LADIES FINALS

Division 1

Galway v Kerry; Croke Park, today, 5pm – Live on TG4

The sides met on March 26 in the final round of group fixtures but now it’s time for the really serious business, with silverware at stake.

Kerry gained a psychological edge on that occasion with a 3-11 to 0-17 victory and the Kingdom, who finished on top of the division 1 standings, have made two changes following that win.

Mary ellen Bolger comes in to replace Ciara Butler in goal, with hannah O’donoghue named in place of Fiadhna Tangney in the full-forward line.

Galway have opted for five changes, with Alanah Griffin in goal earning a start in place of Karen Connolly, while Kate Geraghty, eimile Gavin, Aoife Molloy and Roisin Leonard are in for Chellene Trill, Aoife Ní Cheallaigh, hannah Noone and Aoife O’Rourke out the field.

Kerry, who were the

2022 division 2 champions, are gearing up for a first division 1 final since 2008, when they lost out to Cork.

Kerry are 11-time division 1 champions but have not won this title since 1991, while Galway are chasing a first ever top-flight crown having lost six previous finals, the most recent in 2019.

Kerry’s TG4 All star Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who has been sensational for the Kingdom again this year, scored

2-3 when the counties met recently.

That was Galway’s first defeat of the campaign but they’ll have had their eyes firmly fixed on Croke Park prior to that dress rehearsal.

A win for Kerry would see them emulate the exploits of Meath, who followed up a division 2 title in 2021 with a division 1 crown last year.

Ní Mhuircheartaigh for Kerry is out in front in the scoring stakes with 4-29 to her name, with impressive captain síofra O’shea contributing 6-11 along the way.

For Galway, Róisín Leonard is their leading attacker, with 0-21 registered to date in 2023.

Galway were only the fourth-highest scorers during the group stages, behind Cork, Kerry and dublin, but their defensive record was the best in the division.

Division 2

armaGh v laois; Croke Park, today, 3pm – Live on TG4

ARMAGh will start as favourites after winning all seven of their group fixtures and they also enjoyed a big victory over Laois in last year’s division 2 semi-final.

A 1-9 to 7-19 defeat for

by Jackie cahill

Laois was a bitter pill to swallow at the time for the O’Moore County but they rallied impressively after that.

Laois got back down to business and embarked on a TG4 All-ireland intermediate Championship campaign that saw them crowned champions.

That success has ensured senior Championship Football for Laois in 2023 and they’re just an hour away from playing in division 1 next year.

This final against Armagh will provide Laois with a real indication of where they stand and when the teams met at the Athletic Grounds in the group stages, just five points separated them, as the Orchard ran out 0-10 to 0-5 winners.

Division 3

Clare v Kildare; Parnell Park, tomorow, 4pm – Live on spórt TG4 YouTube

CLARe were stung by relegation from division 2 last year, having suffered a play-off defeat to Tyrone, but the Banner have the chance to return to the second tier at the first attempt.

Kildare, meanwhile, were going great guns before running into Roscommon in the 2022 division 3 semi-final, and the Lilywhites fell at the penultimate hurdle.

On paper at least, there will be little to separate these two sides.

Kildare topped division 3 after seven rounds, with six wins and a draw, while Clare’s high-scoring exploits against Longford in the final round of group fixtures saw them through in second place on scoring difference, ahead of Wexford and down, who also finished on 15 points.

Division 4

antrim v leitrim; Parnell Park, tomorrow, 2pm – Live on spórt TG4 YouTube

LAsT YeAR in division 4 of the Lidl National League was a case of what might have been for tomorrow’s finalists.

Leitrim contested a semi-final against eventual winners Offaly but lost out in an epic encounter after extra-time.

Antrim finished third in their group behind Fermanagh and Leitrim, failing to make the semifinals, but the saffrons would show much better form as the season progressed, which ended with a memorable TG4 All-ireland Junior Championship success.

Tomorrow’s final offers the chance of League redemption for both sides.

in their respective semifinals, Leitrim got the better of Fermanagh by two points after extra-time, as Antrim impressed yet again in victory over Limerick.