COMPILED BY JACKIE CAHILL
THERE are 14 games down for decision across the four divisions in the Lidl National League over the coming weekend.
The meeting of table-toppers Armagh and bottom of the table Mayo is the live TG4 game from Division 1 on Saturday evening (7.30pm – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds).
On Sunday, that’s followed by the other three top flight ties, four games in Division 2, and three apiece in Divisions 3 and 4.
On Sunday, the Tyrone v Kerry and Dublin v Waterford games will be available to view at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
All fixtures 2pm unless stated
Saturday February 22
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Armagh v Mayo; BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm – Live on TG4
Armagh, the holders, are on course for a second successive Lidl NFL Division 1 final appearance.
The Orchard County have three wins from three outings to date and will aim to maintain their 100 per cent record against basement team Mayo.
The Westerners need points, and fast, as they’ve lost all three of their previous games but a couple of wins could pull the green and red out of the mire.
Four teams above them – Tyrone, Kildare, Dublin and Waterford – are all just three points ahead of Mayo ahead of the weekend.
Following victory over Dublin, Armagh make two changes for this one.
Brianna Mathers replaces Anna Carr between the sticks, as Eve Lavery comes in for Maeve Lennon.
Mayo lost to Tyrone last time out, a big setback for Liam McHale’s charges, and there are six changes to the team that lined out against the Red Hands.
Julia Gawalkiewicz replaces Charlie Reilly Benson in goal, while there are starts outfield for Ella Brennan, Jenna Mortimer, Bree Hession, Maria Cannon and Kayla Doherty, as Sherin El Massry, Erin Murray, Saoirse Delaney, Ciara Whyte and Ciara Durkin also drop out of the line-up.
Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C Towe, R Mulligan; C Garvey, L McConville (capt.), B Mackin; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; E Druse, M Feehan, E Lavery; N Reel, A McCoy, N Henderson.
Mayo: J Gawalkiewicz; L Wallace, S Lally, E Brennan; D Caldwell (capt.), J Mortimer, H Reape; A Geraghty, A Gough; B Hession, M Cannon, M Sheridan; S Walsh, C Keane, K Doherty.
Sunday February 23
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Tyrone v Kerry; O’Neills Healy Park, Omagh, 11.30am – Live at https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
Promoted from Division 2 last year, Tyrone gave their top flight survival hopes a real boost with victory over Mayo last time out.
The Red Hands will need more points to stay afloat and the visit of TG4 All-Ireland Senior champions Kerry to Omagh is a significant test.
After losing to Armagh in their opening League fixture, Kerry are back on track with two wins from their last two games.
That run leaves the Kingdom in third place ahead of the weekend, just three points behind pace-setters Armagh and Meath.
Tyrone make two changes to the team that accounted for Mayo, with Aine Strain and Cara McCrossan coming in for Aoife Quinn and Aoife McGahan.
Kerry, meanwhile, make just one change in personnel, as Niamh Broderick replaces Kayleigh Cronin in defence.
Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; M Moore, M Corrigan, A Strain; A McHugh (capt.), M Mallon; C Campbell, S McCarroll, E McNamee; C McCaffrey, C McCrossan, A Horisk.
Kerry: M.E. Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, C McCarthy; E Lynch, A Dillane, N Broderick; M O’Connell, A Galvin (capt.); N Carmody, S O’Shea, L Boyle; C Evans, J Lucey, D O’Leary.
Dublin v Waterford; Parnell Park – Live at https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
Dublin began their League campaign with victory over Mayo but have since slumped to defeats against Kildare and, latterly, Armagh.
To maintain hopes of making a final, the Sky Blues will look for maximum points against visitors Waterford.
The Déise are on a similar run of form. They won against Kildare in Round 1 but have lost back to back games against Kerry and Meath.
In team news, Rebecca McDonnell replaces skipper Carla Rowe on the Dublin team.
Rowe picked up a slight knock against Armagh but is named on the bench.
Caoimhe O’Connor and Aoife Kane are named among the Dublin replacements for the first time this season and joining them is the returning Eilish O’Dowd, who last featured in the 2023 TG4 All-Ireland SFC final victory over Kerry.
Waterford have made two changes ahead of the trip to the capital, with Cora Murray and Alice Hahesy coming in for Áine Power and Clare Walsh.
Dublin: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey (capt.), A Curran; N Donlon, M Byrne, A Nyhan; H McGinnis, G Kós; K Sullivan, N Hetherton, R McDonnell; A Timothy, C Darby, J Egan.
