Meath senior ladies team kicks off their 2021 Lidl National League Group 2A campaign this coming weekend, Sunday 23rd throw in 3.00pm,  against Kerry at the home of The Royals, Pairc Tailteann.

Bouyed by the success of lifting the Intermediate All Ireland title the week before Christmas last year, the team will be looking to put in a good showing against The Kingdom, who themselves had been in great form in the 2020 League with 5 wins from 5, albeit due to Covid, we both never got to meet. With the cancellation of the 2020 competition after 5 rounds, Kerry led the table with Meath in 2nd place with 3 wins, a draw and a loss. 

This year sees a new format to the Lidl sponsored National League with two groups of four competing in 3 round games, with the top 2 in each group making the semis and then eventually the final, with the winner gaining promotion to Div 1. This means that all games are crucial, with everyone fighting for those top 2 spots in the group. The Division 2 groupings have been based on a geographical spread with 4 Ulster teams in Group B, and we have been lucky with the draw, as we travel only to Wexford in week 2, with Kerry and Clare at home.

Last seasons campaign, saw us with wins against Tyrone, Monaghan (both at home) and  Armagh (away), a draw away to Clare and a loss at the early stages away to Cavan, before the competition was cancelled.  The team were building momentum as the 2020 campaign progressed with a emphatic 1-21 to 3-05 win against Armagh in the ultimate game before Covid hit, but they had gained invaluable experience against senior team opposition that gave them the belief that the step up from Div 3, in which we were champions in 2019, was the catalyst to drive this group onto greater days ahead, culminating with a triumphant Intermediate All Ireland Final as the year drew to a close.

This season sees very few changes to the successful 2020 squad, with management also adding a number of the 2020 minor team to the panel, and we have a new captain in Na Fianna’s Shauna Ennis taking over the armband from Donaghmore Ashbourne's Maire O’Shaughnessy. Shauna said recently:

“Maire has been a fantastic leader and captain the past few years, and I’ve big boots to fill, but its great to be given the extra role and responsibility and I’m really looking forward to leading the team for the years ahead”.

The 2021 National League Div 2 groups will be an exciting, tough and competitive competition to win, with amazing talent on show across all the counties, especially considering that the division has the 2020 LGFA Intermediate and Senior Players of the Year, our own Vikki Wall and Armagh's Aimee Mackin respectively.

Let the battle commence.

LIDL LGFA DIV 2 NATIONAL LEAGUE 2021 FIXTURES             

Round 1 - May 23rd                 

Meath (H) v Kerry, 3.00pm, Pairc Tailteann

Monaghan (H) v Cavan, 2.00pm, Venue TBC        

Clare (H) v Wexford, 2.00pm, Cusack Park, Ennis

Tyrone (H) v Armagh 2.00pm Healy P Omaha

Round 2 - May 30th                                

Wexford (H) v Meath, 2.00pm, St Patricks Park Enniscorthy

Tyrone (H) v Cavan, Healy Pk, Omagh

Kerry (H) v Clare, 2.00pm, Austin Stack Park

Armagh (H) v Monaghan, 2.00pm, Athletic Grounds                

Round 3 - June 6th                   

Meath (H) v Clare, 2.00pm TBC

Monaghan (H) v Tyrone, 2.00pm             

Kerry (H) v Wexford, 2.00pm, Fitzgerald Stadium

Cavan (H) v Armagh, 2.00pm, Kingspan Breffni Park

SEMI FINALS SATURDAY 12TH JUNE ( VENUE TBC )

FINAL SATURDAY 26TH JUNE ( VENUE TBC )

 

 

 

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