compiled by Jackie Cahill

Another big weekend of Ladies Football lies in store – with the Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior Finals taking centre stage on Friday and Saturday.

The action gets underway with the Senior B decider between Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway (Galway) and St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon (Tyrone) on Friday, followed by the A and C Finals on Saturday.

The A clash between Loreto, Clonmel (Tipperary) and Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise (Laois) is an historic affair as the game will be streamed LIVE on the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/, while competition sponsors Lidl will be on site at John Locke Park in Callan, county Kilkenny, with special activities to keep old and young amused.

The C Final, meanwhile, is fixed for St Rynagh’s, Banagher in county Offaly, and features Mercy SS, Ballymahon (Longford) and St Mary’s High School, Midleton (Cork).

Attention on Sunday switches to four re-arranged fixtures in Round 4 of the Lidl National Football League.

Clare take on Laois and Kerry meet Wexford in Division 2, Kildare play Offaly in Division 3 and in Division 4, Carlow are up against Louth at St Margarets in Dublin.

Lidl Ladies NFL 2019

Sunday 31st March 2019

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 – Round 4

Clare v Laois, 2pm, Doonbeg (E Moran, Kerry)

Clare’s one-point victory over Tyrone last weekend has eased the threat of relegation for the Banner County – and put them in with a shout of making the semi-finals.

They have the chance to add three more valuable points to their tally of five when Laois visit Doonbeg on Sunday, with the O’Moore County bottom of the table and without a single point to date.

This is simply a must-win game for Laois as defeat would see them relegated to the third tier.

To have any hope of avoiding the drop, Laois must win their last two games and hope that results elsewhere go in their favour.

Clare won’t be in the mood to dish out any favours and James Murrihy’s charges could move into the top four with a win.

Kerry v Wexford, 1pm, Mallow (S Curley, Galway)

Kerry ended Armagh’s 100 per cent record in Round 6, a result that announced the Kingdom’s arrival as serious promotion contenders.

It had been a stuttering start for the Kingdom, with two draws from their previous three outings, but they’re the only unbeaten team in Division 2 now.

Kerry were relegated from the top flight last year but are firmly on course for a place in the semi-finals, with the winners of the divisional showpiece earning promotion.

That’s the goal for manager Donal O’Doherty and his players, and the victory over high-flying Armagh will have sent confidence levels soaring in the camp.

It’s been a good campaign for Wexford too but defeat to Cavan last time out put a dent in their hopes of a play-off spot.

The Slaneysiders start the weekend in joint-fourth place, however, and are still in with a decent chance of securing a top-four finish. 

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 – Round 4

Kildare v Offaly, 2pm, St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge (S McNulty, Wicklow)

A crucial Leinster derby for both counties, with potential consequences at both ends of the table.

Kildare are on six points but a victory would put them in with a chance to make the semi-finals ahead of their final group game.

For Offaly, the situation is more stark, as they’re bottom of the standings with just a single point.

The Faithful County have two games left to save their skins – but they currently trail second from bottom Down by two points.

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4 – Round 4

Carlow v Louth, 1.30pm, St Margarets, Dublin 

Carlow had been going great guns until Round 5, when they were surprisingly well beaten by Fermanagh.

A heavy loss ended Carlow’s 100 per cent record and the Barrowsiders slipped from first to third on scoring difference, level on 12 points with Fermanagh and Limerick.

There’s still some work to do for Carlow now before a semi-final slot is secured, while Louth have some games in hand and are hoping to make up ground.

 

Lidl All Ireland PPS Senior Finals 2019

Friday 29th March 2019

Lidl All Ireland Post Primary School Senior ‘B’ Championship 2019 – Final – Result on the Day

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway (Galway) v St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon (Tyrone), 1pm, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, (G McMahon, Mayo)

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir from Galway enjoyed a remarkable 2018 season, claiming a Lidl All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools double.

The Claregalway school landed the Senior C and Junior B crowns – and are on the hunt for another double 12 months later.

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir will contest the Senior B Final on Friday before thoughts turn to the Junior A decider a week later.

It could be another historic period for Coláiste Bhaile Chláir but St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon, will present stiff opposition in the Senior B decider.

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir stormed through the Connacht championship before defeating Scoil Mhuire from Trim in county Meath at the semi-final stage.

They’ve shown good form en route to the Carrick-on-Shannon decider but St Pat’s swept all before them in a competitive Ulster championship.

They then booked their final slot with a hard-fought semi-final victory over Cashel Community School, a cracking game that went to extra-time.

