Mayo in search of league points against high-flying Kerry
The pace-setters in Division 1 of the Lidl LGFA National League welcome Mayo to Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, this weekend.
It's a crucial game for both sides – for different reasons.
Kerry can take a huge step towards another final with victory here, while Mayo need the points to keep their heads above water.
The Green and Red survived a relegation dogfight last year and they’re in a cluster of three teams on three points each after three rounds this year, ahead of basement teams Galway and Waterford, who are both without any points so far.
There’s just one change to the Mayo team defeated by Dublin last time out, with Maria Cannon coming in for Emma Needham.
Kerry have made no fewer than seven changes to the side that beat Cork last time out. Goalkeeper Ciara Butler comes in for Mary Ellen Bolger, while there are also starts for Aoife Dillane, Bríd O’Connor, Ciara Murphy, Jess Gill, Danielle O’Leary and Jadyn Lucey, with Ciara O’Brien, Aishling O’Connell, Ciara McCarthy, Katie Brosnan, Emma Dineen and skipper Niamh Carmody sitting this one out from the start.
The meeting tomorrow (Saturday) is the first for the teams time since last year’s TG4 All-Ireland semi-final, which was won by Kerry in Thurles. The throw-in time at Fitzgerald Stadium is 2.30 p.m.
The Mayo team in full is: L. Brennan; A. Fitzpatrick, N. O’Malley, S. Lally; K. Sullivan, D. Caldwell, J. Mortimer; A. Geraghty, H. Reape; F. McLaughlin, L. Cafferky, M. Cannon; T. Needham, F. McHale, S. Walsh.
Kerry line out as follows: C. Butler; E. Lynch, D. Kearney, A. Dillane; B. O’Connor, C. Lynch, C. Murphy; M. O’Connell, A. Galvin; J. Gill, D. O’Leary, A. Harrington; H. O’Donoghue, J. Lucey, N. Ní Chonchúir.
Elsewhere in Division 1, Meath and Armagh put their 100% records on the line when they square up to each other in Ashbourne on Sunday, while Dublin and Cork can make progress towards the top end of the table if they can see off the respective challenges of Galway and Waterford, the two teams in serious relegation trouble. The three games on Sunday will throw in at 2 p.m.
There’s also a full schedule of games in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 on Sunday as well.
All four of the weekend’s Division 1 fixtures are available to view online here.