Win over Royals will send Cork to final in bounceback campaign

Meanwhile, Armagh’s need may be greater here against Kerry as the Orchard County continue their battle to avoid the drop.

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026 - 06:30

Jackie Cahill

COVETED final slots and promotion are the big prizes on offer across a pivotal weekend of Lidl National League action.

Should results go in a certain way, the finalists in Divisions 1 and 2 could be confirmed, while Louth will ensure they finish on top of the pile in Division 3 if they can win away to Roscommon.

In Division 4, meanwhile, it’s a straight shoot-out between Offaly and Longford for the remaining semi-final slot on offer.

In the top flight, holders Kerry have left themselves with too much to do in the race for a final slot when they play Armagh in at Silverbridge Harps (5pm, live stream).

But the Kingdom will want to finish with a flourish in their remaining two group fixtures.

Armagh’s need may be greater here as the Orchard County continue their battle to avoid the drop.

Ahead of a repeat of the last two Division 1 deciders, 2024 champions Armagh are one of three teams locked together at the bottom on four points.

The hosts have made two changes following a stalemate with Dublin last time out, with Grace Ferguson and Aimee Mackin replacing Catherine Marley and Mallaidh Loughran.

The visitors make four changes in personnel following a damaging two-point loss to Galway, with Ciara Butler replacing Mary Ellen Bolger between the sticks, while Eabha Ní Laighin, Leah Boyle and Niamh Ní Chonchúir come in for Kiera Furey, Mary O’Connell and Julia Curtin further out the field.

Following promotion back to the top flight, it’s been a remarkable season for Cork.

A win against Meath in MTU Cork (5pm, live stream) would be good enough to secure a Division 1 final place on April 11, as Meath look to bounce back from their defeat to Kildare, which scuppered any slim Royal County hopes of making the final.

Cork showed real mettle to dig out a victory over Waterford at Páirc Uí Rinn last time out and the Leesiders are unchanged for this one.

The visitors have made five changes in personnel, with Aoife Farrell, Ciara Lawlor, Olivia Gore, Ciara Smyth, fresh from an historic AIG O’Connor Cup Final victory with TU Dublin, and Lauren Woods are handed starts. Dropping out of the Meath starting line-up are Órla Smith, Sinéad Murphy, Sarah Wall, Meadhbh Byrne and Orla Finnegan.

Galway face Dublin in Tuam Stadium (5pm) in TG4's live game. Galway are chasing a final place and could secure it if they win and Waterford drop points.

Dublin, meanwhile, have relegation matters to concern themselves with.

The Sky Blues had to be content with a share of the spoils against Armagh but they really need the win here and it won’t be easy.

This tie will bring back memories of a classic TG4 All-Ireland semi-final clash between the sides last year and Galway would love nothing more than to get one over on the TG4 All-Ireland champions.

Dublin have made three changes to the team that started against Armagh.

Decorated defender Leah Caffrey, captain Carla Rowe and Jodi Egan return are named to start, with Hannah Leahy, Michelle Davoren and Annabelle Timothy dropping out.

Galway have opted for a strong starting line-up, with Nicola Ward, Ellen Power, Lynsey Noone and Olivia Divilly, who’ll captain the team, coming in for Aoife Molloy, Aisling Madden, Aoife O’Rourke and Róisín Leonard.

There's another huge game in Dungarvan (5pm - live stream), as Kildare manager Pat Sullivan comes up against his former charges Waterford.

Kildare stunned Meath last time out to register their first win of the season and give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop.

But they’ll need all of Sullivan’s insider knowledge to get the better of a Waterford side still in the hunt for a top two finish and a place in the final.

Waterford have stuttered lately, though, losing successive games against Meath and Cork to drop to third.

A win here though would set up a mouthwatering clash with Galway in the final round of fixtures, with Kildare due to play Kerry at home.

There’s just one change to the Kildare team that prevailed against Meath, with Amy Mahon coming in for Aoife Murnane.

Waterford have made two changes to the side that lost out narrowly to Cork, with Clare Walsh and Lauren McGregor in for Ruby Browne and Maeve Daly.