Lidl Ladies’ NFL Division Four, round one
Leitrim v Fermanagh (Sunday, Kiltrubrid, 2pm)
IT is the All-Ireland intermediate champions against the All-Ireland junior champions as Leitrim and Fermanagh meet in the first round of the league tomorrow.
Both will hope to build on their success of 2024, with eyes on league promotion, especially after missing out on that last year, when they suffered semi-final defeats despite finishing in the top two.
With Sligo and Antrim, who were both relegated from Division Three, and Wicklow and Longford also in this group, it’s a hugely competitive league. Derry and Kilkenny are also competing.
Fermanagh manager CJ McGourty is in his second year in charge and while he is hoping to see the upward trend in the Erne county continue, he is also conscious of how many counties make the step up to the next grade but struggle to stay there.
“We’ve got to make hay with everything and every player,” said McGourty.
“Some girls drop off after winning a junior championship, whether it’s retirement, being involved for six or seven years, or starting families.
“That happened to Antrim a bit, and Fermanagh too. They won the All-Ireland junior in 2017, but then lost players in 2018 and 2019, which is why they ended up back in junior football.”
However, McGourty is determined to prevent a similar scenario from unfolding this time around.
‘‘We’re trying to stop that cycle this year by creating a strong, supportive atmosphere. We’ve always had a great relationship with the players, and the communication between management and the team is very high.
‘‘The girls seem to enjoy it, which is why we have 28 out of 30 players back from last year. One retired, and one is travelling, but the rest have returned.”
‘‘That helps put the focus on continuous improvement especially the heightened challenges of competing at the intermediate level and in a highly competitive Division Four.
“You’re up a grade in the championship and playing good teams that have been intermediate for years. You don’t get much time on the ball, so the players’ skill sets, defending, attacking, and decision-making all need to improve.
“We need to keep working to make the players better, both individually and as a team. We also need to ensure we’re treating players the right way, building their confidence, and getting the best out of them.
‘‘That’s what worked for us last year, and we’ll continue with that strategy. I’m confident we can compete well in intermediate football and give a real push for Division Four promotion.”
“Pre-season has been going well since December. We gave the players a break over Christmas, unfortunately, the weather hit us hard recently, and we missed three pitch sessions in a row. But that’s life, and all counties are likely in the same boat.”
“No team is at their peak performance in January. It’s about building gradually through the league and into the championship. The work we’ve done has been good, and we’ve found some younger players who can contribute to the team.”
Leitrim will provide a tough opening test for Fermanagh but McGourty is looking forward to it and with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals, while they don’t want to lose, it should not be a defining moment.
“They’re a fantastic team with a lot of quality, which is why they’re intermediate champions. It’s not life or death at this stage, but we’ll aim for a good performance and take lessons from the game regardless of the result.
“There’s a bit of rivalry, and many players know each other well. It’s exciting to start the league with a game like this, even in tough January conditions.
“The league is a process, and the ultimate goal is to build towards championship success. If we keep improving and get the next few months right, I believe we can compete very well in this division.”
