Compiled by Jackie Cahill 

The 2023 Lidl Ladies National Football League continues over the coming weekend – with 14 games pencilled in across the four divisions.   

There are two Division 1 games on Saturday, with the live TG4 fixture coming from the Connacht Centre of Excellence, with Mayo and Kerry meeting at 12.45pm in a repeat of the 2022 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final. https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/watch-live/  

Also on Saturday, in Letterkenny, Donegal lock horns with Meath again (1pm). The sides met in the 2022 Lidl NFL Division 1 Final and again in the TG4 All-Ireland semi-final, with Meath running out winners on both occasions.  

On Sunday, Galway host Dublin and Waterford meet Cork in Division 1.  

Also on Sunday, there are four fixtures down for decision in Division 2, four in Division 3 and two in Division 4.   

All games bar the live TG4 match are available to view via the LGFA’s live-streaming portal: https://bit.ly/3k9k8CB  

*All fixtures 2pm unless stated 

 

Saturday, January 28th

Lidl NFL Division 1  

Mayo v Kerry; Connacht Centre of Excellence, Pitch 1; 12.45pm – Live on TG4  

Mayo and Kerry lock horns for the first time since last year’s TG4 All-Ireland semi-final.  

Kerry, promoted from Division 2 last year, got off to a flier on their return to the top flight with victory over Waterford last weekend.  

Mayo, meanwhile, fell to Cork in their opening round fixture.  

This is a crucial game for both sides, with Mayo looking to get off the mark as Kerry aim to maintain their 100 per cent start.  

This game is the live TG4 offering on Saturday from the Connacht Centre of Excellence.  

Mayo (v Kerry): L Brennan; E Ronayne, R Flynn, D Caldwell; L Wallace, C Needham, K Sullivan (capt.); C McManamon, S Cafferky; F McHale, S Howley, S Walsh; L Cafferky, R Kearns, M Cannon.  

Kerry (v Mayo): M.E. Bolger; C O’Brien, E Lynch, C Murphy; A O’Connell, E Costello, N Broderick; L Scanlon, N Carmody; C Evans, S O’Shea (capt.), N Ni Chonchúir; H O’Donoghue, E McGlynn, D O’Leary.  

 

Donegal v Meath; O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny; 1pm 

There’ll be a familiar feel to proceedings as Donegal and Meath clash in Division 1 on Saturday.  

They met twice at Croke Park last year, with Meath winning both times in the Lidl NFL Division 1 final and again at the TG4 All-Ireland semi-final stage.  

Victory is paramount here as both teams lost their opening round fixtures.  

Donegal went down to Kate Slevin inspired Galway, as Meath suffered defeat to Leinster rivals Dublin.  

There’s a lunchtime start on Saturday in Letterkenny for this one, with both sides starting without a number of seasoned campaigners.  

Donegal (v Meath): A McColgan; N Carr, E McGinley, E Gallagher (capt.); A Boyle Carr, N McLaughlin, T Hegarty; S Twohig, R Rodgers; S Boyle, K Long, L Ryan; C Gillespie, S McGroddy, C McGarvey.  

Meath (v Donegal): M McGuirk; A Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, K Newe; N Gallogly, S Ennis (capt.), A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, A Minogue; M Thynne, M Byrne, C Smyth; A Callan, S Grimes, N O’Sullivan.  

 

Sunday, January 29th

Lidl NFL Division 1  

Galway v Dublin; Tuam Stadium 

Galway and Dublin got off to winning starts in Round 1.  

The Tribeswomen defeated Donegal on home soil, as Dublin accounted for Meath in the live TV game at DCU St Clare’s.  

A win for either side here would see them firmly in the race for a Division 1 Final slot, with the top two teams in the Division at the end of the group stages guaranteed progress to the Croke Park decider on April 15.  

Kate Slevin was on fire for Galway against Donegal, with newly-appointed captain Carla Rowe leading the line for the Dubs.  

They’re both set to feature again in what’s set to be an entertaining affair.  

Galway (v Dublin): A Griffin; B Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh (capt.), E Gavin; C Cooney, K Geraghty, S Brennan; A Davoren, C Cleary; L Coen, K Slevin, A Molloy; A O’Rourke, R Leonard, L Noone.  

Dublin (v Galway): A Shiels; R Baker, R Brennan, J Tobin; L Caffrey, D Lawless, M Byrne; J Dunne, E O’Dowd; O Nolan, C Rowe (capt.), E Gribben; C O’Connor, H Tyrrell, J Egan.  

