The LGFA weekend at a glance

Compiled by Jackie Cahill

A FULL schedule of 16 games lies in store across all four divisions of the Lidl National Leagues over the coming weekend.

Viewers can also pick from a selection of six live games – including Saturday’s glamour Division 1 ‘clash of the champions’ as TG4 All-Ireland senior champions Dublin take on Kerry, who were Lidl NFL Division 1 winners last year.

That game will be live on TG4 at 2.45pm from Páirc JYSK in Clondalkin, ahead of Sunday’s bank of 15 games.

The LGFA Facebook Page and YouTube channel will provide live coverage of the Division 2 clash between Cavan and Mayo free to air, while viewers can choose from all three of Sunday’s Division 1 fixtures, along with the Division 2 game between Donegal and Westmeath, which will appear as pay per view options.

Saturday January 24th:

Lidl NFL Division 1

Dublin v Kerry; JYSK Park, Round Towers, Clondalkin, 2.45pm – Live on TG4

Division 1 gets underway with a blockbuster in Clondalkin.

The 2025 and 2023 TG4 All-Ireland senior champions, Dublin, take on the 2024 winners, Kerry, who are also reigning Lidl NFL Division 1 holders.

Dublin’s new look team contains three starters from the 2025 TG4 All-Ireland SFC final win over Meath – Niamh Crowley, Orlagh Nolan and Hannah McGinnis.

There are senior debuts too for Keeva Kenehan, Elsa Kearney and Orla Keighran.

Kerry arrive with a strong team that includes the presence of skipper and TG4 All-Star Síofra O’Shea at full-forward, flanked by Jaydn Lucey and Danielle O’Leary, an All-Star in 2024.

Dublin: K Moran Tighe; N Crowley, A Nyhan, K Kenehan; C Fox, H Leahy, E Gribbin; R Hartnett, H McGinnis; E Kearney, O Nolan (capt.), S McIntyre; A Timothy, J Egan, O Keighran.

Kerry: M.E. Bolger; E Lynch, C Lynch, A Doherty; J Lynch, A Dillane, K Brosnan; M O’Connell, C Evans; L Boyle, N Ní Chonchúir, R Dwyer; J Lucey, S O’Shea (capt.), D O’Leary.

Sunday January 25th:

Lidl NFL Division 1

Armagh v Waterford; BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2pm – Live stream

Armagh begin the season in search of a third successive Lidl NFL Division 1 appearance.

The Orchard County won a maiden top flight title in 2024, before losing out to Kerry in last year’s decider.

They face a Waterford side who have skipper and TG4 All-Star Emma Murray listed among the subs.

Waterford won four of their seven League outings last year and were hugely competitive.

The Déise will look for another solid League campaign to put them in a good position ahead of the summer.

Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, G Ferguson; E Druse, L McConville (capt.), C Towe; S Quigley, C Marley; L Marsden, A McCoy, C McNally; M Lennon, A Donnelly, K Mallon.

Waterford: K Gardiner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Casey, L Ní hArta, K McGrath, L Cusack; E Power, B Browne; M Daly, B McMaugh, Á O’Neill; C Fennell, C Walsh, L McGregor.

Cork v Kildare; MTU, 2pm – Live stream

Kildare defied many expectations to preserve Division 1 status last year.

The Lilywhites survived as Tyrone and Mayo dropped to Division 2.

Kildare know they’ve another fight on their hands this time but they’re a battle-hardened outfit and will prove stern opponents for all opposition.

Cork are back in the top flight after gaining promotion last year – and the Leesiders will be keen to get off to a winning start on home soil.

Cork: C Richmond; S Callanan, D Kiniry, K Horgan; M Duggan, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, G Ní Mhurchú, E Cleary (capt.); E Hurley, K Quirke, L Hallihan.