Waterford: G Corcoran; Á O’Neill, R Casey, M Ryan; H Power, K McGrath, C Murray; E Power, E Murray (capt.); K Hogan, B McMaugh, A Hahesy; L McGregor, K Murray, C McCarthy.
Meath v Kildare; St Peter’s, Dunboyne
Meath are flying high alongside Armagh at the head of affairs.
Just like the champions, the Royals have nine points and will look to make that 12 when Kildare make the trip to Dunboyne.
But Kildare, despite losing to Kerry last time out, have proved they’re capable of results in Division 1.
The Lilywhites, last year’s Division 2 winners, beat Dublin in their outing prior to the Kerry defeat and are dangerous opponents on their day.
Meath have opted for a new midfield pairing ahead of Sunday, with Katie Bermingham and Ella Moyles drafted in for starts.
Karla Kealy and Marion Farrelly drop out of the starting line-up, as Kildare go with an unchanged team for this Leinster derby.
Meath: R Murray; A Sheridan, S Wall, K Newe; N Gallogly (capt.), M.K. Lynch, C Millington; K Bermingham, E Moyles; M Thynne, O Sheehy, C Smyth; M Byrne, V Wall, K Cole.
Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Murtagh, E Wheeler; M Doherty, L Lenehan (capt.), M Aspel; C Sullivan, L Shaw; C Moran, G Wheeler, N Dooley; L Curran, L McGovern, R Byrne.
Lidl National Football League Division 2
Monaghan v Cork; Castleblayney
A big game in the promotion race.
Cork and Monaghan, second and third respectively, go head to head in Castleblayney.
Both teams are three points behind leaders Galway and could take a huge step towards a final place and promotion here.
Monaghan began with wins against Roscommon and Tipp but lost to Donegal last time out.
Cork’s sole defeat came against Galway, but the Leesiders have collected victories against Tipperary and Westmeath.
Monaghan: Ó Kelly; A Clarke, S Brady, C Brennan; A Burns, J Duffy, C Treanor; N Flanagan, J McQuillan (capt.); G Grimes, A Garland, G Hanratty; L Connolly, É Sherry, S Power.
Cork: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, S Callanan; E Cleary, S Leahy (capt.), R Ní Chorcora; M O’Callaghan, E O’Shea; A O’Mahony, H Looney, A Corcoran; L O’Mahony, L Coppinger, K Quirke.
Galway v Westmeath; Tuam Stadium
Galway look unstoppable in Division 2.
The 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior finalists are determined to bounce back to top flight football at the first attempt.
Galway will put their 100 per cent record on the line against a Westmeath team hoping to stay afloat in the second tier.
The Lake County claimed a point against Donegal but have been well beaten in their other two games.
Galway: D Gower; A Ni Cheallaigh, S Ní Loingsigh, E Mitchell; M Banek, N Ward, H Noone; L Ward, M Glynn; A O’Rourke, O Divilly (capt.), A Davoren; A Trill, K Thompson, K Slevin.
Westmeath: A Donlon; L McCartan, S Murphy, M Ennis; C Kelly, L Power, F Coyle (capt.); T Dillon, V Carr; A Ruane, A Jones, A Roche; G Byrne, C Kilmurray, C Dunne.
Roscommon v Donegal; Clann na nGael
Roscommon, promoted from Division 3 last year, are keeping their heads above water.
They’re on three points, two clear of Westmeath and three ahead of Tipperary.
They welcome Donegal, fresh from victory over Monaghan and aiming for a late promotion push, to Clann na nGael.
Donegal are on five points, just one off second place, and with fellow promotion contenders Cork taking on Monaghan, it’s a chance to make up ground.
Roscommon: C O’Reilly; R Brady, E Irwin, M Kelly; O O’Neill, S Wynne, R Lennon; A Curran, N Watson (capt.); S McGuinness, L Mannion, C Cregg; A Hanly, R Lennon, C Lennon.
Donegal: C Friel; N Carr, A Temple Asokuh, S McFeeley; S McFadden, E McGinley, N Boyle; R Rodgers (capt.), R McColgan; F McManamon, K Dowds, A Porter; E Gallagher, S White, J McFadden.
Clare v Tipperary; Clarecastle GAA Astro
Clare are on four points and could take a big step towards securing Division 2 football again next season with a positive result here.
Promoted last year as Division 3 champions, the Banner have one win, one draw and one defeat from three games to date.
Tipp, on the other hand, are rock bottom of the standings and pointless. The Premier county need to start winning, and fast, to avoid dropping out of the second tier.
A crucial Munster derby in Clarecastle awaits both sides.
Clare: J Murphy; A Keane, G Harvey, R Doohan; E Burke, J Doohan, S Melican; C Harvey (capt.), R Martin; R Considine, M Downes, T Collins; F Marrinan, A Considine, C Moloney.
Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick (capt.); 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; C English, E Morrissey, A Fennessy.
Lidl National Football League Division 3
Offaly v Laois; Daingean
In their rearranged game against Carlow last weekend, Laois took the chance to move into the promotion race.
Cavan lead the way on nine points but Laois are now one of three teams on six, alongside Wexford and Louth.
Offaly are in desperate need of points as they’ve lost all three games so far.
The Faithful County are bottom but just three points behind Carlow, Down and Limerick.
Offaly: L Dunne; A Dunne, N Glackin, N Buckley; K Flynn, A Grehan, J Maher; M Mann (capt.), A Watkins; S McGuinness, A Gavin Mangan, A Minnock; E Hand, C Walsh, A Stafford.
Laois: E Barry; I Finlay, M Phelan, F McEvoy; C Crowley, A Moore, S Havill; F Dooley, A Moran (capt.); K Donoghue, C Burke, L Kearney; E Galvin, M Nerney, E Lawlor.
Louth v Down; Páirc Naomh Malachi, Courtbane
Louth’s form to date has been really good.
They lost to Cavan, who lead the way, by just two points on the opening day but have since racked up impressive wins against Laois and Wexford.
The Wee County are a live promotion contender and now they face Down, expected to challenge towards the top end but with two defeats from three games ahead of this one.
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.
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.
Wexford v Cavan; McCauley Park, Bellefield
A top of the table clash sees Cavan, on nine points, up against Wexford, three behind in second place.
A win for Cavan would put them in a brilliant position and on the cusp of promotion but if Wexford can win on their travels, it would open up the race for the coveted top two slots.
Down won against Limerick on the opening day but have since lost to Cavan and Laois.
Wexford: S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, K English; C Donnelly, R Murphy (capt.); A Cullen, C Murray, C Fox; A Neville, C Ni Nuallain, G Donovan.
Cavan: E Baugh; L Crowe, 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.
Lidl National Football League Division 4
Antrim v Leitrim; Antrim GAA Centre of Excellence, Dunsilly
So far, there has been no stopping Antrim in Division 4.
They’re top of the pile with four wins from four and while Fermanagh are also on 12 points, the Erne County have played a game more.
Antrim will put their 100 per record to the test against 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate champions Leitrim on Sunday.
Leitrim are in third place and with four teams emerging to contest semi-finals in Division 4, they’re well positioned also.
Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, A Lynch; A Kelly, O Dahunsi, T Mellon; B Devlin (capt.), M O’Neill, B Nic Cathail.
Leitrim: M Monaghan; M Murphy, C Tyrell, J Maye; S Reynolds, C Owens, L Devaney; N Tighe, C Dolan; A Gilmartin, M Guckian (capt.), D Beirne; S Quinn, M Devaney, L O’Dowd.
Kilkenny v Sligo; Thomastown
Sligo are on nine points in the standings, in fourth place and three points ahead of Longford.
Sligo will aim to keep that distance between themselves and the Midlanders to seal a semi-final place and next up is a visit to Kilkenny on Sunday.
It’s been a tough campaign for the spirited Noresiders, who remain pointless and on a steep learning curve.
Kilkenny: E Moran; S Mooney, A Galwey, K Fitzpatrick; S Dunne, R Roche, A Ring; E Lawlor (capt.), S Smith; K Purcell, N Ward, C Coughlan; A Ryan, L McDowell, J O’Keefe.
Sligo: M Burke; I Henry, J Creegan, N McDonagh; C Coleman, T Doddy, C Walsh; E Lavin, S Regan (capt.); H Monaghan, R Smith, J Monaghan; C Gilligan, B Lavin, N Brennan.
Derry v Wicklow; Celtic Park
Derry are pointless alongside Kilkenny at the bottom.
But the Oak Leafers showed signs of encouragement against Sligo last weekend.
They led at half-time before Sligo improved in the second period to claim the points.
Wicklow have played four but lost three to date and will hope for better fortunes on their trip to Celtic Park.
Derry: T Cassidy; C Dillon, G Brewster, J Corr; O McEvoy, S Hargan, A Duffy; C O’Kane, A Crozier (capt.); A Martin, L Casey, K McCann; H Hannon, C Donnelly, A McAlister.
Wicklow: E Griffin; E.R. O’Toole, H Dowling, I Ledesma; L.J. Shannon, L Dunne, L Kemple; S.J. Winders (capt.), C Wafer; E O’Keane, E O’Brien, E Bourke; A Keegan, A Harmon, A Gorman.