 

Waterford v Cork; Piltown  

A Munster derby is on the cards in Piltown, with Waterford set to grace the Kilkenny venue for a second successive week.  

Kerry got the better of them there in Round 1, as Cork made a winning start to their top flight campaign with a victory over Mayo.  

Waterford will be keen to avoid a second successive defeat, which would leave them in early relegation trouble.  

Cork, meanwhile, will look to build on the Mayo win and propel themselves firmly into the shake-up for a coveted top two slot.  

There’s lots at stake here between two sides who know plenty about each other.  

Waterford (v Cork): E O’Brien; Kate McGrath, M Dunford, A Murray; E Power, E Murray, H Power; K Hogan, A Waring; A O’Neill, B McMaugh, C McCarthy; A Fitzgerald, L McGregor, S McGuckian.  

Cork (v Waterford): M O’Sullivan; S Kelly, E Meaney, D Kiniry; A Healy, H Looney, M Duggan; R Leahy, E O’Shea; E Cleary (capt.), L Coppinger, D Kiely; K Quirke, E Kiely, A Ring.  

 

Lidl NFL Division 2  

Westmeath v Laois; St Lomans 

There were contrasting fortunes for the Leinster counties on the opening weekend.  

Westmeath lost out to Tipperary, while Laois got off to a winning start with an impressive display against Monaghan.  

Laois, the 2022 TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate champions, will look to make it two wins from two, with Westmeath aiming to get off the mark in the second tier.  

 

Monaghan v Tyrone; St Tiernach’s Park, Clones 

Monaghan were well beaten by Laois last weekend must now lift themselves for the visit of Tyrone.  

The Red Hands, meanwhile, beat Roscommon by three points in Round 1 to get off to a winning start.  

This is a crucial Ulster derby and a victory for either side would represent a significant fillip.  

 

Roscommon v Armagh; St Brigid’s, Kiltoom 

Roscommon will look to bounce back from their opening round loss to Tyrone but they have a difficult assignment on home soil in Kiltoom against Armagh.  

The Orchard County are one of the promotion favourites and they beat Cavan by nine points in Round 1.  

A second win for Armagh, beaten Finalists last year, would have them dreaming already of another Division 2 showpiece appearance. 

 

Tipperary v Cavan; Fethard Town Park 

Tipperary dug out a gritty home win against Westmeath in their opening fixture and they’re in Fethard again in Round 2.  

Cavan make the trip to the Premier County aiming to kickstart their campaign with a positive result.  

The Breffni County lost out to Armagh last weekend and will hope for better fortunes here.  

 

Lidl NFL Division 3  

Clare v Wexford; Cooraclare; 1pm 

Both sides got off to impressive starts in Round 1.  

Clare racked up 3-15 on their visit to Sligo, as Wexford scored 2-13 in victory over Offaly.  

Two sides that will harbour genuine promotion hopes go head to head in what should be an excellent game.  

 

Down v Sligo; Páirc Esler, Newry 

The points are crucial here for both sides as they aim to stave off early relegation fears.  

Sligo are aiming to bounce back following a heavy loss to Clare, while Down went down comprehensively against Kildare.  

A win for either side here would go a long way towards consolidating their position in Division 3.  

 

Offaly v Louth; Bretland Park, Clara 

Offaly have home advantage for the first time this season as they prepare for the visit of Louth.  

In what’s a crucial Leinster derby, Offaly need to bounce back after losing to Wexford last weekend, as Louth look to build on their victory over Longford.  

Louth’s 2-13 against Longford was an impressive tally, with Louth managing to score 2-4 in defeat to Wexford.  

 

Kildare v Longford; Manguard Plus Centre of Excellence, Pitch 1 

Kildare showed excellent form in their opening fixture against Down.  

The Lilywhites amassed 3-13 against the visitors, and they have home advantage again for the visit of Longford.  

The Midlanders could do with a positive result here, after losing to Louth in Round 1.  

 

Lidl NFL Division 4B   

Derry v Wicklow; Owenbeg 

Derry were well beaten on their trip to Leitrim last weekend, but will look to respond on home soil.  

They face a Wicklow side preparing for their first League fixture of the year in a five-team Division 4B.  

 

Leitrim v Kilkenny; St Marys, 2.30pm 

Leitrim notched 5-15 as they put Derry to the sword in last weekend’s opening game.  

Kilkenny, meanwhile, showed real spirit on their return to League action after a three-year absence, but they lost out to visiting Limerick.   

All weekend squad lists are available to view in hyperlinks above and at: http://bit.ly/3XLA4tQ

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