There are two league finals in Croke Park today. First up at GAA Headquarters is the clash of Armagh and Laois in the Division 2 Final. The second game is the meeting of Galway and Kerry in the Division 1 Final.
Division 1 Final
Galway v Kerry, Sat 15th Apr, Croke Park, 5pm
After claiming the Division 2 title last year and earning promotion to Division 1, Kerry will be out to add the Division 1 title to their roll of honour this evening.
It has been a busy 12 months for Kerry who reached the All-Ireland final last July but were beaten by Meath. The Kingdom topped the Division this year with six wins and one defeat.
Galway ended the group stage with just one defeat; that came against Kerry in their last game. The last time Galway were in the Division 1 Final was in 2019 but they lost to Cork by two points.
These two sides met in the 2013 Division 2 Final which Kerry won. One year later Galway claimed the Division 2 title.
Division 2 Final
Armagh v Laois, Sat 15th Apr, Croke Park, 3pm
Armagh went through the group stage of Division 2 unbeaten and signaled their intention for the year ahead. The Orchard County got to the final last year but were beaten by Kerry.
The Orchard County won the Division 2 title back in 2015 when they defeated Donegal in the final. They defeated Laois in the group stage of the league but this afternoon’s game will be a different proposition.
Laois were league champions in 2021 when they beat neighbours Kildare in the Division 3 Final by one point. A place in Division 1 is the prize for the winners of this game.
There is a double-header in Parnell Park this afternoon. The first game sees Antrim take on Leitrim in the Division 4 Final; promotion to Division 3 for the winners. Clare and Kildare will battle it out for a place in Division 2 next year when they meet in the Division 3 Final.
Division 3 Final
Clare v Kildare, Sun 16th Apr, Parnell Park, 4pm
The Banner take on the Lilywhites in the Division 3 Final in Parnell Park. Clare booked their place in the final on the last day of the group stages with a fine win over Longford. They’ll be hoping to gain promotion back to Division 2 after being relegated last year following a play-off defeat to Tyrone.
Kildare won six wins in the group stages and lost just one. Clare won five. When the two sides met in Round 3 of the league. Diane O’Hora’s side came away from Cusack Park in Ennis with a two point win.
Kildare were last in the Division 3 Final in 2021 but lost out to Laois by just one point. Clare were in the Division 3 Final back in 2011 where they defeated Fermanagh.
Division 4 Final
Antrim v Leitrim, Sun 16th Apr, Parnell Park, 2pm
An intriguing battle is in prospect in Parnell Park as the two unbeaten sides in Group A and Group B meet in the Division 4 Final.
Last year’s All-Ireland Junior Champions, Antrim produced excellent displays on their way to the final. They will hope that their record in the league decider changes this afternoon. They lost to Limerick in the 2016 final and then by one point to their Ulster rivals Fermanagh in 2019. Leitrim’s manager Jonny Garrity was in charge of the Erne County that day.
Leitrim were high scorers on their way to this afternoon’s decider. They were relegated to Division 4 back in 2018. In 2021 they got to the Division 4 Final but were beaten by Louth.
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland