Compiled by Jackie Cahill
THE battle for survival is the big talking point in Division 1 of the Lidl National League on Sunday.
Five teams begin the day with relegation worries on their minds, namely Armagh, Meath, Kerry, Kildare and Dublin.
At the head of affairs, Cork and Galway have already booked their spots in the Lidl NFL Division 1 final on Saturday April 11.
In Division 2, the race is on to join Cavan in the final, while Antrim and Down meet in a winner takes all promotion clash in Division 3, and the right to play Louth in the third-tier showpiece.
And in Division 4, Carlow, Offaly, Leitrim and Sligo are vying for promotion and places in the final.
In Sunday’s Division 4 semi-finals, which are provincial derbies, Carlow take on Offaly, with Leitrim up against Sligo.
The crucial Kildare-Kerry clash is Sunday’s live offering on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel, with Dublin v Cork and Meath v Armagh available as live streams.
The meeting of Mayo and Monaghan on Sunday in Division 2 is another live-stream offering, along with both Division 4 semi-finals.
Sunday March 29
Lidl NFL Division 1
Dublin v Cork; Parnell Park, 2pm – Live Stream
Dublin can only hope ahead of the final round of fixtures.
On four points, the TG4 All-Ireland senior champions are bottom of the table ahead of the final round of group fixtures.
They must win against Cork, who are already through to the final, and hope that results elsewhere go their way to avoid the drop.
Dublin have made two changes for this home tie, with Rachel Hartnett and Jodi Egan replacing Annabelle Timothy and Caoimhe O’Connor, following defeat to Galway last time out.
Cork have opted for an unchanged starting team.
DUBLIN: A Shiels; N Crowley, H Leahy, C Almeida; S McIntyre, H McGinnis, N Donlon; R Hartnett, O Nolan; E Gribbin, L Grendon, C Rowe (capt.); J Egan, N Hetherton, K Sullivan.
CORK: C Richmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; A Corcoran, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, G Murphy, E Cleary (capt.); A O’Sullivan, K Quirke, L Hallihan.
Kildare v Kerry; Manguard Plus Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence, 2pm – Live on Spórt TG4 YouTube
It’s all on the line for Kildare and Kerry ahead of this relegation shoot-out.
A win for either side will be good enough to ensure top flight football again next year.
Even a defeat for Kerry might be good enough to keep them up – but only if Dublin and Meath also lose.
That’s one of many potential permutations on Sunday as five counties battle to stay afloat.
Following a draw with Waterford in Round 6, Kildare have gone with an unchanged starting team.
Kerry, last year’s champions, lost out to Armagh and have also opted for the same starting 15.
KILDARE: R Fennin; A Mernagh, M Doherty, A Murnane; H McLoughlin, R Sargent, L Lenehan (capt.); N Murphy, G Wheeler; L Shaw, C Wheeler, M Aspell; A Rattigan, M Doyle, A Prizeman.
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; E N Laighin, A Dillane, L Boyle; N Carmody, A Galvin; K Enright, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; S O’Shea (capt.), D O’Leary, R Dwyer.
Meath v Armagh; Summerhill GFC, 2pm – Live Stream
Just three points separate fourth-placed Armagh, on seven points, from Dublin, sitting bottom of the pile on four.
Armagh are in a relatively good position but there is a possible set of results that would relegate the Orchard County.
Meath are not out of the woods either but a draw might be good enough for the Royal County.
Meath ran high-flying Cork to two points in defeat last time out and have named an unchanged starting line-up.
Armagh have made just one change following their crucial victory over Kerry, with Catherine Marley coming into the full-forward line to replace Caroline O’Hanlon.
MEATH: R Murray; K Kealy, Á Sheridan, A Farrell; C Lawlor, O Gore, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, N Gallogly (capt.); M Farrelly, C Smyth, M Thynne; E Duggan, L Woods, R Casserly.
ARMAGH: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; A Donnelly, L McConville (capt.), G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O’Reilly; C McNally, A McCoy, E Druse; A Mackin, C Marley, K Mallon.
Waterford v Galway; Kilrossanty GAA, 2pm
This one’s a dead rubber for both counties but it does give them the chance to run the rule over squad members.
Galway are through to the final, while Waterford are in third, and there are plenty of changes to both teams.
Following a six-point win over Dublin, Galway make seven changes in personnel, with Aoife Molloy, Katelyn Mee, captain Kate Geraghty, Sophie Healy, Aisling Madden, Aoife O’Rourke and Eva Noone all coming into the team, as Ríona Quinn, Sarah Ní Loingsigh, Brónagh Quinn, Hannah Noone, Niamh Divilly, Lynsey Noone and Kate Thompson sit this one out from the start.
