscommon, 2.00pm, Derrygonnelly Harps

Roscommon are bubbling nicely on top of the table, with six points from a possible six so far.

Fermanagh, in contrast, are finding life in the third tier difficult, having claimed Division 4 glory last year.

Having lost to Ulster and Leinster opposition in their first two games, Fermanagh now face Connacht opponents, and they’ll want to avoid a third straight loss.

Kildare v Wicklow, 2.00pm, St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge

Three teams are on six points in Division 3 – and Kildare are one of them.

It’s been an impressive start for the Lilywhites, who have the chance to showcase their talents in Sunday’s Facebook Live fixture on the LGFA Facebook Page.

Wicklow, curiously, have drawn both of their games so far, and will be hoping to finally claim a first win of the season.

Sligo v Down, 2.00pm, Eastern Harps, Keash

Sligo were Division 3 Finalists last year – but a third defeat of 2020 could effectively end their chances of reaching another decider.

It’s been a tough start for the Yeats County – and it doesn’t get much easier with the visit of Down.

The Mourne County appear a much-improved outfit already this season – and will hope to maintain their 100 per cent start.

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4 – Round 2

Louth v Limerick, 2.00pm, Cooley Kickhams (C Groome, Offaly)

The last two TG4 All-Ireland Junior Champions meet in Cooley on Sunday.

Louth have played just the one League game this year to date – and won it – while Limerick have won one and lost one of their opening two games.

Limerick won by a point against Louth in the League last year – but these two counties were semi-final runners-up when Division 4 reached the knock-out phase.

Leitrim v Antrim, 2.00pm, Sean Heslins, Ballinamore

Leitrim scored a huge win over Derry in their sole outing to date in Division 4.

For last year’s beaten Division 4 Finalists Antrim, it’s been a tough start, and they’re pointless from their opening two games.

Leitrim will fancy their chances of another win when they welcome the Saffrons to Ballinamore – and the Ulster side need to improve if they’re to have any hope of contesting another Final.