The ladies football Championship kick-off this week with Galway taking on defending champions Cork.
GROUP 1
The group favourites, Mayo, should have enough to cruise past the challenge of Waterford in Saturday’s game but this is the only game the Deise can afford to lose.
The clash of Dublin and Kerry on Sunday is make or break for both sides as a win on the opening weekend could provide the momentum for a drive towards the quarter-finals.
TEAMS:
WATERFORD: A Jordan, G Kenneally, R Hallahan, E Cooney, M McGrath, M O’Donnell, L Whelan, C O’Keefe, F O’Reilly, M Wall, L Wall, M Ryan, M O’Rourke, A Murphy, K Kelly
MAYO: Y Byrne, C O’Hara, H Lohan, N O’Shea, C McGing, M Carter, M Heffernan, J Moran, C Egan, F McHale, C Staunton, C McDermott, C Heffernan, A Herbert, L Cafferky
KERRY: L O Driscoll, C Kelly, G Ni Fhlatharta, M Twoomey, S Fleming, C Sexton, P Dennehy, M O Donoghue, B Breen, J Johnson, K Kenneally, N Ni Suilleabhain, D Murphy, K O Driscoll, G O Se
DUBLIN: C O’Connor, K McGlynn, D Masterson, M Kavanagh N Hyland, S McGrath, O Colreavy, Fiona Ní Chorcoráin, S Finnegan, K Hopkins, Mary Nevin, A McGuinness, S Ahearne, L Kelly, AM Murphy
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GROUP 2
The clash of the round sees Galway take on defending All Ireland champions Cork.
Both teams should go through to the knock-out stages but this game is about building confidence and claiming the bragging rights.
Cork have been beaten once already this year and Galway have a point to prove after losing out to Mayo in the National League final.
Monaghan are a sleeping giant of the ladies game and the Farney women should have enough to see off Roscommon
TEAMS
GALWAY: T Hughes, M Glynn, E Flaherty, S Noone, M O Connell, A Daly , AM McDonagh, A Clarke, L Cohill, P Gleeson, N Fahy, G Conneally, E Concannon, S Cosgrove, R McPhilbin.
CORK: C O Donoughue, C Walsh, A Walsh, R Buckley, L Barrett, B Stack, B Corkery, J Murphy, N Kelly, G O Flynn, M O Connor, N Cleary, V Mulcahy, L McMahon, D O Reilly
MONAGHAN: L Martin, L Connolly , M Grimes, S Courtney, C Reilly, O McKeown, F Courtney, A Casey, U McNally, C Mc Connell, T McNally, H Hughes, N Lynch, N Kindlon, A McAnespie
ROSCOMMON: S Finnerty, M Kenaghan, E Walsh, F Byrne, S Kenanghan, A McGeeney, S Cooney, T Taylor, L Naunghton, E Hussey, C Grehan, M Carey, J Downey, E Casey, C Gormely
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GROUP 3
Tyrone will offer a physical challenge to the Leinster champions but Laois are one of the fittest sides in the Championship and are lethal in front of goal.
Sligo won the Junior All Ireland title last year but have struggled for consistency in the senior grade, however, they are expected to come through against a developing Donegal side.
TEAMS
LAOIS: B Deegan, L Hyland, L Muckian, A Millar, A Casey, P Fogarty, A Quigley, M Casey, K O Reilly, M Kirwan, N Kirwan, T Lawlor, G O Connor, M Kirwan, E Fitzpatrick
TYRONE: E Mallaghan, E Teague, M Kelly, M Gallagher, S McGarvey, L Donnelly, N Woods, L Meehan, S Donnelly, J Donnelly, E Gormley, A Dooher, C Donnelly, G Begley, K Murphy
SLIGO: K Connolly, C Doyle, A Doohan, M Keane, T O’Hara, C Kennedy, L Smith, B Byrne, S McTiernan, S Rowley, M O’Donnell, K Maloney, T Marren, N Gormley, L Brett
DONEGAL: AN Other, S Mollahan, N Lacey, L O'Sullivan, A Buggy, D Toner, G Houston, N Stapleton, K Lacey, J De Ward, B Gallagher, Y McMonagle, C McAteer, K Guthrie, M Devenny
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GROUP 4
A winning start in this group is essential and last year’s All Ireland beaten finalists may just have enough to squeeze past Kildare but the Lilywhites have an excellent record against Armagh and will be tough to beat at home.
If Meath can match Down’s physicality and nullify the threat of Micheala Downey the Royals should prevail and secure a win on the opening weekend
TEAMS
KILDARE: C Dolan, A Holton AN Other, A Lambe, C Hogan, D Berry, M Moolick, B Leahy, N Earley, C Bergin, A Jennings, E Dillon, A McBride, S Gilabert, S Conway
ARMAGH: F McAtamney, C Marley, D Toal, O Murtagh, R O’Mahony, B O’Donnell, S McCleary, A O’Donnell, C O’Hanlon, M Tennyson, M Moriarty, S O’Hagan, M McAlinden, L Brown, A Matthews
MEATH: I Munnelly, S Dooley, J Burke, S McCormack, J Rispin, V McGinn, P Sheridan, G Nulty, C O’Shaughnessy, K Bowe, M Sheridan, F Mahon, C McAuley, J Shiels, K O’Brien
DOWN: E Madine, A McEvoy, N McGowan, C McShane, S Fegan, A Karey, E McConville, L Cunningham, C McKibben, K Downey, G McClean, M Downey, A Pyres, L Morgan, E Mulbern
