1. Mayo get off the mark – against the champions
Mayo needed points on the board, having lost their opening three Lidl Ladies National Football League fixtures. The Green and Red were slipping further and further into relegation territory after defeats to Cork, Kerry and Waterford. Few might have predicted this result, but a three-point win over All-Ireland champions and Division 1 holders Meath at Páirc Tailteann gets them off the mark and halts the slide.
Michael Moyles has done brilliant work with the Westerners since taking charge in January 2021, and this was an impressive victory on the road. They produced a big second-half fightback, an unanswered burst of 2-2 moving them into the ascendency after trailing by four points at the break. Rachel Kearns was the super sub, her ’45 which found its way into the back of the net key at the finish.
Moyles welcomed “that small bit of luck we were lacking” afterwards, noting the fine margins between sides in the top flight.
2. Kerry show real credentials with statement win
Kerry are the only Division 1 team with a 100% record thus far. They had previously chalked up wins over Waterford, Mayo and Donegal, but this 3-15 to 1-10 clipping of Dublin felt like a real statement. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was the scoring star with 0-11 (0-9f), while Hannah O’Donoghue, Síofra O’Shea and Ciara Murphy bagged the goals at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
“The first three games we were getting the results but we weren’t happy with the performances but tonight I think that we got the right mix,” joint-manager Darragh Long said afterwards. “We got an absolutely fantastic performance from the girls — one of those kind of statement performances that showed the amount of work that this group has done over the last couple of years.”
Long stressed they wouldn’t get carried away with themselves, but it’s fair to say the Kingdom have made a real splash upon their return to the top tier. Last year’s Division 2 league champions and All-Ireland finalists have shown real credentials, and look hell-bent on building on a breakout 2022.
3. Donegal in real danger
Donegal, like Mayo, really needed points on the board over the weekend. Maxi Curran’s charges are the only ones left on zero — it’s fair to say they are facing relegation danger. It’s some contrast to last season, when they pushed Meath all the way in the league final, falling short by just two points. They lost the All-Ireland semi-final to the same opposition by the same margin.
Afterwards, Curran signalled “the end of an era,” the general feeling that a changing of the guard was en route. He came back for more though, with all indications pointing to his experienced cohort going again. Yvonne Bonner, Geraldine McLaughlin, Karen Guthrie, Niamh McLaughlin, Katie Herron and Niamh Hegarty are yet to feature, and they’re massive misses at the minute.
Sunday’s clash with Waterford in Letterkenny was a must-win — or draw at the very least — and one Donegal would have been targetting, but the hosts were eight points off in the end. It was a big win for the Déise, who suddenly find themselves third in the table. “We’re moving on nicely,” manager Pat Sullivan beamed afterwards, Division 1 status well and truly preserved after being embroiled in relegation battles last year.
4. Title races heat up
The Kingdom top the Division 1 table with maximum points, with Galway second on 10 points from 12. Then it’s Waterford on seven, Dublin on six, Cork and Meath on four, Mayo three, and Donegal rock-bottom.
The top two advance straight to the final, with Galway keeping themselves right in contention with a 1-15 to 4-4 win over Cork in Salthill on Sunday. Joint-manager Fiona Wynne conceded the Tribe were “very lucky” afterwards, battling back from six points down at the break and holding off a late Rebels goal chance.
Armagh and Louth hold perfect records atop Division 2 and 3 resepctively (star forward Aimee Mackin hit 3-3 for the Orchard against Tyrone), with no shortage of teams on their tails. Laois enjoyed a last-gasp win in the former tier yesterday, leapfrogging opponents Tipperary into second place. And in Division 4, which is split into two groups and the only league with semi-finals this year, Antrim, Leitrim, Limerick and Wicklow are among those flying highest.
5. Rules on the radar
As expected, the rules have remained firmly in the spotlight as frustration continues to grow. The ‘charging’ rule is coming in for real scrutiny, as calls heighten for change, including more contact and physicality:
This whole issue of the tackle & ‘barging’ needs to be addressed. Incidents (or sometimes non-incidents!) are occurring in every match at this stage. Standing in the way is not defending! We’re destroying the skills of good defending & limiting the skills of good attacking. https://t.co/sUjqfzsM9x
— Michelle Ryan (@ShelRyan1211) February 19, 2023
It hasn’t all been negative in terms of the rules, though. Roisin Leonard of Galway made use of a recent change to the LGFA rulebook which rewards players who score directly from a ’45 with two points.
While Maria Delahunty (Waterford) and Meadhbh Deeney (Wicklow) often kick frees from the ground, attempting direct shots from ’45s remains a rarity in the game so it was fantastic to see Leonard raise a white flag yesterday. Unquestionably a huge asset for any team.
