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Another weekend of LGFA action beckons

Compiled by Jackie Cahill
THERE’S another bumper round of 2025 Lidl National League fixtures down for decision over the coming weekend.
Saturday’s only game is a top-flight clash between Dublin and holders Armagh at Parnell Park, live onTG4 at 3.30pm.
On Sunday, the other three Division 1 fixtures – Kerry v Kildare, Mayo v Tyrone and Meath v Waterford, as well as the Division 2 Ulster derby between Donegal and Monaghan.
There’s a full schedule of fixtures across Divisions 1, 2 and 3 over the course of the weekend, with two crucial ties in Division 4 also on the agenda.
All fixtures 2pm unless stated
 
Saturday
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Dublin v Armagh; Parnell Park, 3.30pm – Live on TG4
Dublin were stunned by Kildare on their visit to Manguard Park last weekend.
The Sky Blues will be anxious to get back to winning ways quickly but they won’t have anything easy against the reigning Lidl NFL Division 1 champions in this live TG4 tie.
Armagh have started their 2025 campaign very well, with two wins from two, and they’ll be aiming to continue their push for a second successive Final with victory at Parnell Park.
Dublin have made two changes in personnel to the team that started against Kildare, as Abby Shiels replaces Katie Moran Tighe in goal, while skipper Carla Rowe starts in attack.
Rowe made a big impact off the bench at half-time against the Lilywhites, scoring four second half points, including three frees, and she comes in for Niamh Donlon.
Following victory over Tyrone in the Ulster derby, Armagh have made two changes, as Louise Kenny and Eve Lavery come in for Ciara Garvey and Blaithín Mackin.
Dublin: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, A Nyhan; H McGinnis, M Byrne, A Curran; G Kós, N Hetherton; R McDonnell, C Darby, S McIntyre; A Timothy, C Rowe (capt.), J Egan.
 
Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, L Kenny, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville (capt.), R Mulligan; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; A McCoy, M Feehan, E Lavery; N Reel, E McGeown, M Lennon.
Sunday
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Kerry v Kildare; Fitzgerald Stadium, 1pm – Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
After defeat to Armagh in their opening game, TG4 All-Ireland Senior champions Kerry got back to winning ways with victory over Waterford last weekend.
The Kingdom will look to make it two wins on the bounce when they welcome Kildare to Killarney on Sunday but the Lilywhites are high on confidence after defeating Dublin.
In a hugely competitive top flight, Kildare need more points on the board if they’re to steer clear of the relegation zone and they’ll be keen to make another big impression here.
Kildare make just the one change following the seismic Dublin success, with Leah Doran coming in for Laura Dunlea.
With an incredibly strong squad at his disposal, new Kerry boss Mark Bourke has opted to run the rule over a number of his players, making five changes to the team that beat Waterford.
Eilís Lynch, Ciara McCarthy, Mary O’Connell, Leah Boyle and Danielle O’Leary are all handed starts, as Róisín Rahilly, Katie Sugrue, Caoimhe Evans, Niamh Ní Chonchúir and Rachel Dwyer drop to the bench.
Kerry: M.E. Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Smith; K Cronin, A O’Connell, C McCarthy; A Dillane, M O’Connell; L Boyle, N Carmody, A Galvin (capt.); K Brosnan, S O’Shea, D O’Leary.
 
Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Murtagh, E Wheeler; M Doherty, L Lenehan, M Aspel; C Sullivan, L Curran; C Moran, G Wheeler, N Dooley; L Doran, A Prizeman, R Byrne.
Mayo v Tyrone; Swinford Amenity Park – Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
 A crucial game for both sides, who have yet to register a point between them.
That stat will end on Sunday but three points for either team would go a long way towards securing Division 1 football again next year.
After losing out to a Vikki Wall inspired Meath last Monday, Mayo will hope that home advantage can swing this one in their favour.
Tyrone were well beaten by Armagh and have found the going tough to date after coming up from Division 2.
Both camps have made changes to their starting team for this one. For Mayo, Charlie Reilly Benson replaces Roisin Dyar in goal, with Niamh Mooney and Ciara Whyte named to start in place of Saoirse Delaney and Bree Hession.
On the Tyrone side, Grainne McKenna, Slaine McCarroll and Aoife Horisk get the nod to start, with Eimear Quinn, Sasha Byrne and Aoife Quinn dropping out.
Mayo: C Reilly Benson; E Brennan, S Lally, D Caldwell (capt.); N Mooney, S El Massry, H Reape; E Murray, A Geraghty; L Wallace, A Gough, C Durkin; M Cannon, S Walsh, C Whyte.
 
Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, J Barrett, G McKenna; C Canavan, M Corrigan, A Strain; A McHugh (capt.), M Mallon; S McCarroll, C Campbell, E McNamee; C McCaffrey, M Canavan, A Horisk.
Meath v Waterford; Páirc Tailteann – Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
Meath are joint top of the standings alongside Armagh with two wins from two – and with Vikki Wall back in their ranks.
Wall bagged two goals for the Royals against Mayo last Monday and she earns another start for the visit of Waterford to Páirc Tailteann.
Meath will be hoping to maintain a 100 per cent record, as Waterford look to bounce back after losing to Kerry in Round 2.
The Déise do have three points in the bag after beating Kildare in Round 1 but they’ll need more than that to consolidate top flight status again.
Meath are unchanged for this one, perhaps not surprisingly as they aim for a hat-trick of League wins.
Waterford, meanwhile, make just one change in personnel, with Áine Power coming in for Cora Murray.
 
Meath: R Murray; A Sheridan, S Wall, N Troy; N Gallogly, M.K. Lynch, C Millington; A Cleary (capt.), V Wall; M Thynne, O Sheehy, C Smyth; M Byrne, M Farrelly, K Cole.
 
Waterford: G Corcoran; K McGrath, R Casey, M Ryan; E Power, E Murray (capt.), Á O’Neill; K Hogan, H Power; K Murray, B McMaugh, Á Power; L McGregor, C Walsh, C Fennell.
Lidl National Football League Division 2
Donegal v Monaghan; Naomh Padraig Leifear – Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
Monaghan have started extremely well and are joint top of the standings alongside Galway – and with maximum points – after two games.
A one-point victory over Tipperary last time kept the Farney County in the promotion picture, as Donegal drew their second successive game, this time against Westmeath.
Donegal are unbeaten but will be anxious to claim their first win of the campaign in this Ulster derby.
 
Donegal: C Friel; S McFadden, A Temple Asokuh, E McGinley; S McLaughlin, N Boyle, N Carr; R Rodgers (capt.), R McColgan; N Harkin, K Dowds, A Walsh; M Bennett, S White, E Gallagher.
 
Monaghan: Ó Kelly; A Clarke, S Brady, C Brennan; A Burns, J Duffy, C Treanor (capt.); N Flanagan, J McQuillan; G Grimes, A Garland, G Hanratty; L Connolly, É Sherry, S Power.
Galway v Roscommon; Tuam Stadium
Galway, relegated last year, are hot promotion favourites and two wins from two to date has justified that tag to date.
The Tribeswomen got the better of Cork in Round 2 and will be fancied to make it a third successive victory against Roscommon in a Connacht derby.
But the Rossies won’t fold easily and they were impressive against Clare last weekend, claiming a 3-13 to 0-8 victory to land their first win of the season.
Galway: L O’Halloran; S Ni Scanlain, M Jordan, K Geraghty (capt.); S Healy, C Trill, H Noone; S Divilly, A Davoren; L Coen, S Hynes, A Madden; E Noone, K Thompson, K Slevin.
 
Roscommon: H Cummins (capt.); S Wynne, M Kelly, M McKeon; N Feeney, G Lohan, Ria Lennon; A Curran, A Malone; S McGuinness, L Mannion, C Cregg; A Hanly, Rosie Lennon, C Lennon.
Tipperary v Cork; Fethard Town Park
Tipperary are the only pointless team in Division 2 and it may stay that way after this Munster derby.
Cork will start as favourites as they make the trip to Fethard Town Park but provincial rivalry may level the playing field.
Tipp lost out by just a point to Monaghan in their previous outing, as Cork were defeated by Galway.
Cork need the points to stay in the promotion frame, while Tipp need the points at the other end of the table.
Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; N Martin, L Spillane, E Cronin; S English, M Curley, B Condon; A.R. Kennedy, S O’Carroll; H Brennan, N Towey, A O’Shea; N Martin, E Morrissey, A Fennessy.
 
Cork: S Murphy; K Horgan, S Kelly, S Callanan; E Cleary, S Leahy (capt.), R Ní Chorcora; M O’Callaghan, A McDonagh; A O’Mahony, H Looney, A Corcoran; L O’Mahony, L Coppinger, K Quirke.
Westmeath v Clare; Athlone GAA
Two sides with a point each meet in Athlone.
They sit second and third bottom respectively at the start of play and this is a chance for both sides to make some ground.
After coming up from Division 3 last year, Clare will be anxious to avoid going straight back down.
Westmeath will also be keen to preserve second tier status and make a push towards the top end of the standings.
Westmeath: A Donlon; L McCartan, S Murphy, A Roche; C Kelly, L Power, F Coyle (capt.); T Dillon, V Carr; P Ruane, A Jones, C Clarke McMahon; C Kilmurray, M Monaghan, R Higgins.
 
