Last year’s Division 3 finalists Kildare start their National League campaign with a trip to Intermediate Champinoship finalists Wexford where both sides will be hoping to get their season’s off to a winning start. Their group also includes Wickow and Longford.
Sunday February 13:
Lidl NFL Division 3A:
Down v Roscommon; Páirc Esler, Newry, 2pm
Roscommon progressed to a Division 3 semi-final last year – but were ousted by eventual champions Laois.
Down, meanwhile, are a team with potential and they’ll fancy their chances of embarking on a positive League run.
Northern Ireland soccer International Jessica Foy is in the Down line-up, while Roscommon are captained by Laura Fleming for this League opener.
Sligo v Louth; IT Sligo, 2pm
Sligo made it to a Division 3 semi-final last year but lost out to Kildare at the penultimate stage.
Their 2022 opener pits the Yeats County against Louth, fresh from winning the 2021 Division 4 title.
A win for either side here would represent an excellent start to the new season – and put them in with a shout of a coveted semi-final slot.
Lidl NFL Division 3B:
Wexford v Kildare; Shelmalier GAA Club, 2pm
Wexford lost heavily in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final last year but even getting that far was an achievement in itself on the back of their poor League campaign.
The Model County were battered by Tyrone in a Division 2 relegation play-off and will now begin life in the third tier.
They can take solace from an excellent summer run which took them to Croke Park but Kildare are a team with genuine League and TG4 Intermediate Championship ambitions this year.
Wicklow v Longford; Aughrim, 3pm
Wicklow made up for their 2020 Final loss to land the TG4 All-Ireland Junior crown last year and they also remained in Division 3 after seeing off Fermanagh in a relegation play-off.
Experienced Wicklow player Jackie Kinch, more noted for her outfield exploits, is listed between the sticks while Lorna Fusciardi, who appeared to have announced her retirement at Croke Park last September, is named in the starting team.
Longford finished behind Kildare and Laois in the League standings last year but they did have a brilliant result in the Championship when they shocked Westmeath in their opening fixture. They would preserve Intermediate Championship status by winning a relegation play-off against Fermanagh.
Final Whistle
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