🔥2pts
— iGAACoach (@iGAACoach) February 20, 2023
“Players who kick a 45 from the ground and over the bar will be rewarded with two points on the scoreboard”
Adopted May 2020 has it been done before ? Roisin Leonard with serious technique to “raise the white flag
and at the same time raise the other hand to point up.” pic.twitter.com/iyPdJjsm5j
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1
Results
- Mayo 2-6 Meath 0-9
- Kerry 3-15 Dublin 1-10
- Waterford 2-9 Donegal 0-7
- Galway 1-15 Cork 4-4
Fixtures
Saturday 25 February
- Kerry v Meath; Brosna, 2pm
- Dublin v Mayo; DCU St Clare’s, 4.30pm – Live on TG4
Sunday 26th February
- Cork v Donegal; Mallow, 12.30pm
- Waterford v Galway; TBC.
Doris is the obvious choice. He is a guaranteed first choice in the starting XV in the years to come, a natural leader, cool-headed, disciplined, and he has an excellent rapport with referees.
@Brian Vales: I wasn’t expecting to see his name on the list, but it does make sense. I wonder though, why he has never been named as a captain before?(even for Leinster). I would like to see himself or Ringrose… but I have a sneaky suspicion it will be James Ryan. If it is, it will make or break him. POM deserves it, but it would be very much a short term, sentimental decision and I really don’t see the benefit.
@Brian Vales: 23 bit young yet
@Sèan: 25 ah mayby his time but i see ryan as captain
@Sèan: Lots of great captains start when they are early to mid twenties. McCaw, BOD and Dupont to name a few.
@Brian Vales: Nah, had a v quiet WC, he’ll be holding his place for a few seasons methinks, but captain? Dont be silly
@Paul Ennis: yes but we never name young captains and we never start young guys i mean aged 18 are 19 look scott penny still not capped
@Sèan: BOD was a young captain. Scott Penny may never be capped in a full blooded test and that’s nothing to do with age, more to do with size. We don’t take the risks that England, NZ and SA might take with a young player, but then our resources (of young starlets) are much thinner. Young players tend to be a little more fragile so the Irish setups like to mind them for longer. Not saying the Irish way is better, but it works for us and leads to a maximum % of our U20s completing the journey into professionalism.
@Paul Ennis: yes i agree hopefully it willchange
Ryan for me
@Sèan: If it aint broken
@Thesaltyurchin: had an amazing last few years hope he will be back good as new
@Sèan: Cant agree. still think he has form to find. but do agree he should be captain moving forward.
@Thesaltyurchin: being world class last 2 years didnt have a great game v SA and all the fans saying this haha crazy
@Sèan: I think Ryan’s game sometimes suffers with the extra responsibilities of captaincy.
@John Morris: mayby
Good big leadership group with Furlong, Ryan, Henderson, Doris, VDF, Ringrose, Aki, Keenan to name but a few. Probably Ryan for me. Would prefer a captain from the pack. Special mention to Aki, he really lead by example in this tournament and was superb and inspiring.
@Arjuna: hopefully aki at 33 has lot more years sexton 38 aki be 37 next world cup
The usual suspects, but 2027 is not an option for some and surely it’s a 4yr plan, not a 2yr fix? How about ‘none of the above’ ? Although there’s no need for wholesale changes in playing personnel in the immediate term, a refreshed psyche might be just what we need to go back to back slams for the first time and make 2024 an unbeaten year.
@John Morris: Has to be someone though. And who can be certain of their place in the team for the next 4 years? (I’d say the answer to that question is Porter and Sheehan btw). Personally I’d go for Ringrose – also helps that he usually plays the full 80 minutes
@Kevin Ryan: I’ll give you Garry on mature reflection!
Ryan is the safe choice here but I could see others coming up in the next cycle as outside bets , the likes of Penny & Prendergast could be knocking on the captaincy door by 2026
@Owen ODonoghue: one game at a time
The first task of the new captain is to take on a wounded France in defence of our 6N’s title. Be prepared for an experienced player like Pete, JR, or Henderson.
The issue with Ryan is that he is no longer a nailed on starter for Ireland and you cannot skipper a team from the bench. Peter O’Mahony is the obvious choice at least for next season
@john buckley: why he longer nailed starter last two years he has being amaxing one so called poor game v SA and all saying this
He has never been dropped before – particularly for what was, at the time, a vital game. I am not saying that he will not regain his place but he has to show more more than his recent displays in France, which got him benched in the first place. He may be better off, at least in the short term, concentrating on himself, without the additional pressure of being captain.
@john buckley: ok but he has beingworld class last 2 years had one bad game must remember you cant play brillent every game could say that about every player right