COMPILED BY JACKIE CAHILL
THERE’S a full schedule of 16 games in store across the four divisions in the Lidl National League over a pivotal weekend.
The meeting of Leinster rivals Dublin and Meath is the live TG4 game from Division 1 on Saturday afternoon (3pm – Parnell Park).
On Sunday, that’s followed by the other three top flight ties and all fixtures in Divisions 2, 3 and 4, as the promotion and relegation picture becomes clearer.
Sunday’s three Division 1 games – Armagh v Kildare, Tyrone v Waterford and Mayo v Kerry – will be available to view at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
All fixtures 2pm unless stated
Saturday March 1
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Dublin v Meath; Parnell Park, 3pm – Live on TG4
A crucial game for both sides at Parnell Park, in what is their first competitive meeting since the 2024 TG4 Leinster Senior Final.
A win for Meath, currently in second place alongside Kerry, would keep the Royals in contention for a Final slot.
For Dublin, a win is a must if they’re to maintain hopes of finishing in the top two positions.
With three rounds of top flight fixtures remaining, the Sky Blues are on four points, five adrift of Sunday’s opponents.
Dublin were held at home to Waterford last time out, as Meath suffered their first defeat of the season, against Kildare.
Dublin make four changes for this one, with Caoimhe O’Connor, Aoife Kane, captain Carla Rowe and Annabelle Timothy coming in for Rebecca McDonnell, Ashling Nyhan, Chloe Darby and Clodagh Fox.
O’Connor appeared as a sub against Waterford last weekend, netting in the first half, with Kane and Timothy both introduced in the second period.
This will be Kane’s first outing for Dublin since last year’s TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final loss to Galway, as the Kilmacud Crokes star returns to inter-county duty following her club exploits with Kilmacud Crokes, who were defeated in the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Final before Christmas.
Hannah Tyrrell is named for the first time this season among the Dublin substitutes, as Meath opt for an unchanged starting 15.
Dublin: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, A Curran; H McGinnis, M Byrne, N Donlon; É O’Dowd, G Kós; C O’Connor, N Hetherton, A Kane; K Sullivan, C Rowe (capt.), A Timothy.
Meath: R Murray; A Sheridan, S Wall, N Troy; K Newe, M.K. Lynch (capt.), C Millington; N Gallogly, E Moyles; M Thynne, O Sheehy, C Smyth; M Byrne, V Wall, K Cole.
Lidl National Football League Division 2
Cork v Roscommon; Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3pm
Cork will look to maintain their strong promotion push at home to Roscommon.
The Rebelettes are second on nine points behind pace-setters Galway ahead of the weekend’s action.
The visitors are currently sitting on four points and hovering just a point above the relegation zone.
Tipperary (three points) and Westmeath (one point) will hope to achieve positive results and hope that Roscommon slip up.
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, E Hurley, A Corcoran; L O’Mahony, L Coppinger, K Quirke.
Roscommon: H Cummins; R Brady, E Irwin (capt.), M Kelly; O O’Neill, S Wynne, R Lennon; A Curran, N Watson; S McGuinness, L Mannion, C Cregg; A Hanly, R Lennon, C Lennon.
Sunday March 2
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Armagh v Kildare; Silverbridge Harps – Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
Armagh are on course for a second straight top flight final appearance.
The holders are sitting pretty on top of the table and with a maximum return of 12 points from their four outings to date.
Another win could even seal a final slot at the weekend and the Orchard County will be keen to make home advantage count against Kildare.
The Lilywhites won the Division 2 title last year and have held their own to date in the top light.
Victories against Dublin and Meath could prove absolutely priceless as the Lilywhites look to preserve top tier status.
And if Kildare were to win again, they’d be dreaming of another potential League final outing.
Both Armagh and Kildare are unchanged ahead of this tie at Silverbridge Harps.
Armagh had a good win over Mayo last weekend, as Kildare stunned Meath.
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.
Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Murtagh, E Wheeler; M Doherty, L Lenehan (capt.), M Aspel; C Sullivan, L Dunlea; C Moran, G Wheeler, N Dooley; C Price, A Murnane, R Byrne.
Tyrone v Waterford; Aghyaran -Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
This is a huge game with potential relegation consequences.
Tyrone, Division 2 finalists last year, currently occupy one of the two relegation places.
The Red Hands are second from bottom on three points, one behind Dublin and Waterford.
The visiting Déise picked up their only win of the campaign on the opening day against Kildare, but they did grab a valuable point against Dublin last time out.
Tyrone have made one change for this fixture in Aghyaran, the home club of captain Aoibhinn McHugh, as Sorcha Gormley comes in for Tori McElroy.
Waterford are unchanged as they prepare for the trip north.
Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, E Quinn, C Campbell; M Moore, M Corrigan, A Strain; A McHugh (capt.), M Mallon; E McNamee, S McCarroll, A Horisk; C McCaffrey, C McCrossan, S Gormley.
