Division 4 of the LIDL Ladies National Football League gets underway this afternoon, an early look for all parties to see how their teams have prepared in the off season for this 2024 league campaign.
Kilkenny v Leitrim, Sunday 14th February, MW Hire Training Centre, Dunmore, 2pm
Leitrim will hope to go one better than last year’s Division 4 Final defeat to Antrim as their campaign kicks off with an away trip to minnows Kilkenny.
Kilkenny come into this tie looking for a much better year than last. Some heavy defeats during the course of the last campaign, they are out to be a much more competitive outfit this season.
Growing the game in the county for them is also of importance and with a squad containing a host of new players, blooding new talent is the aim of the game to make them a much stronger side to go up against.
It will all start from this opening day home tie, using their blend of youth and experience could they make up from last season’s one sided affair and stun one of the early favourites in the opening round.
The visitors were 7-26 to 0-5 winners when they met last year in Round 2 of the 2023 campaign, Leitrim topping 4B on course to that day in Parnell Park. Certainly they will be determined to go one better and get their hands on divisional silverware this time.
Back to normality this year as an eight team Division returns opposed to the split division we saw last term, manager Jonny Garrity was vocal last year that he was not able to experiment with selections and will be much happier to have seven games this year, however only two are on home soil.
Michelle Guckian once again has been chosen to captain Leitrim this term, a side looking very strong and with Clare Owens back in the team, they look a strong contender for the title this season.
Garrity has selected a very strong side for the opening day and also has a strong bench to call upon. While the aim will be to get minutes into the legs, they should prove too strong for Kilkenny in this one.
Limerick v Wicklow, Sunday February 14th, Feohanagh/Castlemahon GAA, 2pm
With a new management team of Mike Quilligan and Sean Kiely for the 2024 campaign, Limerick will be looking to go a step further and make the league decider this season.
Limerick were beaten semi-finalists last year in the league and used that as a stepping stone to make it all the way to a TG4 All-Ireland Junior Final. Which again was a bitter defeat for them and this year will use that as fuel to get some silverware back to Shannonside.
As beaten finalists from last season, a backbone of the squad exists from the campaign and the Treaty women have a squad that has a nice blend of youth and experience. Fringe players will get a chance to impress but they look strong on paper and wit the Lee’s at the back, Cathy Mee now moving to the midfield and a forward line packing threat, a tasty prospect indeed are Limerick this campaign.
Wicklow will certainly be out to impress this year after a third place finish in the league last term followed by a group stage exit in the Intermediate Championship.
It will certainly prove a test for Wicklow who despite being a grade higher in the Championship did finish beneath Limerick in the 4B Division last season. Wicklow have assembled a young team with sprinkles of experience adding an extra dynamic to the side, early signs will give them the chance to fine tune their setup as the league progresses.
Fermanagh v Longford, Sunday 14th February, Donagh, 2pm
Fermanagh were beaten semi-finalists in the League and Championship last year and will seek to bring silverware back to the Lakeland County this year.
It will be a first run out for CJ McGourty as manager of the side having taken over the role in late 2023, his first chance to see players in competitive action and with a host of fresh faces to impress, Blaithin Bogue will bring a massive threat.
Captain Shannan McQuade is back on the mend after an injury spell and is named on the bench for this home opener against Longford, strong on paper can they kick start the campaign with a win and showcase their credentials this campaign.
The visitors suffered relegation from Division 3 of the League last year, before suffering a similar fate in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship. Pat Tieran is tasked with a bit of a rebuilding process in the midlands to get them back to fighting at a higher grade. Caoimhe McCormack is named captain this year and will line out in the back line.
Longford cannot be underestimated as they will bring a hunger with them this year to make good on last year’s disappointments, this is a great opening test for both outfits.
Derry v Carlow, Sunday February 14th, Celtic Park, 3pm
Derry will seek better fortunes in the league campaign but face a tricky test in the form of Carlow in this opener.
Winning just one of their four games in the league last year coming against KIlkenny, Derry had a poor run in the Championship also, including a 6-11 to 2-6 defeat to Carlow. Appointed as new managers of the side, Paddy O’Brien and Damien McCaffrey will look for improvements this season.
Youth and experience littered in their squad for this weekend’s opener, Derry will not rest on their laurels and are going to fight tooth and nail to be a competitive team in Division 4 this season before heading into the Championship later this year.
Carlow were left disappointed with their league campaign last season, after they finished outside the League semi-final places in 2023. That being said they did make a great crack at the Junior Championship losing narrowly to eventual winners Down in the semi-final stage.
Experience certainly gives Carlow an edge in this one, Ruth Bermingham is a vocal defender who has plenty of knowledge to make it tick back there, Roisin Bailey is a commanding midfield presence while the 2021 Golden Boot winner Clíodhna Ní Shé will have o be marked tight as she brings a huge threat.
Carlow are very strong on paper and can be a force in League and Championship as once they get going they look hard to stop, Derry have the home advantage in this tie, will it play a part in securing the Oak Leaf county an opening round berth.
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.