Lidl NFL round-up: Opening wins for Antrim, Fermanagh, Longford and Sligo in Division 4

January 19, 2025

Fermanagh's Eimear Smyth celebrates scoring a point ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Compiled by John Fallon

The 2025 Lidl Ladies National Football League got underway on Sunday – with four key fixtures in Division 4.

In the big game of the day, the clash between 2024 TG4 All-Ireland intermediate champions Leitrim and last year’s TG4 All-Ireland junior champions Fermanagh, victory went to the Ulster side on a 3-13 to 2-9 scoreline, while there were also opening day wins for Antrim, Sligo and Longford.

Goals from Eimear Smyth and Aoife McCabe helped Fermanagh lead by 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time against Leitrim in Kiltubrid.

Leitrim hit back and goals from Muireann Devaney and Róisín McHugh got the gap down to three at one stage in the second-half but Blathín Bogue’s goal sealed the win for the junior champions Fermanagh.

Antrim went on a goal spree defeating Kilkenny by 7-17 to 1-3, with six of the goals coming in the opening half to lead by 6-10 to 1-0 at the break. Lara Dahunsi and Nicole Jones both got two goals while Luisne Adams, Maria O’Neill, and Aoife Turley also found the net.

Sligo led by 0-7 to 1-0 at the interval before pulling away for an impressive 1-13 to 1-3 opening day win over Wicklow. Saoirse O’Reilly got Wicklow’s only score in the opening half with a goal from a penalty, but Cara King wrapped up the win for Sligo when she put eight points between them during the second-half with a goal.

Longford led by 2-8 to 0-6 at the interval and built on that after the restart to defeat Derry by 5-14 to 1-8 with Niamh Brady getting two goals and Katie Crawford, Ella O’Reilly and Sian Gallagher also finding the net.

Results:

Lidl Ladies National Football League – Division 4

Antrim 7-17 Kilkenny 1-3

Fermanagh 3-13 Leitrim 2-9

Sligo 1-13 Wicklow 1-3

Longford 5-14 Derry 1-8


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