Waterford: G Corcoran; C Murray, H Power, M Ryan; Á O’Neill, K McGrath, R Casey; E Power, E Murray (capt.); K Murray, B McMaugh, A Hahesy; C McCarthy, K Hogan, L McGregor.
Mayo v Kerry; Swinford Amenity Park, 2.30pm – Live at: https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming
It’s all on the line for Mayo as they welcome TG4 All-Ireland Senior champions Kerry to Swinford.
If the green and red suffer another defeat, they’ll be staring relegation in the face.
Mayo are pointless, with four defeats to date, and if they lose again, Division 2 football in 2025 will be move sharply into focus.
Kerry, meanwhile, could take a step closer to another Lidl NFL Division 1 final appearance.
The Kingdom won this competition in 2023 and were beaten finalists last year.
They currently sit on nine points, on the back of three successive wins, level with Meath and three points behind table-toppers Armagh.
Mayo have made five changes for this massive tie, with Nicola O’Malley, Erin Murray, Ciara Whyte, Chelsea Doherty and Riona Jordan coming in to replace Aoife Geraghty, Annie Gough, Milly Sheridan, Sinead Walsh and Clodagh Keane.
Kerry have also made changes, three in total, with Aisling O’Connell, Niamh Ní Chonchúir and Rachel Dwyer coming into a formidable starting line-up, as Aoife Dillane, Caoimhe Evans and Jaydn Lucey drop to the bench.
Mayo: J Gawalkiewicz; L Wallace, N O’Malley, E Brennan; D Caldwell (capt.), J Mortimer, S Lally; E Murray, H Reape; C Whyte, C Doherty, R Jordan; K Doherty, B Hession, M Cannon.
Kerry: M.E. Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; A O’Connell, N Broderick, C McCarthy; M O’Connell, A Galvin (capt.); N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, L Boyle; R Dwyer, S O’Shea, D O’Leary.
Lidl National Football League Division 2
Donegal v Galway; MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Galway look unstoppable as they aim for an immediate return to the top flight.
And the Tribeswomen could be over the line if the results go their way on Sunday.
Galway will look to make it five wins from five on their visit to Donegal, who are six points behind them.
A Galway win, and defeat for Monaghan away to Clare, would seal promotion for the Connacht champions.
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.
Galway: D Gower; C Trill, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty (capt.); C Cooney, N Ward, S Healy; L Ward, S Divilly; K Thompson, S Hynes, A Davoren; E Noone, R Leonard, O Divilly.
Clare v Monaghan; Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Both counties need the points on offer here for different reasons.
Hosts Clare are on four points, just one clear of the relegation places, as Monaghan aim to keep their fading promotion hopes alive.
The Farney County lost by six points to fellow promotion chasers Cork last weekend, as lost out to Tipperary in a relegation six-pointer.
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.
Monaghan: Ó Kelly; A Clarke, S Brady, C Brennan; A Burns, J Duffy, C Treanor; N Flanagan, J McQuillan; G Grimes, A Garland, G Hanratty; L Connolly, É Sherry S Power.
Tipperary v Westmeath; Fethard Town Park (3G)
Having claimed a valuable win against Clare, Tipperary will look to make it back to back victories against Westmeath.
This is a huge game at the bottom of the table, as the hosts, second from bottom, take on basement team Westmeath.
A fourth defeat from five outings would leave Westmeath in desperate trouble with two rounds remaining, and on just a single point.
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.
Westmeath: A Donlon; L McCartan, S Murphy, M Ennis; C Kelly, L Power, F Coyle (capt.); Dillon, V Carr; A Ruane, A Jones, A Roche; G Byrne, C Kilmurray, C Dunne.
Lidl National Football League Division 3
Cavan v Offaly; Bailieborough Shamrocks
Cavan had been going great guns prior to running into Wexford last weekend.
Wexford ground out a two-point win to end Cavan’s 100 per cent record.
The Breffni County are still top of the third tier standings but it’s a three-way tie on nine points, along with Wexford and Laois.
Offaly, on the other hand, are pointless at the bottom.
Cavan: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; H Gilsenan, S Lynch (capt.), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, N McCorry; S Fitzsimons, L McVeety, C Dolan; E Brady, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan.
Offaly: L Dunne; A Grehan, N Glackin, A Dunne; N Buckley, M Mann (capt.), J Maher; A Gavin Mangan, A Watkins; A Minnock, A Stafford, K Flynn; C Walsh, E Hand, I.L. Lyons.
Louth v Carlow; Páirc na nGael, Dundalk
It’s been a curious campaign for Louth, who have two wins and two defeats.
Impressive victories were secured against Wexford and Laois, they ran Cavan to two points, but slipped up against Down.
On their day, the Wee County are a match for anybody and they’re not out of the relegation picture yet.
Carlow find themselves in a relegation battle but they’ve played just three games to date.
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.
Carlow: S Cotter; S McCullagh, E Molloy, K Tunstead; T Lyons, E Ware, B Nolan; R Bailey (capt.), E Hayden; B Nolan, C Ní Shé, O Woods; S Hayden, M Townsend, A Kiernan.