Kildare: R Fennin; E Wheeler, R Sargent, M Doherty; H McLoughlin, L Shaw, L Lenehan (capt.); N Murphy, G Wheeler; M Doyle, C Wheeler, A Rattigan; A Murnane, L Curran, A Prizeman.

Meath v Galway; Summerhill, 2pm – Live stream

Meath are preparing for their first competitive outing since the disappointing 2025 TG4 All-Ireland Senior final loss to Dublin.

The Royals won the Division 1 title in 2022 but haven’t appeared in a final since.

They’d love to change that stat but their opener against Galway will be a tricky game.

The Tribeswomen surged to Division 2 glory last year and won’t want to get sucked into another relegation fight.

Rather than aiming to avoid the drop, Galway’s aims will be higher, and the hosts begin the 2026 campaign in a similar vein.

Meath: R Murray; Á Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, O Gore; Ó Smith, S Wall, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, L Woods; M Thynne, C Smyth, M Farrelly; E Duggan (capt.), R Casserly, M Byrne.

Galway: L O’Halloran; R Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, B Quinn; S Healy, C Trill, A Molloy; N Divilly, A Madden; M Glynn, K Slevin, K Thompson; A Trill, L Coen (capt.), R Leonard.

Lidl NFL Division 2

Cavan v Mayo; Kingspan Breffni, 2pm – Live on LGFA Facebook and YouTube

Relegated from Division 1 last year, Mayo begin their quest to return to the top flight with a visit to Cavan.

This has the makings of an intriguing tie, as Diane O’Hora’s green and red charges pit their wits against a rising Cavan side, who were Division 3 title winners last year.

Cavan’s primary aim will be to stay afloat in the second tier but if they can get something from this one, they’ll believe another promotion push is possible.

Cavan: E Baugh; C McDonnell, S Kelly, S McCormack; Z Fay, C Charters, S Greene; D Lynch, C Boylan; K McCormack, E Sheridan, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan (capt.), C Lynch.

Mayo: L Brennan; É Ronayne, D Caldwell, L Wallace; E Brennan (capt.), C Needham, L Hanley; A Geraghty, E Murray; A Kennedy, A Staunton, T Needham; M Reilly, S Walsh, S Delaney.

Donegal v Westmeath; O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, 2pm – Live stream

Donegal were one of three teams to earn nine points in Division 2 last year – but that tally was nine behind Cork and 12 adrift of Galway, the two promoted teams.

There’s more of an open feel to the Division 2 race this year and both Donegal and Westmeath will look to profit.

A good start to the season is vital and with rich attacking talent on display, this could be one of the games of the weekend.

Donegal: C Friel; N Carr, E McGinley, S McFeely; T Hegarty, F McManamon, A Caulfield; C Brennan, R Rodgers (capt.); B McLaughlin, K Dowds, N Boyle; S White, M Bennett, C McGarvey.

Westmeath: A Temple; L McCartan, T Dillon, F Coyle (capt.); C Kelly Gonoud, A Ruane, S McWade; V Carr, C Kilmurray; N Mullarkey, A Jones, A Keegan; S Dillon, L McCartan, K Kilmurray.

Monaghan v Tyrone; Blackhill Emeralds, 2pm

An Ulster derby pits Monaghan against Tyrone, who played top-flight football last year.

The Red Hands are also preparing for Senior championship fare later this year and they’ll want to head into the summer in rude health and on the back of a solid League campaign.

Promotion will be the aim for Tyrone again as they aim for an immediate Division 1 return, while Monaghan will look for a better League season, having finished with three wins from seven last year.

Monaghan: M Flood; Á Loughman, A McQuaid, M Monaghan; E Traynor, R Courtney (capt.), A Gilliland; J Duffy, N Flanagan; A.J. Kierans, A Garland, C Treanor; C McBride, É Sherry, L Maguire.

Tyrone: C Donnelly; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; C Canavan, M Corrigan, A Strain; M Mallon, A McHugh (capt.); E Conroy, A Horisk, E McCanny; N O’Neill, M Maxwell, C McNamee.

Wexford v Tipperary; Samaritans St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, 2pm

Promoted from Division 3 last year, Wexford begin life in the second tier with a home tie against Tipperary.

These are two sides rich in potential and David Power’s appointment as Tipperary boss last year was a real coup for the blue and gold.

With Cork and Galway both promoted last year, Tipp will feel they have a chance of competing for promotion this time.

Wexford: S Cloake; K English, A Tormey, K Dempsey; J Dempsey, A Halligan (capt.), N Cullen; B McDonald, O Kehoe; C Banville, A Hughes, A Cullen; R Hughes, A Neville, G Donovan.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; T Hoare, M Curley, N Martin; N Shelly, L Morrissey, S English; N Martin, A.R. Kennedy (capt.); C English, E Morrissey, H Spillane; L Cunningham, A Casey, K Crotty Ryan.

Lidl NFL Division 3

Antrim v Clare; Antrim GAA Centre of Excellence, Dunsilly, 1pm

A really interesting game lies in store at the Antrim GAA Centre of Excellence.

Antrim came up from Division 4 as champions, as Clare were relegated from Division 2.

Clare, Division 3 champions in 2024, will be keen to bounce straight back to Division 2, while Antrim will fancy their chances of going on a promotion run themselves.

Antrim: A Devlin; M Mulholland, M Blaney, A Kelly; L Agnew, D Coleman, C McKenna; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, O Dahunsi, H Donaghy; A Monaghan, M O’Neill, A Taggart.

Clare: A Griffin; H Doyle, R Doohan, S Melican; R Considine, J Doohan (capt.), E Burke; C Cahill, A Slattery; S Considine, C Harvey, A Sexton; E O’Driscoll, C Moloney, E Hanrahan.

Down v Louth; Tullylish, 2pm

Behind promoted Cavan and Wexford last year, Louth and Down finished in the third and fourth positions respectively in Division 3.

Both sides will aim for top two slots and promotion to Division 2 but it’s a competitive pool again this year.

Louth begin life without Kate Flood as they aim to kick on from last year’s TG4 All-Ireland Junior championship win.

Down: C Bradley; N Loudon, O Blaney, E Sands; N Edgar, C McCreanor, N McGrath; M Doherty, K Howlett; N McClory, E Fitzpatrick, L Duffy (capt.); N King, N Rice, E Hicks.

Louth: R Lambe Fagan; S Matthews, E Hand, H Lambe Sally; A Murray, S McLaughlin, L Byrne; A Halligan, Á Breen (capt.); L White, C Nolan, Z Sweeney; E Byrne, L Collins Lynch, C Woods.

Laois v Fermanagh; Emo, 2pm

Laois had a mixed bag of a campaign in 2025, winning three, losing three and drawing one of their seven games.

They finished well clear of the relegation slots but will aim for a higher-placed finish this time.

Fermanagh will aim to consolidate in the third tier, after gaining promotion from Division 4 in 2025.

Laois: A Shannahan; S Farrelly, A Saunders, F McEvoy; A Gorman, M Cotter, A Moran (capt.); F Dooley, S Havill; C Crowley, E Galvin, L Kearney; E Lacey, K Donoghue, E Lawlor.

Fermanagh: A Quinn; A Keenan, C Breen, C Murphy; B Bannon, S McQuade (capt.), S Feeley; S McCarville, C Bogue; A McCarney, E Smyth, S Barrett; N McManus, J Doonan, C McGarrigle.

Roscommon v Limerick; St Brigid’s GAA, Kiltoom, 2pm

Roscommon contested a Division 3 final in 2024 and that will be the aim for the Connacht outfit again.

Relegation from Division 2 last year will have stung and they open their campaign with a home tie against Limerick.

The visiting Shannonsiders did enough to stave off the threat of relegation last year and they’ll look to do the same again in this campaign.