Clare: A Griffin; H Doyle, G Harvey, R Doohan; L Griffin, J Doohan, S Melican; C Harvey (capt.), R Martin; R Considine, M Downes, T Collins; F Marrinan, A Considine, C Moloney.
Lidl National Football League Division 3
 
Cavan v Carlow; Kingspan Breffni
With two wins from two, Cavan are motoring well in Division 3.
On the back of recent underage success, the future looks extremely bright for the Breffni County and after suffering relegation from Division 2 last year, they’ll want to bounce straight back.
Carlow claimed a crucial win in their only game to date in Division 3, against Offaly, and will look for another good League campaign after claiming Division 4 honours last year.
Cavan: E Baugh; S Daly, S Kelly, E Corcoran; H Gilsenan, S Lynch (capt.), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, E Madden; S Fitzsimons, L McVeety, C Dolan; E Brady, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan.
 
Carlow: S Cotter; S McCullagh, A Carroll, K Tunstead; T Lyons, E Ware, B Nolan; R Bailey (capt.), E Hayden; B Nolan, C Ní Shé, E Molloy; S Hayden, M Townsend, A Kiernan.
Down v Laois; Páirc Esler
Both sides lost last weekend but have the chance to redeem themselves here.
Down were well beaten by fellow Ulster team, Cavan, as Laois conceded six goals against Louth.
A much tighter rearguard effort will be the minimum requirement for both teams as they approach this one.
Down: C Byrne; C Milburn, K Howlett, E Gallen; M Doherty, C Mulvenna (capt.), N McKibbin; E Sands, N McClory; M Kelly, E Fitzpatrick, L Duffy; V McCormack, N King, N Rice.
 
Laois: N Luttrell; S Farrelly, M Phelan, A Cummins; C Crowley, F McEvoy, S Havill; F Dooley, A Moran (capt.); J Murphy, E Lacey, L Kearney; E Galvin, E Lawlor, G Moran.
Offaly v Limerick; Edenderry
Both sides have played two games each and have yet to register a point.
In the battle to stay afloat in Division 3, this is a huge encounter.
Offaly have home advantage in Edenderry and will be looking to make that count.
Limerick, promoted last year, will hope they can make the trip to the Faithful County a winning one and get off the mark.
Offaly: S O’Grady; A Dunne, D Hannon, J Maher; K Flynn, N Buckley, K Farrelly; M Mann, A Watkins; A Grehan, A Gavin Mangan, A Stafford; N Merriman, E Hand, C Walsh.
 
Limerick: C Bateman; S Dillon, Y Lee, R Browne; G Lee, L O’Brien, E Woulfe; K O’Leary, O Ryan; C McNamara, D Murphy, I Kennelly; A O’Sullivan, R Delee, R Ambrose (capt.).
Louth v Wexford; Páirc na nGael, Dundalk
Two of the promotion contenders meet in a Leinster derby in Dundalk.
Wexford are top of the pile with two wins from two, with Louth off the mark in style against Laois last weekend.
Another win for Wexford would leave them in a very good position after three games, while Louth can join the Slaneysiders on six points if they make home advantage count.
Louth: R Lambe Fagan; E Hand, E Murray, H Lambe Sally; C Nolan, S McLaughlin, L Byrne; A Breen (capt.), A Halligan; L White, A Russell, E Byrne; L Collins, K Flood, Z Sweeney.
 
Wexford: S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, C English; C Donnelly, R Murphy (capt.); A Furlong, C Murray, C Fox; A Neville, C Ni Nuallain, A Fortune.
Lidl National Football League Division 4
Longford v Fermanagh; Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
Two teams locked together on six points go head to head at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Both sides harbour strong promotion hopes and this fixture could go a long way towards securing a semi-final slot.
Longford have played three and won two, an identical record to Fermanagh, and this one could be an absolute cracker.
Longford: A Cooney; C McCormack, E Bleakley, L Keegan; E Duggan, E O’Brien (capt.), A Brady; S Gallagher, S Hagan; E O’Reilly, K Crawford, K McKeon; K Burke, N Brady, S Sheehy.
 
Fermanagh: A Haren; C Boyle, C Clarke, E Keenan; S McQuade (capt.), L Maguire, C Bogue; C Martin, M McGloin; R O’Reilly, J Doonan, B Bogue; N Boyle, E Smyth, A McCabe.
Wicklow v Leitrim; St Patrick’s GAA
Wicklow and Leitrim are both on three points, three behind Sligo, Fermanagh and Longford, and six behind pace-setters Antrim.
To retain a strong interest in the promotion race, victory would represent a huge boost for either side here.
Wicklow got the better of Kilkenny last time out, as Leitrim saw off Derry.
Wicklow: E Griffin; M Corr, L Dunne, E.R. O’Toole; C Wafer, S.J. Winders (capt.), E O’Brien; A Harmon, A Gorman; L.J. Shannon, N Cullen, E Bourke; S O’Reilly, A Keegan, S Evans.
 
Leitrim: M Monaghan; M Murphy, C Tyrell, J Maye; S Reynolds, C Owens, R McIntyre; N Tighe (capt.), C Dolan; L O’Dowd, A Clancy, D Beirne; S Quinn, M Devaney, A Gilmartin.
 

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