On the weekend when the Ladies Gaelic Football Association will vote in a new president-elect, focus on the field of play is very much on the quest for prized spots in the Lidl National League finals, and the battle against relegation.
There is a full schedule of fixtures down for decision across the four divisions on Sunday, which also marks International Women’s Day.
Division 1 champions Cork will take a massive step towards another final appearance if they can overcome Donegal in Ballyshannon.
If Cork claim a fifth straight win to maintain their 100% record, and Mayo drop points against Westmeath, the Leesiders will be through to the 19 April decider.
Galway, last year’s runners-up, would move closer to a potential repeat final meeting with Cork if they beat Tipperary at Tuam Stadium, while Mayo will keep alive their hopes of a top-two finish if they can get the better of Westmeath in Swinford.
All-Ireland champions Dublin, with four points from four games, face a huge task if they are to book a place in the final for the second time in three seasons.
The Sky Blues make the trip to Dungarvan to take on Waterford, who are also on four points, and that fixture is also down for a 2pm start.
FIXTURES
Sunday, 8 March
DIVISION 1
Donegal v Cork, 1pm, Ballyshannon
Mayo v Westmeath, 2pm, Swinford
Galway v Tipperary, 2pm, Tuam
Waterford v Dublin, 2pm, Dungarvan
DIVISION 2
Kerry v Monaghan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 12pm
Armagh v Meath, Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Clare v Cavan, Doonbeg, 2pm
Tyrone v Wexford, Omagh, 2pm
DIVISION 3
Down v Wicklow, Teconnaught, 2pm
Laois v Fermanagh, Portarlington, 2pm
Roscommon v Kildare, Dr. Hyde Park, 2pm
Sligo v Longford, Enniscrone, 2pm
DIVISION 4
Carlow v Antrim, IT Carlow, 2pm
Derry v Louth, Watty Grahams, 2pm
Leitrim v Limerick, Carrick On Shannon, 2pm
ONLINE
Live scores and reports on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News Now App.
RADIO
Updates and reports on RTÉ Radio 1's on Sunday Sport from 2pm with Darren Frehill and Jacqui Hurley.
WEATHER
Saturday: A mild, windy and mostly cloudy day. Eastern areas will see a good deal of dry weather through to early afternoon, with some limited bright or sunny breaks occurring, and just the odd patch of light rain or drizzle.
Further west, patchy rain and drizzle will turn to persistent, and occasionally heavy, rain in the afternoon. The rain in western areas will spread to all areas in the late afternoon and evening. Highs of 10-12C in moderate to fresh and gusty south to southwest winds, strong to near gale on coasts.
Sunday: Sunny spells and scattered blustery showers for Sunday. Some of the showers will be heavy with hail, and a risk of isolated thunderstorms. Top temperatures 7-10C in moderate to fresh and gusty west to southwest winds, strong on Atlantic coasts.
More info on met.ie.
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 - Round 5 Preview
Donegal v Cork
For hosts Donegal, the three remaining rounds are all about survival.
Defeat against Westmeath in Round 4 has left Maxi Curran's charges anchored to the foot of the table, and in need of points to avoid the drop.
If the situation remains the way it is for remainder of the group stages (Westmeath and Donegal on three points), Donegal will go down on the head-to-head rule.
For holders Cork, the picture is much rosier. Four wins from four outings has them sitting pretty at the head of affairs – and a fifth straight victory would see Ephie Fitzgerald’s side through to the Division 1 final on 19 April, should Mayo drop points in their game against Westmeath.
There are four changes on the Cork team, including three in attack, as Donegal make three switches to the team that lost to Westmeath.
Galway v Tipperary
Galway were the league and Championship bridesmaids last year but they have rallied in 2020, and have three wins from four outings in Division 1.
The Tribeswomen took the scalp of Dublin last time out and that result has them on course for another final appearance, with Mayo three points behind in third.
Galway can strengthen their grip on a top-two placing with victory over Tipperary at Tuam Stadium, but the visitors will travel in good spirits.
Draws with Dublin and Waterford, and victory over Westmeath, have Tipp in mid-table and on course for top-flight consolidation again.
A win on the road here, and the Premier County could think about squeezing into a final place, although there would be plenty of work still to do.
Mayo v Westmeath
Mayo have the chance to keep their hopes of a final place alive with victory at home to Westmeath.
Mayo will also hope that Tipperary can do them a favour against Galway – and the race could yet boil down to the final round of fixtures, when Galway host Mayo.
Mayo have won two and lost two of their four fixtures this season, and they will look to bounce back from an eight-point loss to Cork last time out.
Mayo led that one at half-time, but Cork came from behind with a powerful second-half performance to claim the points in Mallow.
Mayo have opted for six changes in personnel as manager Peter Leahy continues to run the rule over his panel, while Westmeath have opted for three changes in personnel after a crucial victory over Donegal last time out.
That win has taken Westmeath above Donegal at the bottom of the table – and it could prove enough to keep them up again after the Lake County flirted with relegation last year.
Waterford v Dublin
Dublin’s loss to Galway on home soil in Round 4 was a massive dent to their hopes of making the Division 1 final.
The Sky Blues already had a lot to do to make up ground on the leaders, but they are even further behind the eight-ball now.
Dublin will need maximum points from their remaining three group fixtures to stand a chance – and even that may not be enough.
Waterford boast an identical results record to Dublin this season, with one win, two defeats and a draw, so both have some work to do if they are to preserve top-flight status.
The same goes for Dublin, as both teams head into this one just one point above Westmeath and Donegal, who face a fight for survival.
Dublin have ace forwards Noelle Healy and Lyndsey Davey in their starting line-up for this one, with Niamh Hetherton also starting, as Waterford opt for two changes in personnel after drawing with Tipperary.
