Sunday 17th April 2016
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 - Rd 7
Cork v Armagh, National Games Development Centre, Abbottstown, Dublin, 2.00pm (N. McCormack)
The new Gaelic Games facilities at Abottstown will play host to its first competitive match when Cork and Armagh meet in their final Lidl National Football League Division 1 match before the knock out stages. This result of this match could see 5 counties finish level on points in second place in the table. A win for Cork would move them on to 12 points, level with Armagh, Dublin, Kerry and Galway. Armagh and Cork both know exactly what they need to do to reach the knock out stages which will add to the tension of what should be a great game.
Cork have found their rhythm under Ephie Fitzgerald after a poor opening to the league when they lost all but one of their opening fixtures. However, they have come right back into contention with big wins over Monaghan and Galway so another win allied to their superior score difference will secure their passage through to the semi finals. Valerie Mulcahy announced her retirement a week ago and the ace attacker will be sorely missed but Ephie Fitzgerald has already taken steps to bridge the scoring gap as Aisling Hutchings, Áine O'Sullivan and especially Orla Finn have hit form at the right time. The addition of Hannah Looney and several other new players have also helped the Rebellettes to rediscover their form.
Armagh hold the advantage on the table for this crunch decider. They are 3 points ahead of Cork in the table and know that if they should avoid defeat they will definitely reach a semi final. Kerry currently sit 3 points behind Armagh on score difference so as long as the Orchard come within 2 points of the defending champions they should still qualify for the semi finals. Ronan Clarke and his Armagh team will be determined to avoid the need to limit the size of a defeat so he will send his side out to win this match. This will be a time for experience and Armagh are fortunate to have plenty of that in Caroline O'Hanlon, Sinead Kernan, Mairead Tennyson and Caoimhe Marley. Aimee Mackin is more than capable of getting the scores Armagh need to win this match so Cork will have to be on top form if they are to avoid exiting the League before the knock out stages.
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 - Relegation playoff - (ET if Necessary)
Meath v Sligo, Killeshandra, 2:00pm (C. Dourneen)
It has been an underwhelming campaign for both Meath and Sligo. Meath would have felt they were capable of competing towards the top of the table whereas Sligo would have wanted to consolidate their position in the Division following promotion last year. Things have not gone to plan for either county meaning that they both land in this must win encounter. It is extremely difficult to get back out of Division 3 as Waterford can testify so avoiding relegation is a massive incentive. Expect a tense game of football between two teams that are capable of more than they have shown to date.
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4 - Semi Finals (ET if Necessary)
Longford v Antrim, O'Rallallaighs, Gaelic Grounds, Louth, 2:00pm (A. Gallagher)
The Lidl NFL Division 4 semi finals have thrown up two potentially brilliant matches. Longford have been in superb form this year as they finished joint top of the table after some wonderful performances. Antrim possibly underperformed to date but now that they are just one game away from the final you can expect them to hit top form and really put it up to Longford. This will be a tight match that really could go either way.
Wicklow v Limerick, Stradbally, 12:00pm (A. Keating)
This is possibly the match of the weekend. Limerick reached last year's final and were somewhat surprisingly defeated and were clearly reeling from that defeat this year. Wicklow have been the story of the Division as they topped the table following an excellent campaign which saw their manager, Paul McLoughlin, named as Lidl Manager of the Month for March. There is very little to separate these two sides which should mean that this will be an exciting encounter between two counties with bigger ambitions.
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 - Semi Finals (ET if Necessary)
Waterford v Leitrim, McCann Park, Portarlington, 2:00pm (J. Murphy)
Waterford have been the favourites for this division since they claimed TG4 Intermediate All Ireland glory last year. They have been flawless in the league emerging with a 100% record as they have progressed nicely through the division. Leitrim have struggled a little more than expected this season. They squeaked into the knock out stages in 4th place where they would have been picked out as being amongst the favourites before the season got under way. Leitrim will call on Áine Tighe to provide the scores that could see them surprise the favourites but they will be up against it when they play a team that can call on stars like the Wall's, Maria Delahunty and the Murray sisters.
Tipperary v Wexford, Piltown, 1:30pm (C. McManus)
Tipperary are the coming team in Ladies Gaelic Football. At underage level they have been producing very strong teams with brilliant individual talent and now that youth has combined really well with the experienced talent that was already there. Wexford, like Tipperary, have enjoyed some real success at underage level and are starting to make great strides with their adult team, they have more than held their own in Division 3 this season but with Tipperary being in top form they will have to find another level to their performance to reach the final.