Lidl Ladies NFL Round 4 Previews
Compiled by Jackie Cahill
THE jostling for top-four
finishes in each of the four Divisions of the Lidl Ladies National Football
League will intensify this weekend.
It's Round 4 of the
competition and in a hugely-competitive season, just five teams across the
country boast 100 per cent records after three games.
Donegal and Galway are
the pace-setters in Division 1, Armagh are three from three in Division 2,
Meath lead the way with a maximum nine points in Division 3, and Carlow have
won all of their Division 4 games to date.
There are two big
fixtures in Division 1 on Saturday, with Donegal hosting Tipperary and Mayo at
home to Galway in a big Connacht derby, which will be screened as a deferred
showing on eir sport next Monday evening (9pm).
On Sunday in the top
flight, Cork make the trip to Monaghan, with Dublin at home to Leinster rivals
Westmeath.
The LGFA's Live-Stream
this weekend is Saturday's Ulster derby between Tyrone and Monaghan at Healy
Park in Omagh (5.0), and you can catch all of the action live on the
Association's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/
Jerome Quinn and former
Tyrone star Eilish Gormley are on commentary, and coverage brought to you via
MAC AV begins at 4.45pm.
Lidl Ladies
National football League 2019 – Round 4 Fixtures (2pm unless stated)
Saturday 2nd
March
Lidl Ladies
NFL - Division 1 - Round 4
Mayo v Galway, 5.15pm, Elvery’s MacHale Park,
Castlebar, (M Farrelly, Cavan)
A big game for both
counties, with hosts Mayo looking to bounce back from successive defeats.
Peter Leahy's side gave a
really good account of themselves in defeat against Dublin at Croke Park last
Saturday evening, and will be looking to build on that progress.
Mayo have home advantage
against local rivals and Connacht champions Galway, who are three from three in
Division 1.
It's been a
hugely-impressive start to life under Tim Rabbitte for the Tribeswomen, and
this one should be keenly-contested at Elvery's MacHale Park.
It's part of a
'double-header' with the men's teams from both counties - and eir sport will
screen a deferred showing of the Ladies game on Monday evening at 9pm.
Mayo: S Murphy; N O’Malley, R Flynn, N Meehan; E Brennan,
D Caldwell, C Whyte; Clodagh McManamon, D Finn; S Cafferky, A Roddy, N Kelly; F
Doherty, R Kearns, G Kelly.
Galway: D Gower; M Coyne, S Lynch, F Cooney; S Molloy, B
Hannon, C Cooney; A McDonagh, L Ward; M Seoighe, T Leonard, O Divilly; L Coen,
R Leonard, S Conneally.
Donegal v Tipperary, 4pm, Convoy, (G McMahon,
Mayo)
Donegal are the other
side in Division 1 boasting a 100 per cent record to date.
It's been a great start
for Maxi Curran's players, who have claimed the scalps of Dublin, Mayo and
Monaghan.
Tipperary will provide a
stiff test of Donegal's credentials and the travelling Premier County collected
their first points of the campaign last Saturday night.
They did it in style too,
as Aishling Moloney collected 2-9 in a stunning display against Cork at Páirc
Uí Rinn.
That victory could prove
priceless as Tipp attempt to stay clear of the drop zone, while Donegal look
really good for a top-four finish.
Donegal: A Nee; T Hegarty, E Gallagher, N Carr; T Doherty, N
McLaughlin, N Boyle; K Herron, M Ryan; R Friel, N Hegarty, A Boyle Carr; G
McLaughlin, K Guthrie, C Grant.
Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; E Buckley, M Curley, E Cronin; B
Condon, S Lambert, C Maher; A.R. Kennedy, E Fitzpatrick; N Lonergan, A Moloney,
R Daly; R Howard, C Condon, S Everard.
Lidl Ladies
NFL - Division 2 - Round 4
Tyrone v Armagh, 5pm, Healy Park, Omagh, (B Rice,
Down) - LIVE LGFA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/
Armagh are setting a
lightning pass at the head of affairs in Division 2.
The Orchard County boast
a 100 per cent record as they prepare to make the trip to Healy Park in Omagh
on Saturday.
Hosts Tyrone are in the
top four but need to stay in touch with the promotion-chasers.
This game is LIVE on the
LGFA Facebook Page, with commentary from Jerome Quinn and former Tyrone star
Eilish Gormley. Coverage gets underway at 4.45pm.
Sunday 3rd
March
Lidl Ladies
NFL - Division 1 - Round 4
Monaghan v Cork, 3pm, Grattan Park, Inniskeen, (G
Corrigan, Down)
Monaghan have yet to
record a single point and are in big danger of relegation from the top
flight.
They need to start
finding points from somewhere, and fast, but they won't get anything easy
against visitors Cork.
The Rebelettes are
smarting from last weekend's last-gasp defeat against Tipperary at Páirc Uí
Rinn, in what was the first double-header for the Leesiders alongside their
male counterparts.
Cork have one win from
three but maximum points in Monaghan would keep them right in the hunt for a
top-four finish.
Cork will hope that this
is another away-day success - as they've already beaten Westmeath on their
travels.
Monaghan: A McCarey; L Flynn, N Kerr, S Boyd; R Courtney, A McAnespie,
S Coyle; M Atkinson, H McSkane; C McBride, C Courtney, E McAnespie; E Treanor,
L Maguire, C McAnespie.
