CAPTAINS from the six competing teams have gathered at Croke Park ahead of Sunday’s (August 4) TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals.
With the countdown to Sunday continuing, the respective team captains – Shannan McQuade (Fermanagh), Áine Breen (Louth), Michelle Guckian (Leitrim), Aoibhinn McHugh (Tyrone), Ailbhe Davoren (Galway) and Niamh Carmody (Kerry) – got a feel for Croke Park ahead of the big day.
The Senior Final, the 51st in LGFA history, and in the Association’s 50th year, pits Galway against 2022 and 2023 runners-up Kerry, with the counties set to meet for the very first time in a Brendan Martin Cup decider.
That game throws in at 4.15pm and is preceded by the Intermediate Final between Leitrim and Tyrone (1.45pm) and the Junior Final between Fermanagh and Louth (11.45am).
In the first game on the Croke Park triple-bill, Louth will be aiming to gain promotion back to the Intermediate ranks at the first attempt, following relegation last year.
But the Wee County won’t get anything easy from opponents Fermanagh, who were TG4 All-Ireland Junior Champions in 2020 and 2017.
Louth themselves are previous champions, in 2019 (when they beat Fermanagh), 2015 and 1998.
Next Sunday will mark a fifth TG4 All-Ireland Junior Final appearance for Fermanagh, as Louth prepare for their seventh.
The winners of this Final will play Intermediate Championship football next year.
Leitrim and Tyrone, meanwhile, will renew rivalries in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final, after playing out a cracking game in the group stages.
Leitrim staged a remarkable recovery to win in early June, and now the sides will meet for the coveted silverware on offer, and the added prize of promotion to the Senior Championship ranks for 2025.
This will be a second TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final for Leitrim, who were victorious in 1997, as Tyrone gear up for their third Intermediate decider.
Tyrone lost out in 2017 but returned in 2018 to win the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup, named after the late Mary Quinn, a Leitrim legend.
In the Senior Final, a win for Kerry would put the Kingdom out in front on the all-time Senior roll of honours list.
They’re currently on 11 All-Ireland Senior Championship wins – a haul matched by the great Cork teams that were dominant from 2005-2016.
Their opponents, Galway, are going in search of a second title, following their previous success in 2004.
Sunday will mark a 15th All-Ireland Senior Final appearance for Kerry, who lost to Meath in the 2022 decider and against Dublin last year.
Kerry’s last Final win was back in 1993, when they overcame Laois, while Galway, who are looking ahead to a fifth Senior Final, last contested a Brendan Martin Cup decider in 2019.
To whet the appetite of attendees and TV viewers ahead of Sunday’s Croke Park triple-header, TG4’s Ceiliúradh Peil na mBan, presented by Máire Ní Bhraonáin, will air from 8.00pm on Saturday evening, August 3.
The programme will visit all six counties playing in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior deciders.
This celebratory programme will feature music from each of the counties, with former players reflecting on the 2024 Championships so far and looking ahead to Sunday’s big games.
Spórt TG4 will also have exclusive behind the scenes action from the TG4 All-Ireland Finals Day in Croke Park across its social media channels.
All of TG4’s LGFA coverage will be available to audiences globally on the TG4 Player at www.tg4.ie/beo and on the TG4 Mobile and Smart TV App.
Ticket information ahead of Sunday’s games is available at bit.ly/3xnhkbX and you can also watch the games live on TG4 at the following link: https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/watch-live/
Looking ahead, and reflecting on another outstanding season of partnership, TG4 Director General Alan Esslemont said: “TG4’s partnership with the LGFA is a remarkable achievement and has taken both of our organisations to a level of success which would have been very difficult to imagine when we began our relationship at the beginning of the century.
“As Ireland’s Irish language Public Service Media, we have a very strong commitment to ‘cothrom na Féinne’ and to achieving diversity and equality through our actions as a broadcaster and through the high quality content we can provide to Irish audiences on a free-to-air basis.
“The reaction worldwide to our broadcasts of Ladies Gaelic Football has been incredibly positive and, at a European level, public service broadcasters are using TG4 as a role model for themselves as they attempt to provide more coverage for women’s sports.
“This year, the 50th anniversary of the LGFA, TG4 will have broadcast the most live coverage of Ladies Gaelic Football in any year since the inception of our partnership in 2001. Together, the LGFA and TG4 have challenged the inequity and unfair imbalance of the status quo, both in sport and in broadcasting, and together we have grown and flourished.”
Mícheál Naughton, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, added: “As we gather at Croke Park next Sunday in front of a large attendance, we should never forget where we came from, those humble beginnings back in 1974. What a journey we’ve been on for the last half a century and recently, the sport of Ladies Gaelic Football was one of four practices granted formal State recognition as part of Ireland’s living cultural heritage, men’s Gaelic Football being another. This was yet another example of the huge cultural and social imprint of Ladies Gaelic Football across this country and beyond and next Sunday, we will acknowledge so many people central to that. We were also so pleased to gather at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles on Thursday July 18th to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our wonderful Association.
“It’s remarkable to think that the Galway-Kerry game will mark the 51st All-Ireland Senior Final in the LGFA’s history – and what a tie we should have. I wish Galway and Kerry the very best of luck as they aim for Brendan Martin Cup success.
“Prior to the Senior Final, we have two excellent games in store, with Fermanagh to play Louth in the Junior Final, followed by the Intermediate Final pairing of Leitrim and Tyrone. Best wishes to all teams competing on the day.
“Our long-standing partnership with TG4 began in 2001 and was a ‘game changer’ for Ladies Gaelic Football. It continues to this very day and I wish to put on the record my sincere thanks to TG4 Director General, Alan Esslemont, Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, and the entire TG4 team for their outstanding commitment to our sport. The #ProperFan campaign continues to capture the imagination of Ladies Football fans and you can follow the hashtag online next Sunday to join in the conversation, while our three Finals will be available to a global audience via linear TV and online.”
Tickets for Sunday’s games are priced at €30 for adults and €15 for students, OAPs and U18s.
Group rates are available only from the LGFA Office (1 Adult @ €10 for every group of 10 U-18s at €5 per child – €60; Family: 2 adults and 2 U-18s – €70)
Email tickets@lgfa.ie or phone 01-8363156 for more details.
Tickets are also available at usual GAA outlets and online at https://bit.ly/3Wyw3dX
Sunday August 4, 2024
11.45am – TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Final – Fermanagh v Louth
1.45pm – TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final – Leitrim v Tyrone
4.15pm – TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final – Galway v Kerry
