Tricky opening test for Mayo as LGFA Division 1 commences

The Mayo team for the LGFA Lidl Ladies National League Division 1 opener away to Dublin has been named.

Saoirse Lally, captain Danielle Caldwell, Kathryn Sullivan, Erin Murray, Aoife Geraghty, Lucy Wallace, Annie Gough, Ciara Durkin, Maria Cannon and Sinead Walsh all started in Mayo’s last competitive outing, the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarterfinal defeat to Armagh, and they will take to the field again against Dublin tomorrow (Saturday, January 25).

The team in full is as follows: R. Dyar; E. Brennan, S. Lally, D. Caldwell; K. Sullivan, S. El Massry, H. Reape; E. Murray, A. Geraghty; L. Wallace, A. Gough, C. Durkin; M. Cannon, S. Walsh, C. Whyte.

For Dublin it's the beginning of a new era as Paul Casey and Derek Murray take over as joint-managers following Mick Bohan’s departure.

Niamh Donlon, Leah Caffrey, Martha Byrne and Niamh Hetherton are the only starting survivors from the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarterfinal defeat to Galway, while Jess Tobin, Chloe Darby, Grace Kós and Annabelle Timothy also featured off bench in that game.

Goalkeeper Katie Moran Tighe and Sophie McIntyre are set for senior inter-county debuts as Carla Rowe, injured for the shock Galway defeat, captains the side.

The Dublin line-up in full is: K. Moran Tighe; J. Tobin, L. Caffrey, A. Nyhan; H. McGinnis, M. Byrne, N. Donlon; C. Darby, G. Kós; A. Curran, C. Rowe, S. McIntyre; A. Timothy, N. Hetherton, J. Egan.

The meeting of Dublin and Mayo takes place in Parnell Park at 2 p.m. A live stream is available at https://www.247.tv/live/svmstreaming.

The other Division 1 clash on Saturday sees Kerry, the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland champions, and Armagh, last year’s league winners, face each other in Austin Stack Park, Tralee (1.30 p.m.), a game that can be viewed live on TG4.

The remaining Division 1 games – Tyrone v Meath and Kildare v Waterford – will be played on Sunday (January 26).