Armagh aiming to bounce back in Kildare

By Michael McMullan

ARMAGH will be hoping to bounce back from defeat when they face Kildare this weekend in Newbridge.

There is a full round of games on Sunday, across all four divisions, as the league continues.

The Orchard County were missing a host of key players and comprehensively beat Waterford in last weekend’s Division One opener.

Trailing by five points at the break, points from Maeve Lennon, Lauren McConville, Kelly Mallon and Aoife McCoy wasn’t enough. Lara Marsden made her debut and capped it off with two points.

Kildare needed two goals in their draw with Cork and they’ll be keen to gain a first win of the season.

Monaghan host Donegal in an all-Ulster clash into Division Two with the hurt of an opening day defeat to Tyrone ringing in their ears.

Donegal make the trip with a win in the bank after they accounted for Westmeath in Round One, thanks to 1-3 from star player Susanne White.

Cavan face the trip to Tipperary looking for a first win after their draw with Mayo in the first game.

It was an interesting weekend across the divisions, with three draws and plenty of exciting games with the infusion of the new rules.

Also in Division Two, last year’s All-Ireland intermediate champions Tyrone are on the road this weekend after hitting seven goals against Monaghan.

Cara McNamee and Niamh O’Neill each hit the net twice as the Red Hands kicked off the season with a bang.

They’ve been climbing as a county and Sunday gives them a chance to renew their recent rivalry with Westmeath.

There are three games involving Ulster teams in Division Three where Fermanagh, Antrim and Down all bid to take their unbeaten starts into a second week.

There was a draw between Laois and Fermanagh last weekend with Joanne Doonan (1-4), Niamh McManus and Caoimhe Gallagher finding the net but an eight point for Emily Lacey earned Laois a share of the spoils.

New manager Barry McKenna will take heart from the display despite missing Eimear Smyth, Courteney Murphy and Cadhla Bogue. They welcome Roscommon to Tempo on Sunday hoping for victory.

Laois will host Down who drew with Louth last weekend. Eimear Fitzparick scored the county’s first ever two pointer in a 3-6 to 1-12 draw.

Antrim were winners last weekend over Clare, hitting an impressive 3-15 tally thanks to Maria O Neill (1-4), Ciara Brown (1-3) and Theresa Mellon (1-2).

The Saffrons travel to Limerick this weekend who shipped three goals in defeat to Roscommon.

The only game in Division Four seem Derry welcome Longford as they bid to bounce back from defeat to Sligo.

Derry were slick in their win over Kilkenny in the first game and started well last weekend. Annie Ní Lochlainn scored 1-4 but it wasn’t enough.

The test this weekend is to nick a second victory, having not beaten anyone only Kilkenny in recent league seasons.

Check out Thursday’s Gaelic Life for more LGFA NFL coverage