Preview: Munster Senior, Connacht & Ulster Intermediate Ladies Football Championship

The Munster Ladies Senior Championship Round Robin will conclude this weekend Cork and Tipperary looking to punch a ticket to the decider. In Connacht Roscommon meet Sligo on Friday as they prepare for their final with Leitrim a week later, two semi-finals take place in the Ulster Intermediate Championship, holders Antrim meet Down, while Monaghan host Tyrone.

TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship

Roscommon v Sligo, Friday May 3rd, Ardcrane Park, St Michaels GAA, Roscommon, 7.30pm

After their heavy defeat to Leitrim last weekend, Sligo will be looking to produce a better performance as they travel to Roscommon on Friday evening.

Roscommon line out for the first time since their defeat in the Division 3 Final, having a lot of confidence following that league campaign they will want to push on for provincial honours. The Rossies were dominant last season in winning Connacht after losing their spot in Division 2 in the league.

Promoted back to Division 2 after their league outing, they will want to lay the groundwork for a championship push after almost dropping to the Junior grade at the end of last year’s championship.

Sligo lost by 34 points to Leitrim and ahead of meeting Carlow on June 2nd in the Junior Championship will look to put in a strong showing to build confidence going into this next series.

After finishing bottom of Division 3, they will want a better showing this summer, Roscommon won 0-17 to 0-08 when the pair met in Round 4 of the league and win or lose, Roscommon will meet Leitrim next weekend in Kiltoom in the decider.

TG4 Munster Senior Championship

Cork v Tipperary, Saturday May 4th, Mallow Sports Complex, 2.30pm

A winner takes all meeting in Mallow as Cork and Tipperary fight to make this year’s decider as Kerry await the victor.

Reigning Munster champions Cork tasted defeat to Kerry last weekend and with Tipp producing a surprise over Waterford will have to show their full hand to defeat the Premier. Cork experimented with the selection last weekend as some key players did not start due to dual commitments.

Lydia McDonagh was a real handful and could be giving manager Shane Ronayne an easy choice for selection having been a real catalyst despite the defeat in Brosna. Cork looked solid last weekend but will look to better that in Mallow this Saturday.

Cork chasing a three in a row in this competition may be favourites going into this tie but that may just suit Tipperary. Eyebrows were raised last weekend when Tippeary defeated a fancied Waterford. Emma Morrissey and Emer McCarthy goaled in the final minutes of the tie for a six point win.

The Premier had Anna Rose Kennedy produce a stunning display last weekend and with plenty of top quality players have shaken off that defeat to Kerry have a Munster final in their sights if they can overcome Cork.  

Cork narrowly defeated Tipp 1-17 to 1-14 in the Munster Championship last season but did triumph in convincing fashion in the senior championship later that same year. Cork have home advantage and will want to land further silverware in the province.

Kerry v Waterford, Sunday May 5th, Cordal GAA, 1pm

Kerry host Waterford in the final round of the Munster Championship on Sunday, the Kingdom already through to the decider will be full of change as they meet a Waterford side finishing bottom of the standings.

When the ball throws in on Sunday, Kerry will know just who awaits them in the Munster final. With two wins from two the Kingdom will want to win their third straight home tie and remain unbeaten going into the final.

It promises to be a very changed Kerry selection going into this game, with Darragh Long and Declan Quill still fine tuning their selection for the year, certainly they will hand game time to players who have seen very little this year.

The case can also be made for Waterford. After defeats to Cork and Tipp, Pat Sullivan may want to change up his selection in this tie and try out some other players before they head into the All Ireland series. Even with a win by virtue of head to head Waterford will still finish in fourth spot in Munster and will meet the Munster winners and Ulster Runners Up in Group 2 of the Championship.

Kerry have impressed but are still trying to work out some of the little problems in their gameplay. Leaving a host of chances behind them in Brosna last weekend and their passing at times missed the mark. Despite that the Kingdom have found the formula and are playing the long game this year.

Niamh Carmody was an injury worry last weekend and certainly will be one of a host of changes this weekend as Kerry have plenty of faces who have yet to feature in Munster this year, Waterford will want to win this to build confidence for that tough All Ireland Group.

Munster Senior B Championship

Cork v Limerick, Saturday May 4th, Mallow Sports Complex, 4.40pm

A dress rehearsal for the decider on May 18th, Cork and Limerick will aim to have the confidence going into that tie.

A game that means little in the grand scheme of things as both sides already are assured a spot in the final but certainly both will want to win this and maybe have the favourites tag going into that final.

Cork and Limerick both had big wins over Kerry and will want to learn more about the other before a rematch in the coming weeks. Limerick bested Cork last year in a more expanded format and will aim for a similar outcome in Mallow this weekend.

Limerick, who made last year’s All Ireland Junior Final and contested the Lidl NFL Division 4 Final weeks ago, made a lot of changes for the tie with Kerry and may opt for similar this weekend to give minutes to players and try out some tactics before they begin their Junior Championship campaign in a month’s time.

The Treaty Women lost the decider to Clare last year 0-13 to 1-6, being a stand alone inter-county side they certainly are favourites to land this crown but Cork will certainly bring a test.

TG4 Ulster Intermediate Championship

Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday May 5th, Éire Óg, Smithborough, 2pm

Runners up in 2023, Tyrone will look to make another Ulster final as they face Monaghan on Sunday afternoon.

For the winner not only will they make an Ulster Final but will get a higher seed in the Championship draw. The loser of this tie will meet the Connacht winner and the fourth time from Leinster in Group 4, while Group 1 or 2 awaits the winner.

Tyrone have had an impressive year to date. While they lost the Division 2 league Final, they still looked sharp going unbeaten in the league before suffering a 2-9 to 0-12 defeat in Croke Park.

Monaghan finished just a single point outside the relegation zone in Division 2, having made the quarter final stage of the championship last year, Monaghan aim to be better than this year and having lost to Tyrone in the league are out to avenge that setback.

Tyrone impressed last year and continued that momentum this year, can they get over the line and make the decider or could Monaghan best them for the first time since their league meeting in 2023.

Antrim v Down, Sunday May 5th, St Joseph’s, Glenavy, 2pm

The current holders against the newcomers, Antrim looking to keep their title firmly secured as they meet Down who moved up the grade this year aim to make the Intermediate Final.

Antrim look to be in a transitional period as players notably Orlaith Prenter have departed the squad since their Intermediate Semi Final last year. The Saffrons picked up just a single win in the league this year as they suffered relegation back to Division 4. Emma Kelly has been working with their bare bones this year, including having to come out of retirement and play in goal during the league.

Ciara Brown skippers the team this year and has been impressive as always, while Lara Dahunsi is a pivotal figure going forward. Aoife Taggrt is looking to fill the boots of Grainne McLaughlin who is another of their top scorers missing this season. 

Down are riding the crest of a wave at the minute, finishing third in Division 3 of the league off the back of their Junior All Ireland last term. Down tallied five wins in the league and narrowly lost out on making a league final and also getting promoted to Division 2.

Natasha Ferris continues to spearhead this Down attack, while Megan Doherty is a massive influence at the heart of the Down defence. Down have plenty of younger faces coming through the ranks in what is an exciting time for the county. 

Having had such a successful run last year they will want to emulate that and make a splash at intermediate this year. Defeating Cavan 2-10 to 0-6 to qualify for this weekend’s semi-final, Down have had minutes on field and will look to progress into the decider.