CBC: A Griffon; M Flaherty, A Lyons, L Flynn; S O’Connell, G Coll, Kiara Kearney, Kaitlin Kearney (capt.), A Walsh; C McCarthy, S Donovan, K Slevin; N Moran, E Mitchell, S Brennan.

St Pat’s: R Dobbin Donaghy; R Cunningham, A Wylie, E Conlon; S Fitzgerald, Á McNulty (capt.), C McGeary; A Donnelly, A Rafferty; C McCusker, S Quigley, A McLaughlin; C Pinkerton, O Gavin, C O’Donnell.

Saturday 30th March 2019

Lidl All Ireland Post Primary School Senior ‘A’ Championship 2019 – Final – Result on the Day

Loreto, Clonmel (Tipperary) v Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise (Laois) 1pm, John Locke Park, Callan, Kilkenny (J Murphy, Carlow) - Live on LGFA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/

There’s history in the making for the LGFA and the Lidl All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Championships on Saturday.

For the very first time, an All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Final will be broadcast live, and the game is available to view on the LGFA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/

Commentary will be provided by Jerome Quinn and current Tipperary captain Samantha Lambert for what should be a cracking game.

These sides met at the semi-final stage last year, with Loreto winning out against Scoil Chríost Rí.

Loreto went to the final but lost out to their Cavan namesakes and will now hope to go one step further.

It’s also the chance for Scoil Chríost Rí to win a Senior A title for the very first time, following semi-final defeats in 2017 and 2018.

Loreto, Clonmel, were also Senior B Finalists two years ago, while they landed the Senior C title back in 2011.

Two hugely-talented outfits will ensure that the standard of fare on offer at John Locke Park in Callan, county Kilkenny, is of the highest calibre.

In the Loreto attack, Tipperary Intermediate county panellists Ava Fennessy and skipper Anna Carey have the potential to wreak havoc, while Scoil Chríost Rí skipper Erone Fitzpatrick is already an established star with Laois.

Loreto gained sweet revenge against Cavan’s Loreto in the recent All-Ireland semi-final, as Scoil Chríost Rí accounted for the challenge of Presentation, Tuam (Galway).

Loreto: E McKeown; S Hallinan, V Van Der Wal, G Nugent; N Martin, B Valuntaite, A Morris; K Hogan, B McMaugh; Á Fitzgerald, A Carey (capt.), E Quirke; C Mulcahy, A Fennessy, S Keating.

SCR: A Conlon-Hyland; N Crowley, R Reddin, S Fleming; C Byrne, Z Keegan, L Keane; I O’Toole, S Larkin; E Fitzpatrick (capt.), J Murphy, E Lawlor; S Dooley, A Dunne, O Hennessy.

Lidl All Ireland Post Primary School Senior ‘C’ Championship 2019 –Final – Result on the Day

Mercy Ballymahon (Longford) v St. Mary's HS, Midleton (Cork), 1pm, St Rynaghs, Banagher, Offaly, (D McEnery, Westmeath)

Mercy, Ballymahon, were beaten All-Ireland Junior B Finalists two years ago, while St Mary’s High School were Junior C finalists in 2018 but didn’t fulfil the fixture.

A Senior C title is the goal for both schools now as they prepare for Saturday’s All-Ireland Final at the home of St Rynagh’s, Banagher.

St Mary’s are a force to be reckoned with and they racked up some massive scores in the Munster championship, before defeating Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne from Kerry in the provincial decider.

St Mary’s followed up with an All-Ireland semi-final win against Coláiste Ailigh from Donegal, while Mercy have also been in free-scoring form themselves.

The Longford girls blitzed all before them in Leinster and racked up 2-14 in their All-Ireland semi-final win against St Nathy’s, Ballaghaderreen.

A high-scoring final could lie in store here as both schools look to get their hands on the silverware, with St Mary’s captain Sarah Leahy, an All-Ireland Minor A winner with Cork, a player to watch out.

Mercy: B McDonagh; R O’Kane, S Horan, R Leen; M Claffey, Caoimhe Lohan, C Dillon; C McNamara, A McCormack (capt.); S Dillon, C Healy, Clodagh Lohan; M O’Kane, Z Guinane, L Maguire.

St Mary’s: S McCarthy Keane; E Murphy, D Kiniry, S McAllister; Á McGrath, B Wall, K O’Farrell; R Leahy, S Leahy (capt.); C Walsh, A Healy, R Keane; A Smith, M Leahy, A Quirke.  

Join the hoganstand.com match tracker this weekend for live coverage of the Allianz Football and Hurling League finals.

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