Cork: M O’Brien; S Leahy, S Kelly, A Kelleher; D Kiely, M
Duggan, E Kiely; A Hutchings, L O’Mahony; A O’Sullivan, N Cotter, O Farmer; E
Scally, S O’Leary, O Finn.
Dublin v Westmeath, DCU St Clare’s, (J Murphy,
Carlow)
Westmeath have suffered
some big championship defeats against Dublin in recent years.
The Sky Blues are the
reigning Lidl National League Division 1 and TG4 All-Ireland champions, and
have recovered well from an opening day League defeat to Donegal.
While still not firing on
all cylinders, and with manager Mick Bohan taking the chance to run the rule
over his panel, the Dubs have still managed wins against Tipperary and Mayo.
Westmeath's victory over
Monaghan could yet be the game that sees them survive relegation again.
This game is an early
dress-rehearsal ahead of a summer TG4 Leinster Senior Final - and Westmeath
will aim to be as competitive as possible.
Dublin: C Trant; R Ruddy, N Collins, E McDonagh; A
Kane, L Magee, S Fagan; J Dunne, O Carey; H O’Neill, C Rowe, K Sullivan; S
Killeen, N Healy, N Owens.
Westmeath: K Walsh; R Dillon, J Rogers, L Power; F Coyle, K
McDermott, F Claffey; K Boyce-Jordan, V Carr; L McCartan, L Slevin, J Maher; S
Dillon, A Jones, M.A. Foley.
Lidl Ladies
NFL - Division 2 - Round 4
Clare v Laois, Doonbeg, (J Devlin, Galway)
This is a pivotal game at
the bottom end of Division 2.
Clare have two points
from three games, with Laois yet to record a point as they find themselves
anchored to the bottom of the table.
With Wexford, Cavan,
Tyrone and Waterford all on four points, this could turn out to be a relegation
shoot-out.
Cavan v Waterford, Maghera, Virginia (K McKeever,
Armagh)
A repeat of the 2018
Division 2 semi-final between Cavan and Waterford.
Cavan won that game
before falling to Tipperary in the divisional final, and they have some work to
do to finish in the top four this time, with a big loss to Armagh denting their
scoring difference.
Both sides have won one,
lost one and drawn one of their opening three games.
Kerry v Wexford, 1pm, Beaufort, Killarney, (S
Curley, Galway)
It's a big weekend for
Kerry, as the county hosts the LGFA's Annual Congress at the Brehon Hotel in
Killarney.
On Sunday, the
second-placed Kingdom will aim to keep up their promotion push by defeating
visiting Wexford.
The Slaneysiders are one
of four teams on four points in a condensed pool, and last year's Division 3
champions still harbour genuine hopes of a semi-final slot.
Lidl Ladies
NFL - Division 3 - Round 4
Roscommon v Down, 12pm, Dr Hyde Park, (K Corcoran,
Mayo)
Roscommon had won their
opening two matches but were brought back down to earth by an impressive Meath
last weekend.
The Rossies are still
well on course for a top-four finish, however, and host a Down side with one
win from three.
A home win would make it
three from four for Roscommon, while Down need a result to remain in the
hunt.
Kildare v Offaly, Manguard Plus, Hawkfield, (S
McNulty, Wicklow)
A crucial Leinster derby
with potential relegation ramifications.
Kildare are second from
bottom on three points, with Offaly propping up the rest on one point.
Offaly's draw with
Longford last weekend got the Faithful County off the mark, as Kildare fell to
Wicklow.
Longford v Meath, 3pm, Glennon Brothers Pearse
Park, (M Kenny, Mayo)
Meath are Division 3's
top side, with a 100 per cent record to date.
The rampant Royals will
look to keep up that record when they make the trip to Glennon Brothers Pearse
Park, for a clash with Longford.
The hosts will be no
pushovers, however, and they're in the reckoning for a top-four slot, on four
points at present.
Sligo v Wicklow, 2pm, Cloonacool Park, (D
Callaghan, Donegal)
This game could have a
big impact on the promotion race.
Wicklow have six points
and a win for them would put them firmly on course for a semi-final.
Hosts Sligo have three
points and second successive win would have the Yeats County looking up the
table, rather than over their shoulders.
Lidl Ladies
NFL - Division 4 - Round 4
Derry v Kilkenny, Henry Joy McCracken, BT45 7NG (D
Hurson, Monaghan)
On the evidence we've
seen to date, this could be a straight shoot-out to avoid finishing bottom of
Division 4.
Derry and Kilkenny have
yet to record a single point in the fourth tier, but something's got to give
here.
Carlow v Louth, IT Carlow, (PJ Ahern,
Cork)
Carlow are the surprise
packets in Division 4, boasting a 100 per cent record under the astute
guidance of Gerry McGill, who guided Dublin to TG4 All-Ireland Senior glory in
2010.
But this is big test for
Carlow, who welcome 2018 TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship runners-up Louth,
who have six points, to IT Carlow.
Fermanagh v Leitrim, 3.45pm, Derrygonnelly, (P
Burke, Louth)
Leitrim have shown fine
commitment on their return to action in 2019, but they'll need some more points
on the board to have a shot at promotion.
The Westerners have one
win from three and face a Fermanagh side with six points on the board.
Antrim v Limerick, All Saints Ballymena, (D
Carolan, Down)
Two counties who have
shown good form to date meet in Ballymena.
Antrim and Limerick are
both on six points ahead of this clash - and on course for semi-final
slots.
