Lidl National Ladies Football Leagues Round 2
THERE is no room to hide at the top table and Ulster’s three Division One sides face tough round two games tomorrow.
Returnees Donegal recorded an impressive win over Armagh last weekend but they begin the first of three away games on the trot with Galway, last year’s Division One finalists, first up.
Monaghan, who lost out to Dublin on Sunday past, welcome Mayo to Clones while Armagh, face the ominous prospect of champions Cork but do have home advantage.
Michéal Naughton’s Donegal side are second only to Cork on score difference at the top of the table, but Galway are right up there too after a one point win over Mayo last weekend.
When the sides last met, in last year’s All-Ireland Senior Championship qualifiers, Donegal prevailed by the smallest of margins in an epic encounter.
Yvonne McMonagle played a major part in the win that day and although not currently available, it seems Donegal are coping well without her.
They had six different scorers last week, with new name Paula McGrory scoring two of their four goals and substitutes Amber Barrett and Shannon McGroddy also getting on the scoreboard.
The fact, too that they kept a clean sheet against Armagh, who normally find goals easy to come by with Aimee Mackin, Caroline O’Hanlon and Lauren McConville in their ranks, as Laura Gallagher pulled off a number of great saves including a penalty stop from Mackin, will give Donegal an added confidence.
Galway’s Roisin Leonard hit 2-4 of her side’s 2-8 total against Mayo so she will certainly be the on Donegal defensive radar, however, their superb marshalling of Armagh’s top class players last week means she will not be given too much space to rack up a similar score.
Monaghan started brightly against Dublin last week hitting the game’s first three points, but Dublin hit 1-6 without reply as Monaghan struggled to add to the scoreboard, and not doing so until the second half.
A good start again is crucial against Mayo, who put up 1-10 against Galway, with stalwart Cora Staunton hitting 1-8 of her side’s tally.
Paula Cunningham will have focussed on the positives from their opening game, which really was there for the taking and no doubt being more clinical is something they will have been focussing on ahead of tomorrow.
Armagh welcome the champions to the Orchard County in what will be a daunting task. Cork were ruthless against Kerry on the league’s opening weekend to win by 18 points.
It remains to be seen what the long journey north will do to Cork, but it is difficult to see them having too much trouble with it.
That said, Armagh will throw everything they have at the visitors. They haven’t managed to defeat them in recent years, although they have come close to them.
It was a strong team named by new manager Sean O’Kane for last week’s game against Donegal but after getting off to a poor start, they were always playing catch-up and came up against a very good Donegal defence and goalkeeper with Donegal’s ability to get the goals the big difference.
It will take time for a new manager and players to gel and no doubt Armagh will be looking to take an improving step forward again tomorrow.
Tyrone will look to make it two wins from two in Division Two with victory away to Kildare tomorrow. The Red Hands had a four point win over Sligo while Kildare lost away to Laois by two points.
Cavan suffered a two point defeat to Westmeath but with home advantage this weekend, they will hope to get up a running against Clare, who drew on the opening day with Waterford.
In Division Three, Down, who lost to Meath last weekend, welcome Leitrim while it’s an Ulster derby in Division Four between Derry and Antrim, who both lost their round one games, and Fermanagh, who defeated Derry, make the long trip to Kilkenny looking for two wins out of two.
FIXTURES: Tomorrow (all games 2pm unless indicated)
Division 1: Galway v Donegal, Monaghan v Mayo (Clones), Armagh v Cork (Clonmore, 12.30pm), Kerry v Dublin
Division 2: Cavan v Clare (Templeport), Kildare v Tyrone (Newbridge), Sligo v Westmeath, Waterford v Laois
Division 3: Roscommon v Tipperary, Down v Leitrim (Ballykinlar), Wexford v Offaly, Limerick v Meath
Division 4: Wicklow v Carlow, Derry v Antrim (Owenbeg), Longford v Louth, Kilkenny v Fermanagh (Thomastown, 1pm)
