It's a big weekend in ladies football with three Leinster finals as well as intermediate preliminary action.

Saturday, July 18th

TG4 Intermediate Championship Preliminary Round

Limerick v Wicklow, Crettyard, Laois, 1:30pm
Limerick and Wicklow have already met earlier this year in the national league and on that occasion it was Limerick that emerged victorious. Indeed Limerick were in superb form until their league campaign was ended in the final by Offaly and they are now in desperate need of a victory to get their season back on track. Wicklow will take hope from an encouraging performance in their Leinster championship match versus Offaly. Limerick look to be the favourites to win this match but they face a stiff test against Wicklow. The reward for the winner will be a meeting with Clare in the next round but the loser will be the first team to exit the 2015 TG4 Championship.

Tipperary v Roscommon, Kinnitty GAA, Offaly, 4:30pm
There is very little to separate these two sides who both operated in Division 3 of the National Football League. It has been a turbulent few years for Tipperary who have looked to youth in recent years, a decision that seems to paying dividends as their performances have show gradual improvement. Roscommon too are a youthful side who are improving steadily since winning the Division 4 title in 2014. Jennifer Higgins is the Roscommon player to watch as the young midfielder continues to develop into one of the most dominant figures in the game, Tipperary will look to Gillian O'Brien and Lorraine O'Shea to get them into the next round. The winner of this match will go forward to meet Sligo in Round 2.

Sunday, July 19th

TG4 Leinster Junior Championship Final

Carlow v Louth, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 12:00pm.
Carlow will be making their return to inter county football after a 2 year break when they take to the field in Netwatch Cullen Park. Louth have been a big contender in the TG4 Junior Championship for the last few years and will really fancy their chances against a ring rusty Carlow side.

TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship Final

Kildare v Offaly, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 2:00pm
Kildare have recently returned to the Intermediate grade having operated at senior level for most of the past decade whilst Offaly are also recently new to the grade having won the All Ireland Junior Championship in 2013. Kildare will be the favourites for this match by virtue of their greater experience at a higher level and with players like Aisling Holton in their ranks will certainly have the ability to claim the Leinster title. However, Offaly have been making great strides in recent years, they secured a place in Division 3 of the League for 2016 after defeating Limerick to gain promotion in May. Offaly have been boosted by the return of Mairead Daly who has made a huge difference to Offaly following serious injury as has the emergence of young star Roisin Egan which will give Offaly plenty of reasons for hope going into the Leinster Final showdown.

TG4 Leinster Senior Championship Final

Dublin v Westmeath, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 4:00pm
Dublin are the defending Leinster champions and will be aiming to make it 4 in a row when they face Westmeath on Sunday. The defending champions will be overwhelming favourites going into this match as they have swept through Leinster without much difficulty in recent years. However, Westmeath are a county that have been improving in recent years. They acquitted themselves well in their Division 2 League campaign as they reached the semi final and then went on to record good wins over both Laois and Meath to reach this stage. There is also real quality in their ranks with players like Johanna Maher, Maud Anne Foley, Fiona Claffey and Ruth Kearney all capable of causing Dublin real problems.

Dublin recorded a ten point win over Laois in their Leinster final in their last competitive game but they will be concerned about the problems that their rivals did cause them. The Dublin side will show huge changes from that which contested the TG4 All Ireland Final last September. Gone are players like Cliodhna O'Connor, Siobhan McGrath, Denise Masterson, Leah Caffrey and Sinead Aherne. Despite these losses Dublin have added several new and extremely talented players from their All Ireland Under 21 Championship winning team including Olwen Carey and Nicole Owens whilst players like Carla Rowe, Sarah McCaffrey and Molly Lamb will all have matured further from last year. There will be great pressure on their captain Lyndsey Davey and expereineced players like Sinead Golrick, Sorcha Furlong, Noelle Healy and Sinead Finnegan to lead their young team. Westmeath will hope to make a real game of this final but Dublin should have answers to any questions that they are asked.

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