Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park in Birr will play host to tomorrow’s Division 3 and 4 Lidl NFL Finals, Carlow and Limerick throw in at 2pm in the Division 4 Final, followed by the Division 3 Final meeting between Clare and Roscommon at 4pm.
Carlow v Limerick, 2pm
After both produced late pulsating finishes to their respective semi-finals, Carlow and Limerick look to end their respective wait for silverware this weekend with victory in Birr.
Both were looked upon as the underdogs going into those semi-finals and as the narrative was being written for the Leitrim Fermanagh Final, Maeve O’Neill and Iris Kennelly rippled the net for their respective sides to secure the win.
Indeed had Limerick not bested Carlow on the final day of the League itself, they would have failed to make those semi-finals. Now standing in their way of a first League crown since 2016 is a Carlow side who are preparing for their first ever Division 4 Final.
Promotion is already assured for these two but the reward of a trophy adds to the occasion for what is going off their meeting in Limerick will be a closely fought battle. Prior to meeting in TUS MIdwest in early march, their last showdown was in 2022 and now more than ever they know each other that little bit better.
Carlow edged Fermanagh 2-8 to 1-10 while having a strong output throughout their league campaign to get plenty of strong results. Cliodhna Ni She is a welcome return for Carlow and has scored 4-26 in eight appearances in the league, while Rachel Sawyer has bagged 3-20 forming a potent attack for Carlow.
Limerick will feature in their sixth league final this weekend and with four defeats to one win in their last five outings, they will want a better result this weekend. The Treaty Women suffered defeat in the 2022, 2015, 2012 and 2010 Finals, but they have confidence coming from that last gasp 2-10 to 1-11 win over Leitrim. Birr is also the site where they lost their last League Final appearance and that might give them some extra momentum to avoid a repeat this weekend.
You might say that Limerick are narrow favourites for this game based on their previous exploits, Carlow are getting ready for a very first Division 4 Final and do not have that experience of getting over the line in Finals. While Limerick do have that experience.
Despite that it promises to be a really impressive curtain raiser between these two.
A Word From The Captains
Clare v Roscommon, 4pm
The meeting of Clare and Roscommon promises to be an exciting second final of the day in Birr as based on their league form neither side hopes to fall at the final hurdle and miss out on silverware.
Clare tasted defeat in the Division 3 Final last year and face another stern test in a Roscommon side who were relegated from Division 2 last term but have since bounced back and are looking for a second Division 3 Title in three years.
The Banner will have that hunger to win silverware as that has been a rare occurrence in the league. Last winning a league title in Division 3 back in 2011 they got so close last year to winning one but suffered an extra-time defeat. Hurt is something they are used to and they are hoping to avoid that this time around.
Roscommon claimed the 2022 title and look to put the 2024 title on their shelf this season. Something to really kick them on ahead of the Championship having narrowly avoided slipping down to the Junior ranks last season.
However they are unbeaten, six wins and a draw with Clare has their league record unblemished going into this weekend. Clare did suffer defeat in their final game against Down but they will be focused on a win this weekend.
The Rossies have the talented teenager in Aisling Hanly to give them a real threat in the attack, Clare will have to be focused to keep Hanly quiet, having notched 2-16 thus far. Laura Fleming is their top scorer and will be that lynchpin called upon to get those crucial scores.
Clare well they have Fidelma Marrinan who has caused so much torment to defences over the years and in the last 12 months really has the shooting boots on, even if they are not the most outlandish of colours. Missing Chloe Moloney is a huge loss for the Banner, but the returning Ailish Considine has given them another option in their ranks.
Vastly experienced players within their ranks, they have experimented in the league with Caoimhe Harvey moving to Midfield and Joanna Doohan has been a real rock at the back for them during this campaign.
Roscommon have a strong pedigree in Division 3 Finals, winning their last three in succession. 2022 was the third after wins in 2009 and 2001 and they are seeking their four in a row this weekend.
Clare having tasted defeat in League and All Ireland Finals last year will want to end their wait for some silverware, many a tough day has seen the Banner leave empty handed but they have confidence ahead of this tie in Birr and it’s very hard to determine a favourite in this one.
A Word From The Captains
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.