Roscommon: H Cummins; A McGrath, N O’Rourke, M Macken; G Lohan, E Irwin, M McKeon; A Curran, R Cox; N Feeney, R Fitzmaurice, N Watson; A Hanly, R Lennon, C Lennon (capt.).

Limerick: C Bateman; M Stanley, C Ryan, A Dalton; M MacNamara, L O’Brien, E Crowe; O Ryan, E Hickey; C McNamara, L Ryan (capt.), K Heelan; C McGrath, T Geoghegan, L Browne.

Lidl NFL Division 4

Kilkenny v Carlow; MW Hire Training Centre, Dunmore, 2pm

Neighbours Kilkenny and Carlow go head to head in Dunmore.

Kilkenny came up short against Derry in their opening fixture, as Carlow earned a hard-fought three-point win against Sligo.

Carlow won this title in 2024 and after suffering relegation last year, they’ll be confident on embarking on another good run in Division 4.

Kilkenny: E Moran; K Hennessy, R Doherty; M Farrell; A Ryan, E Royce Brennan, E Stuart; R Roche, S Smith; R Bass, C Moore, D Tervit-Kruger; S Coady, B Lomax (capt.), A Finucane.

Carlow: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, N Murphy; A Webb, N Forde, N Bermingham; R Bailey (capt.), C O’Neill; E Hayden, C Ní Shé, A Hanley; M Townsend, S Doyle, B Nolan.

Leitrim v Offaly; Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 2pm

Beaten semi-finalists last year, Leitrim made their promotion intentions clear with an impressive victory over Longford last Sunday.

With home advantage, they’ll seek to make it two from two against visiting Offaly on Sunday.

But the hosts will get nothing easy from an Offaly side boosted by their opening day win against Wicklow.

Leitrim: M Gallagher; J Maye, C Tyrrell, N Morahan; A McGoldrick, L Devaney, R McIntyre; N Tighe, A Devaney; A Gilmartin, L Fox, M Guckian (capt.); S Quinn, K Gormley, E Guckian.

Offaly: A Corcoran; A McGuinness, A Grehan, N Buckley; F Dempsey, E Maher, M Rouse; R Mealiff, R Ennis; E Kelly, E Hand, M Mann (capt.); M Byrne, C Lynam, S Fitzgerald.

Longford v Wicklow; Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

A must-win game for both side if they’re to stay in touch with the early pace-setters.

Longford lost out on their trip to in-form Leitrim last Sunday, as Wicklow came up short against Offaly.

A second successive defeat for either side will leave them playing catch-up in the hunt for a top-four finish and a semi-final spot.

Longford: A Cooney; G Kenny, E Doris, R McGrath; A Brady, E Farrell, K MacEntire; S Gallagher (capt.), S Hagan; K McKeon, K Crawford, H Burke; M Farrell, K Burke, A Darcy.

Wicklow: E Griffin; S O’Toole, O O’Keeffe, E Doyle; M Healy, S Evans, S O’Reilly; M Renaghan, E Bourke; L Butler, L Dunne (capt.), A Lalor; R Cahill, E Parke, M Phelan.

Sligo v Derry, Cloonacool Community Park, 2pm

Derry got off to a winning start with victory over Kilkenny last Sunday.

Now they face a Sligo side smarting from defeat to Carlow in their opening round.

This should be a keenly contested game, with Sligo hoping that home advantage can swing it in their favour.

Sligo: E Maguire; H Gilligan, C Dunne, A Durcan; T Breheny (capt.), C Walsh, J Gabbidon; N McDonagh, S Cunney; B Lavin, C Gorman, S Feeney; L Normanly, C Gilligan, D McGrath.

Derry: T Cassidy; E Dillon, L Brewster, J Corr; I Duggan, S Heron, A Mulligan; N McGarry, K Hargan (capt.); C Moore, A Ni Lochlainn, J Donnelly; A MacAlister, J Shivers, R Doherty.