Qualifier draw made as Ladies Championship launched
July 07, 2015
Senior county captains, Jennifer Rogers (Westmeath), Lyndsey Davey (Dublin), Grainne McGlade, (Cavan), Neamh Woods (Tyrone), Kate Herron (Donegal), Adair Trainor (Down), Ciara O'Sullivan (Cork), Fiona McHale (Mayo), Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Laura Marie Maher (Laois), Kate Byrne (Meath), Ger Conneally (Galway), and Caroline O'Hanlon (Armagh) at the launch of the TG4 Ladies Football Championship in Croke Park. INPHO
The 2015 TG4 Ladies All Ireland Football Championships were launched at Croke Park on Monday as more than 30 of the top players in the country assembled at the venue that will be host to the 42nd championship finals on September 27th.
On what was a great day for Ladies Football the announcement was also made that TG4 will extend their sponsorship agreement with the flagship Ladies Football competition for a further 3 years up to 2018. TG4 have committed to continue televising the sport as part of a relationship that has been such a huge success for both the sport and the broadcaster.
Cork will again be the team to beat in 2015 as the Rebellettes hope to become only the second team to win a five in a row of All Ireland titles to make it an amazing 10th All Ireland senior title in 11 years under Eamonn Ryan. However, the level of competition will be higher than ever; Dublin will want to make amends for their dramatic All Ireland final defeat at the hands of Cork in last year's final, indeed it is a vastly different Dublin side to the one that suffered heartbreak last September as several players have left the panel with new faces coming in from their U21 All Ireland Championship winning side. The West is also very much awake as Galway showed when forcing Cork to a replay in the League final losing only by a point whilst Mayo have the experience and individual skills needed to mount a serious title challenge. Ulster has been a hugely competitive province this year with counties like Donegal, Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Tyrone all making great strides in recent times. Of course the most passionate challenge to Cork's crown will come from within their own province as Kerry will be keen to ensure that they remain the record All Ireland winning county.
In the TG4 Intermediate championship there will be several challengers to the crown with at least 10 counties all competing with a realistic chance of claiming the All Ireland. Clare and Kildare have recently returned to the Intermediate grade and will be sure to be in the shake up as will the division 3 League Champions, Sligo, and the team they defeated in that final, Waterford will also be strong challengers. Elsewhere, the likes of Leitrim, Tipperary and last year's beaten finalists Fermanagh will all fancy their chances of making a big impact in the championship.
There is a real international flavour to the TG4 Junior Championship as 3 of the 6 teams competing are from outside of the island of Ireland. Last year's beaten finalists New York, will make the longest journey for the championship where they will be joined by Scotland and Lancashire who both make their first Intercounty championship appearances.
The draw for the Senior and Intermediate Preliminary Round also took place.
In the Intermediate championship Limerick will meet Wicklow with Tipperary facing Roscommon whilst London will play Wexford as Longford received a bye through to Round 2. In the TG4 Senior Championship Down will meet Cavan in an All Ulster clash with Armagh meeting Laois for the second year in a row whilst Meath and Tyrone both received byes straight through to the Second Round.
The first televised matches will take place on July 25th.
Speaking at the launch of the TG4 Ladies All Ireland Football Championship LGFA President, Marie Hickey said 'We are delighted that TG4 have decided to extend their sponsorship agreement with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. It is a testament to the success of this relationship that both parties are so keen to retain the link that has served both sides so well for the past 15 years. Women's sport is undoubtedly on the rise as we see the level of coverage in the media and interest in the general public continue to increase but this is only the beginning. Ladies Football has lead the way with increasing playing numbers, match attendances and TV coverage through TG4 and we are only getting started. We hope that this season we will see even more interest in our championship as we aim to crash through the 30,000 attendance figure for our finals. We are again asking our clubs and counties to get behind the players as they start out on their journey to Croke Park but we also appeal to sports fans to come and give the sport a chance, I know that anyone that was fortunate enough to be at the Dublin v Cork final last year is glad that they made the effort. With that in mind we will again be asking supporters to Be The Difference, Be There. #BetheDiff'
Ardstiúrthóir TG4, Pól Ó Gallchóir says: "We are delighted to be extending our long-term and unique arrangement with LGFA as both TV and Web rights holder for and sponsor s of their All-Ireland Championships. TG4 and Peil na mBan are almost synonymous now that we've built on a truly enduring and mutually beneficial partnership that has raised the profile of this wonderful Gaelic sport and of our Irish language TV and Web content service too. "Ní neart go cur le chéile" as the Irish proverb has it. I wish new Uachtarán Marie Hickey well in her first year in office and want to thank Pat Quill for his support for TG4 and overall vision during his term. Go raibh maith agaibh beirt. We wish all the participating teams well in this year's Championships and look forward to tracking their progress in our extended live coverage of 17 matches on TG4's TV channel in Ireland and on our Player worldwide www.tg4.tv."
11th July, 2015
TG4 Munster Intermediate Championship Final
Waterford v Clare, Mallow, 4:00pm
TG4 Munster Senior Football Championship Final
Cork v Kerry, Mallow, 6:00pm
12th July, 2015
Connacht Intermediate Football Championship Final
Sligo v Leitrim, Elvery's McHale Park, 2:00pm
Connacht Senior Football Championship Final
Galway v Mayo, Elvery's McHale Park, 4:00pm
19th July, 2015
Leinster Junior Football Championship Final
Carlow v Louth, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 12:00pm
TG4 Leinster Intermediate Football Championship Final
Kildare v Offaly, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 2:00pm
TG4 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final
Dublin v Westmeath, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 4:00pm
26th July, 2015
TG4 Intermediate Football Championship Final
Antrim v Fermanagh, St. Tienach's Park, Clones 13:15
TG4 Senior Football Championship Final
Donegal v Monaghan, St. Tienach's Park, Clones 15:15
