Compiled by John Fallon
THE 2025 Lidl Ladies National Football League got underway on Sunday – with four key fixtures in Division 4.
In the big game of the day, the clash between 2024 TG4 All-Ireland intermediate champions Leitrim and last year’s TG4 All-Ireland junior champions Fermanagh, victory went to the Ulster side on a 3-13 to 2-9 scoreline, while there were also opening day wins for Antrim, Sligo and Longford.
Goals from Eimear Smyth (above) and Aoife McCabe helped Fermanagh lead by 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time against Leitrim in Kiltubrid.
Leitrim hit back and goals from Muireann Devaney and Róisín McHugh got the gap down to three at one stage in the second-half but Blathín Bogue’s goal sealed the win for the junior champions Fermanagh.
Antrim went on a goal spree defeating Kilkenny by 7-17 to 1-3, with six of the goals coming in the opening half to lead by 6-10 to 1-0 at the break.
Lara Dahunsi and Nicole Jones both got two goals while Luisne Adams, Maria O’Neill, and Aoife Turley also found the net.
Sligo led by 0-7 to 1-0 at the interval before pulling away for an impressive 1-13 to 1-3 opening day win over Wicklow.
Saoirse O’Reilly got Wicklow’s only score in the opening half with a goal from a penalty, but Cara King wrapped up the win for Sligo when she put eight points between them during the second-half with a goal.
Longford led by 2-8 to 0-6 at the interval and built on that after the restart to defeat Derry by 5-14 to 1-8 with Niamh Brady getting two goals and Katie Crawford, Ella O’Reilly and Sian Gallagher also finding the net.
Results: Lidl Ladies National Football League – Division 4: Antrim 7-17 Kilkenny 1-3 Fermanagh 3-13 Leitrim 2-9 Sligo 1-13 Wicklow 1-3 Longford 5-14 Derry 1-8
