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Therese McCafferty is a doubt for Donegal with a groin injury. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Ladies football: what to expect from today’s clashes in Carrick-on-Shannon

There’s a double-header of ladies action as Clare take on Kildare and Donegal meet Westmeath.

Clare v Kildare

Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, 1.30pm

Clare will hope to produce a much-improved performance after conceding a massive 8-25 against Kerry in their last Munster championship outing.

The Banner girls were massively depleted for that game but should benefit from the return of some key personnel.

Kildare will start as favourites and manager John Divilly will hope that his players can learn the lessons from their Leinster semi-final defeat to Dublin, when they fell well behind early and were left playing catch-up.

The Lilywhites went down by eleven points but Dublin are All-Ireland dark horses and Divilly has investment in youth should pay off in the long term.

Betting: Clare 13/8 Draw 9/1 Kildare 8/15

Verdict: Kildare

Donegal v Westmeath

Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.15pm

Donegal fans arriving early to Carrick-on-Shannon have the chance to watch their senior ladies team in action.

And if this game is in the melting pot, an influx of fans for the second half could swing the game in Donegal’s favour.

Donegal lost by eight points to Monaghan in the Ulster semi-final but that was a vast improvement on last year, when they were on the wrong end of a 1-8 to 5-25 mauling.

Manager Hughie Molloy believes that progress has been made this year but Westmeath will provide stern opposition as they look to bounce back from their Leinster championship defeat against Meath.

Betting: Donegal 1/6 Draw 14/1 Westmeath 4/1

Verdict: Donegal

Can the champions Donegal recover from last Sunday’s shock defeat to Monaghan?

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