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Kerry to face Dublin in opening game of Lidl Ladies National Football League

Kerry and Dublin will clash once again
Kerry and Dublin will clash once again

Holders Kerry will begin the defence of their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 crown with a clash against TG4 All-Ireland champions Dublin on the opening weekend of the 2026 campaign.

Kerry will make the trip to the capital on Saturday, 24 January as the winners of the last three TG4 All-Ireland Senior championship titles face off in what promises to be an intriguing tussle.

Dublin claimed Brendan Martin Cup glory in 2025 and 2023, with Kerry crowned champions in 2024.

Kerry go into the new season as League title holders, with Dublin chasing a first top-flight success since 2021.

Division 1 also contains Armagh, runners-up in 2025 and winners a year previously, as well as Cork, Galway, Kildare, Meath and Waterford.

Cork and Galway were both relegated last year but bounced back at the first attempt by gaining promotion from Division 2.

In the opening round of Division 1 fixtures in 2026, with three games scheduled for Sunday, 25 January, Cork will host Kildare, Meath entertain Galway, and Waterford make the trip to Armagh.

Round 2 will feature two provincial derbies – and both on 2 February.

Meath will play host to Dublin at 2pm, followed by the meeting of Kerry and Waterford at 3.45pm.

On the previous day, Kildare will take on Armagh, with Cork at home to Galway.

All four divisions will each contain eight teams in 2026, with the top two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 progressing straight to their respective finals, while there are semi-finals scheduled for Division 4 on Sunday, 29 March.

The Divisions 1 and 2 finals will be played at Parnell Park on Saturday, 11 April, with the Divisions 3 and 4 Finals scheduled for Sunday, 12 April.

Division 2 will contain Cavan (promoted from Division 3 as champions), Donegal, Mayo (relegated from Division 1), Monaghan, Tipperary, Tyrone (relegated from Division 1), Westmeath and Wexford (promoted from Division 3).

Division 3 is made up of Antrim (promoted from Division 4 as champions), Clare (relegated from Division 2), Down, Fermanagh (promoted from Division 4), Laois, Limerick, Louth and Roscommon (relegated from Division 2).

And Division 4 will feature Carlow (relegated from Division 3), Derry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Offaly (relegated from Division 3), Sligo and Wicklow.

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