Following a draw with Kildare, Waterford have altered one-third of their starting line-up.
In come Laura Cusack, Alice Hahesy, Maeve Daly, Jade Queally and Chloe Fennell, with Ruby Browne, Cora Murray, Bríd McMaugh, Clare Walsh and Hannah McGrath dropping out.
WATERFORD: G Corcoran; L Cusack, L Mulcahy, A McGrath; K McGrath, R Casey, A Hahesy; E Power, E Murray (capt.); K Murray, K Hogan, Á O’Neill; M Daly, J Queally, C Fennell.
GALWAY: L O’Halloran; A Molloy, K Mee, K Geraghty (capt.); S Healy, N Ward, E Power; A Madden, S Divilly; A O’Rourke, K Slevin, O Divilly; A Trill, L Coen, E Noone.
Lidl NFL Division 2
Cavan v Westmeath; Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
A dead rubber tie for both counties.
Cavan are looking ahead to a Division 2 final and toasting promotion, while Westmeath are relegated and will be playing in the third tier next season.
CAVAN: C Reilly; L Crowe, C McDonnell, N Briody; A Kennedy, S L, E McIntyre; C Boylan, E Brady; J Giles, C McCaffrey, C Lynch; A Doughty, N McCorry, K M Reilly.
WESTMEATH: A Donlon; S Murphy, F Coyle (capt.), L McCartan; A Ruane, L Power, N Nolan; S McWade, T Dillon; C Kilmurray, V Carr, A Keegan; S Dillion, L McCartan, R Higgins.
Donegal v Wexford; O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, 2pm
Donegal know what they have to do against relegated Wexford.
If the hosts win this one, they’ll be promoted to Division 1 and joining Cavan in the Division 2 final on Saturday April 11.
DONEGAL: C Friel; N Carr, E McGinley, S M Feely; T Hegarty, F McManamon, A Caulfield; C Brennan, R Rodgers (capt.); B M Laughlin, K Dowds, N Boyle; S White, E Gallagher, C McGarvey.
WEXFORD: S Cloake; N Cullen, K English, A Tormey; O Kehoe, A Halligan (capt.), R Hughes; B McDonald, A Furlong; O Byrne, A Hughes, A Cullen; C Murray, N English, C Donnelly.
Mayo v Monaghan; Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 2pm – Live Stream
Mayo will look to get the job done against Monaghan and hope for a shock as Wexford travel to Donegal.
If Mayo win, and Donegal drop points, it’ll be Mayo back in the top flight next season.
On seven points, Monaghan are safe in Division 2 for another season.
MAYO: L Brennan; L Wallace, S E Massry, M Delaney; E Ronayne, D Caldwell, H Reape; A Geraghty, F McHale; S Tuohy, K Brennan, A Staunton; L Cafferky, S Walsh (capt.), S Cafferky.
MONAGHAN: O Kelly; A Loughman, A McQuaid, M Monaghan; D Cawley, R Courtney (capt.), A Gilliland; J Duffy, N Flanagan; A J Kierans, A Garland, C Treanor; C McBride, M Atkinson, L Maguire.
Tipperary v Tyrone; Clonmel Sportsfield, 2pm
Tipperary and Tyrone, still not out of the promotion race, meet in Clonmel with one eye on Mayo and Donegal ahead of them.
Tipp and Tyrone can only focus on the job at hand and hope that Mayo and Donegal slip up ahead of them.
TIPPERARY: L Fitzpatrick; T Hoare, M Curley, E Cronin; E Buckley, N Martin, S English; L Morrissey, N Martin; A McGuigan, A K, H Spillane; K C Ryan, L Maher, E Morrissey.
TYRONE: C Donnelly; J Lyons, C McCallion, E Quinn; C Canavan, M Corrigan, C Campbell; M Mallon, A McHugh (capt.); S McCarroll, A Horisk, C McCaffrey; N O Neill, S Gormley, C McNamee.
Lidl NFL Division 3
Down v Antrim; Páirc Esler, 2pm
With Louth already promoted, it’s a straight shoot-out between Ulster teams Down and Antrim for the right to join them.
Both sides are sitting together on 13 points ahead of throw-in. A win for either side will secure promotion and a final place on April 12.
If it’s a draw, the team with the higher number of points (i.e. scores converted over the bar) will progress. If they still can’t be separated at that point, it will come down to score difference. Antrim have the edge in that regard, with +32 compared to Down’s +21.
DOWN: C Bradley; N Loudon, E Sands, A Greene; N Edgar, C McCreanor, N McClory; M Doherty, K Howlett; N King, E Fitzpatrick, L Duffy (capt.); E Quinn, E Hicks, A Laverty.
