Preview: A huge game in the race for a final slot
March 21, 2025
Meath's Megan Thynne shoots as Aoife Dillane of Kerry moves in to block
Compiled by Jackie Cahill
THE scene is set for a pivotal weekend in the Lidl National Leagues – with a full schedule of games in store across Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
The promotion and relegation pictures will become clearer, as Armagh and Kerry aim to book a repeat of their 2024 top flight decider.
Kerry’s home tie with Meath, where victory for the Kingdom would seal a third successive Lidl NFL Division 1 Final slot, is the live TG4 game on Saturday from Austin Stack Park, Tralee: https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/watch-live/
Saturday’s other three top flight fixtures – Waterford v Armagh, Tyrone v Dublin and Mayo v Kildare – will be available to view via live streams at https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
Kerry v Meath; Austin Stack Park, Tralee – Live on TG4
A huge game in the race for a Final slot.
Kerry, second on 12 points, take on Meath, who are third and three points further back.
A victory for the Kingdom here would put them through to another Final, while Meath must win to keep their hopes alive.
Kerry were comfortable winners against strugglers Mayo in their previous game and boss Mark Bourke has shuffled his back for the first competitive meeting between Kerry and Meath since last year’s TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.
Kayleigh Cronin, Caoimhe Evans, Niamh Carmody and Jaydn Lucey come into the starting team, with Niamh Broderick, Ciara McCarthy, Leah Boyle and Rachel Dwyer dropping out.
Meath were given a real wake-up call by Dublin last time out, suffering a big loss.
The Royals need a quick response and they make one change for the visit to the Kingdom, with Katie Newe coming in for Emma Duggan, who skippered DCU Dóchas Éireann to AIG O’Connor Cup glory last weekend.
Kerry: ME Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; K Cronin, A O’Connell, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin (capt.); C Evans, N Ní Chonchúir, N Carmody; J Lucey, S O’Shea, D O’Leary.
Meath: R Murray; A Sheridan, S Wall, N Troy; K Newe, MK Lynch (capt.), C Millington; N Gallogly, K Bermingham; M Thynne, M Farrelly, C Smyth; M Byrne, V Wall, K Cole.
