Ladies football league begins this weekend

Compiled by Jackie Cahill

THE 2026 Lidl National Leagues roar into life next Sunday, with four games down for decision in Division 4.

It promises to be a highly-competitive pool, where the top four teams from the group phase will progress to the semi-finals on Sunday March 29.

The LGFA is trialling 12 new rule enhancements during the 2026 Lidl NFL campaign and viewers can tune in on Sunday to see them from the outset.

The LGFA will live-stream the Division 4 tie between Longford and Leitrim from Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford.

Sunday

Lidl NFL Division 4

Carlow v Sligo; SETU Carlow, 2pm

Carlow won the Division 4 title two years ago but suffered relegation in 2025.

The Barrowsiders will be anxious to bounce straight back up but they face a tricky opener at home to Sligo.

The travelling Yeats County contested a semi-final last year and will aim to embark on a promotion push again.

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

Sligo: E Maguire; H Gilligan, C Dunne, A Durcan; T Breheny (capt.), C Walsh, C King; R McGoldrick, S Cunney; E Giblin, A McDaniel, S Feeney; L Duffy, C Gilligan, D McGrath.

Wicklow v Offaly, Bray Emmets 3G, 2pm

It was an up and down campaign in Division 4 for Wicklow last year.

The Garden County won three but lost four of their seven League outings.

More consistency could see them in the hunt for promotion, while Offaly will aim for a solid campaign too after suffering relegation from Division 3.

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

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

Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm – Live on LGFA YouTube and Facebook

An intriguing fixture lies in store as Longford prepare to entertain Leitrim in Sunday’s live game.

Longford finished third from bottom last year while Leitrim reached the semi-finals, where they lost out to Antrim.

Leitrim will be one of the promotion favourites but they won’t get anything easy on their visit to the Midlands.

Longford: A Cooney; G Kenny, E Reilly, E Boyle; A Brady, E Doris, A Darcy; S Gallagher (capt.), K MacEntire; G McEvoy, K Crawford, E O’Reilly; N Hourican, K Burke, K McKeon.

Leitrim: M Gallagher; J Maye, C Tyrrell, N Morahan; A McGoldrick, L Devaney, R McIntyre; C Dolan, A Devaney; A Gilmartin, L Fox, V Egan; S Quinn, K Gormley, E Guckian.

Derry v Kilkenny; Owenbeg, 2pm

Derry and Kilkenny both struggled last year, Kilkenny finishing pointless while Derry’s sole victory was achieved against the Cats.

Both counties will look for much-improved campaigns this time, with Kilkenny Ladies Football on the crest of a wave following Muckalee’s historic AIB All-Ireland Junior club championship victory before Christmas.

The Muckalee contingent will return throughout the campaign with just one club member – Doireann Kelly on the subs bench – listed for this League opener.

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

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