ANTRIM: A Devlin; H Donaghy, M Blaney, M Mulholland; L Agnew, C Brown, E.L. McAreavey; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, O Dahunsi, C McKenna; B Devlin (capt.), M O’Neill, D Coleman.
Clare v Roscommon; Clarecastle 4G, 2pm
A win or a draw for Clare will guarantee another season in Division 3.
They’re two points ahead of Laois, who they have beaten, in the standings.
Roscommon have just pride to play for here.
CLARE: R Sexton; H Doyle, R Doohan, S Melican; R Considine, J Doohan (capt.), A Kelly; C Cahill, A Slattery; S Considine, C Harvey, A Sexton; T Collins, C Moloney, L Kelly.
ROSCOMMON: H Cummins; A McGrath, A Connaughton, R Brady; M McKeon, S Wynne, A C; E Irwin, R Cox; R Fitzmaurice, C Cunningham, N Watson; R Lennon, A Feely, C Lennon (capt.).
Louth v Laois, Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, 2pm
Louth will look to preserve their unbeaten record against a Laois side in big relegation trouble.
Louth are already promoted and safely through to the final but they’ll want to finish the group stages with a flourish.
Laois must win and hope that Clare lose to stay afloat.
LOUTH: R L Fagan; S Matthews, E Hand, H L Sally; A Murray, S McLaughlin, L Byrne; A Halligan, Á Breen (capt.); L White, C Nolan, Z Sweeney; E Byrne, L Lynch, C Woods.
LAOIS: E Barry; S Farrelly, F McEvoy, M Cotter; A Gorman, A Saunders, A Moran (capt.); F Dooley, A Healy; S Havill, L Kearney, C Crowley; E O’Byrne, K Donoghue, K O’Neill.
Fermanagh v Limerick, Tempo Maguires, 2pm
Fermanagh are safe for another season in Division 3 .
Limerick, however, will be playing Division 4 football next year after suffering relegation.
FERMANAGH: A Quinn; N Dolan, S McCarville, S McQuade (capt.); N Boyle, C Bogue, B Bannon; A McCarney, H Murphy; E Carrigan, N McManus, C Gallagher; C McGarrigle, E Smyth, K Murphy.
LIMERICK: S Hennessy; R Fitzgibbon, A Ryan, A Russell; E Crowe, L Ryan (capt.), M MacNamara; O Ryan, E Hickey; C M Namara, L O Brien, K Heelan; L Brown, C M Grath, M Creedon.
Lidl NFL Division 4 Semi-Finals
Carlow v Offaly; McCann Park, Portarlington, Laois, 2pm – Live Stream
Carlow finished on top the Division 4 standings with seven wins and a maximum return of 21 points.
But they’ll still have to win this semi-final against Leinster rivals Offaly to secure promotion.
And it won’t be easy against the Faithful County as just two points separated the sides during the group stages.
Offaly beat Longford last time out to secure progress to the last four.
The winners here will be promoted and play Leitrim or Sligo in the Division 4 final on April 12.
CARLOW: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, B Nolan; A Webb, N Forde, R Bermingham; R Bailey (capt.), C O’Neill; E Hayden, C N Shé, A Hanley; M Townsend, S Doyle, B Nolan.
OFFALY: L Dunne; S McGuinness, F Dempsey, N Buckley; M Rouse, E Maher, A Grehan; R Ennis, R Mealiff; F McDermott, M Byrne, E Hand; C Lynam, S Doyle, M Mann (capt.).
Leitrim v Sligo; Orchard Park, Elphin, Roscommon, 2pm – Live Stream
Leitrim lost just once all season, to Carlow, and finished in second place.
That’s set up a Connacht derby in the semi-finals against Sligo, who ended up in third place.
When the sides met in Round 3, Leitrim won by 5-10 to 2-7 but recent history has shown that finishing in the top two slots in Division 4 doesn’t guarantee progress at the semi-final stage.
The winners will play Carlow or Offaly in the Division 4 decider on April 12, with promotion secured.
LEITRIM: M Gallagher; J Maye, C Tyrrell, N Morahan; D Beirne, L Devaney, R McIntyre; N Tighe, A Devaney; A Gilmartin, L Fox, M Guckian (capt.); M Devaney, K Gormley, E Guckian.
SLIGO: E Maguire; C King, C Dunne, A Durcan; S Feeney, C Walsh, T Breheny (capt.); S Regan, S Cunney; A McDaniel, E Giblin, N McDonagh; L Duffy, C Gorman, L Normanly.