Laois v Limerick; Ballylinan GAA
Laois are promotion contenders as they sit on nine points alongside Cavan and Wexford.
The O’Moore County will aim to continue that push when they welcome Limerick to Ballylinan.
The visiting Shannonsiders have lost two of their three games to date and won’t want an immediate return to the fourth tier after gaining promotion last year.
Laois: A Shanahan; S Farrelly, M Phelan, F McEvoy; G Lalor, A Moore, S Havill; A Fitzpatrick, A Moran (capt.); K Donoghue, C Burke, G Moran; E Galvin, M Nerney, E Lawlor.
Limerick: S Hennessy; S Dillon, Y Lee (capt.), R Browne; E Woulfe, C Mee, M MacNamara; G Mullane, O Ryan; R Ambrose, D Murphy, K O’Leary; L O’Brien, R Delee, C McNamara.
Wexford v Down; Samaritans St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy
Down would have targeted a promotion push and while their form has been patchy, they’re still in the hunt in a condensed division.
The Mourne County are on six points alongside Louth, and three off the promotion places.
One of the teams on nine points are Sunday’s hosts, as Wexford aim to build on their impressive victory over Cavan.
Wexford: S Cloake; S McCarthy, M Byrne, A Tormey; C Banville, A Halligan, K English; C Donnelly, R Murphy (capt.); B McDonald, C Murray, C Fox; A Neville, S Hamilton, G Donovan.
Down: C Byrne; C Milburn, A Greene; C McCreanor; M Doherty, C Mulvenna (capt), N McKibbin; E Sands, N McClory; N Ferris, E Fitzpatrick, L Duffy; V McCormack, N King, N Rice.
Lidl National Football League Division 4
Kilkenny v Derry; Muckalee
Kilkenny and Derry meet in Muckalee, with both counties looking to get off the mark for the season.
Sunday’s opponents have found the going tough and are both pointless.
This fixture offers potential respite and the chance to get points on the board.
Kilkenny: E Moran; S Mooney, S Galwey, R Crowley; S Dunne, R Roche, A Ring; E Lawlor (capt.), S Smith; N Ward, S Corcoran, L Gilmore; A Ryan, L McDowell, K Purcell.
Derry: T Cassidy; C Dillon, G Brewster, J Corr; O McEvoy, S Hargan, L Casey; C O’Kane, A Crozier (capt.); A Martin, A Ní Lochlainn, N Hannon; K Derry, C Donnelly, A McAlister.
Fermanagh v Sligo; St Molaise’s Park, Irvinestown
The promotion race is really hotting up as Fermanagh, in second place, take on third-placed Sligo.
Antrim are already assured of a last four slot as they sit on top of the pile on 15 points.
With four teams to contest Division 4 semi-finals, Fermanagh and Sligo, both on 12 points, are also in really good shape.
Fermanagh: A Haren; C Murphy, C Clarke, E Keenan; E Murphy, L Maguire, C Bogue; C Martin, M McGloin; R O’Reilly, J Doonan, B Bogue; N Boyle, E Smyth, A McCabe.
Sligo: E Maguire; A Molloy, C Dunne, H Walsh; T Breheny, C King, C Walsh; T Doddy, S Regan; R Kennedy, L Kelly, N McDonagh; S Feeney, L Normanly, L Duffy.
Antrim v Wicklow; Davitt Park, Belfast
It’s been a brilliant season for Antrim to date.
The Saffrons, relegated last year, have targeted promotion with a vengeance and have a 100 per cent record after five games.
They’re safely through to a semi-final, with opponents to be confirmed, as Wicklow remain just about in the hunt for a potential fourth-placed finish.
Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, G McGroarty, A Kelly; G Shannon, C Brown, E Kearns; A Turley, A Lynch; L Adams, O Dahunsi, T Mellon; B Devlin (capt.), N Jones, M O’Neill.
Wicklow: E Griffin; A Keegan, A Harmon, A Gorman; S McGettigan, S Byrne, S.J. Winders (capt.); S Evans, N Cullen; N McGettigan, M Corr, L-J Shannon; L Dunne, I Ledesma, E.R. O’Toole.
Leitrim v Longford; Kiltubrid
This is a crucial game in the battle to make the semi-finals.
Leitrim are currently fourth, three points clear of Longford, who are sitting in fifth.
A Leitrim win will secure a semi-final place for last year’s TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate winners.
Leitrim: M Monaghan; M Murphy, C Tyrell, J Maye; S Reynolds, C Owens, L Devaney; N Tighe, C Dolan; A Gilmartin, M Guckian (capt.), A Clancy; S Quinn, M Devaney, E Guckian.
Longford: A Cooney; A Brady, E Bleakley, L Keegan; C McCormack, E O’Brien (capt.), E Duggan; S Hagan, S Gallagher; K McKeon, K Crawford, E O’Reilly; K Burke, L McGuire, A Cosgrove.
