The ladies football qualifiers continue this weekend and two senior sides will have their season ended on Saturday.
 

Saturday, July 27^th

TG4 Senior Football Championship Qualifiers

Waterford v Cavan, 2:00pm, Clane (J. Murphy)

Cavan were comprehensive winners in their preliminary round match versus Laois but they will need to find another gear when they take on Munster finalists, Waterford. Waterford's season has already been a memorable one to date as they appeared in the Munster finals after defeating both Kerry and Cork before being edged out by the Kingdom in that decider. Waterford will be anxious to get back on the field and get their season back on track this weekend and with a full forward line of Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty and Aileen Wall they will feel that the firepower is there to claim that victory. Aisling Doonan was back to her best as Cavan defeated Laois last weekend and she will need to find that level of performance again if Cavan are to pull off a memorable victory. Ailish Cornyn will have to marshal her defence well from full back to deny this strong Déise attacking unit and Donna English will carry the fight to Waterford from midfield.

This match will be a close encounter but a buoyant Waterford side will be optimistic of progressing forward to face Dublin.

Armagh v Westmeath, 2:00pm, Lannleire (M. Farrelly)

Armagh will be highly motivated to get a victory this weekend as they seek to avoid the possibility of relegation to the Intermediate grade. The Orchard county have been close to reaching their best form only to lose out at the end. Their League campaign ended in relegation from Lidl NFL Division 1 but it was a campaign that included wins over Cork and Dublin. They then held Donegal scoreless in the first half of their Ulster Championship semi final only to lose out narrowly in the end. Caroline O'Hanlon and Mairead Tennyson are the experienced and inspirational leaders but Aimee Mackin is the forward that all eyes will be on this Saturday. Westmeath will be disappointed that they did not perform against Dublin in the Leinster Final and they will hope that they can produce that performance against an Armagh side that they are replacing in Lidl NFL Division 1. Rachel Dillon will be tasked with the job of limiting the impact of Mackin and a lot will be expected of Maud Annie Foley and Laura Lee Walsh who are capable of producing the performances that Westmeath will need if they are to win this match and progress on to play Kerry.

Armagh's need for a victory to remove any chance of relegation will have them determined to claim the victory but Westmeath will give them a real test.

TG4 All Ireland Junior Championship - Group A Round 1

London (H) v Carlow, 2.00pm

Carlow will travel to London in the hope of causing an upset in the Junior Championship. London will be a strong team that is full of players that have competed at the highest level in the past. Although Carlow have been improving they may struggle against this strong London team.
 

Sunday, July 30^th

TG4 Intermediate All Ireland Championship

Wexford v Offaly, 1.30pm, Clane, Kildare, (C McManus) 

Offaly will be pleased with their decisive victory over Louth in their preliminary round meeting last weekend but they will know that they are about to take a big step up in class when they take on Wexford. The Faihful County will again look to the excellent, Mairead Daly and Róisín Egan who will both need to provide big performances this weekend. Wexford were surprise losers to Meath in the Leinster Final but that loss will only focus their minds ahead of this meeting. Clara Donnelly and Kellie Kearney can dominate the middle of the field with Fiona Rochford and Rachel Bennett being their scoring threat in the forward line. Bernie Breen has been named on the substitutes bench this weekend and her introduction could be the decisive factor.

Clare v Wicklow, 3:15pm, Clane, Kildare (N. McCormack)

Wicklow had a good win in their clash with Limerick last weekend but, much like Offaly, they face a big step up in class when they take on Clare this weekend. Clare were the TG4 All Ireland finalists in 2016 and they were only narrowly defeated by championship favourites, Tipperary, in the Munster Championship Final this Summer. Despite losing the talent of Niamh O'Dea they are still an excellent side and will look to Ailish Considine and Laurie Ryan for inspiration. Wicklow are improving steadily again this year as they lost out narrowly to Longford in the Lidl NFL Division 4 Final. With Jackie Kinch and Laura Hogan in their ranks they possess players capable of causing an upset in Clane but Wicklow will have to perform to their very best if they hope to deny Clare and progress on to face Meath.

TG4 Junior All Ireland Championship

TG4 All Ireland Junior Championship - Group A Round 1

Lancashire (H) v Kilkenny, 1.30pm, Old Bedians Sports Centre, Millgate Ln, Manchester

It is a journey into the unknown for both of these teams as Kilkenny embark on their first TG4 All Ireland Championship in a number of years against a Lancashire team that they have never faced before.

TG4 All Ireland Junior Championship - Group B Round 1

Derry (H) v Fermanagh, 3.00pm, Ballinascreen (outside Draperstown)

Derry and Fermanagh know each other well having met in both the League and Championship already this year. Fermanagh have won all of their previous meetings and will expect to keep up that trend this weekend.

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