LGFA: Cork aim to carry forward league form
Cork players, from left, Abbie O'Mahony, Grace Murphy and Caoimhe Moore celebrate after the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 final match between Cork and Galway at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
CORK will aim to carry their excellent League form into the championship. Having gained promotion from Division 2 last year, the Rebels stepped up to the mark big time on their return to the top flight, and landed the Lidl NFL Division 1 title.
Saturday’s opponents, Tipperary, last won a Munster senior A title back in 1980. The Premier County come into this one on the back of a mixed bag in Division 2 of the Lidl NFL.
Tipp won three, lost three and drew one of their seven games but still comfortably retained their second tier status.
Cork’s starting line-up shows two changes from the side that landed the League crown against Galway, with Máire O’Callaghan replacing Aoife Healy at midfield, while Rachel O’Regan comes in for Áine Terry O’Sullivan in attack.
Meath stayed alive in Division 1 of the Lidl NFL with a final day draw with Armagh. There are two changes to the side that started on that occasion, with Robyn Murray replacing Aoibheann Corcoran in goal, while Meadhbh Byrne comes in for Emma Duggan in attack.
Kildare lost out to Kerry by just a single point in their final League match and were relegated from the top flight.
The team that lined out against the Kingdom shows two changes, with Corla Nallen in for Rachel Fennin between the sticks, while Nanci Murphy comes in for Jessica Harney at midfield.
KERRY begin the defence of their TG4 Munster senior title in a repeat of last year’s final.
Kerry are going for three-in-a-row but they won’t get anything easy against a Waterford side that enjoyed another solid League campaign.
There are two changes to the Kerry team that defeated Kildare in Round 7 of the Lidl NFL to preserve top flight status.
Emma Costello and Mary O’Connell come into the starting line-up in place of Eabha Ni Laighin and Niamh Carmody.
For Waterford, there are three changes to the team that finished the League campaign on a high with victory over Division 1 finalists Galway.
Ruby Browne comes into the half-back line, with Bríd McMaugh and Lauren McGregor in attack. Alice Hahesy, Jade Queally and Chloe Fennell drop to the bench for the trip to Tralee.
Holders Armagh and Donegal contested last year’s Ulster final, when the Orchard County were comfortable winners.
Donegal will hope they’ve closed the gap and come into this one on a high after landing the Lidl NFL Division 2 title recently.
Armagh will fancy their chances of going deep into the summer and they’d love to retain the provincial title ahead of the All-Ireland series.
The road starts here and there are two changes to the Armagh side that drew with Meath on the final day of the League season.
Catherine Marley and Caroline O’Hanlon are handed starts in attack, with Alanna Donnelly and Ella Reid dropping to the bench.
Following that win against Cavan to secure Division 2 silverware, Donegal’s starting line-up shows just one change, with Eva Gallagher coming in for Mia Bennett at full-forward.
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