- Kerry v Waterford, Cusack Park, Ennis, 5 pm
- Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 5 pm
- Sunday, 12 May
- Sligo v Leitrim, Tourlestrane, 11 am
- Online
- Match reports on RTÉ. I.e., and the RTÉ News Now app
- Radio
- Updates on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
- Weather
- Generally overcast but dry and with light breezes from the east.
- The summer warfare starts in earnest.
With the dust settled at the 2019 Lidl National League marketing campaign, thoughts immediately turn to the Championship, with opening furnishings down for selection in Munster and Connacht over the weekend.
There are two glamour double-headers in Munster to stay up for at Cusack Park in Ennis and Thurles venue Semple Stadium.
Six days after clashing in the Lidl NFL Division 2 Final, Kerry and Waterford renew their friendships in the Senior Championship, which starts at 5 pm in Ennis.
In Thurles, it’s Tipperary and Limerick’s assembly in the TG4 Munster Intermediate Championship, while there’s Intermediate action in Connacht on Sunday morning while Sligo hosts Leitrim.
- Saturday
- TG4 Munster SFC
- Kerry v Waterford, Cusack Park, Ennis, 5 pm
Waterford ran riot against Kerry at Parnell Park remaining Sunday, scoring five-13 to land the Lidl NFL Division 2 crown.
It becomes a massive psychological blow for the Déise in advance of the TG4 Championship beginning, and the huge query now is, can they reflect that?
Kerry will have been hurting all week and certainly determined for the chance to make fast amends.
It’s not often that a game provides the opportunity to right the wrongs of defeat to a previous opponent within a few days. However, that threat has come for Kerry.
Defensively, the Kingdom will have to tighten up beyond all reputation, as Waterford’s majestic interaction in assault cut them open repeatedly on closing weekend.
They’ve modified following the final Sunday’s chastening experience, with goalkeeper Kayleigh Cronin and Sophie Lynch joining the crew ahead of Robyn White and Sarah Murphy, respectively.
‘There’s simply the one trade for Waterford, with Aisling Mullaney coming in for Megan Dunford, a substitution made throughout final Sunday’s tie.
Kerry (v Waterford): K Cronin; T Breen, A Desmond, C O’Brien; S Lynch, A O’Connell, M O’Keeffe; L Scanlon, A Brosnan (capt.); C Murphy, A Galvin, N Carmody; S Houlihan, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh, H O’Donoghue.
Waterford: R Landers; A Mullaney, C McGrath, R Casey; Kate McGrath, Karen McGrath (capt.), R Tobin; E Murray, K Murray; K.A. Hogan, C Fennell, M Delahunty; E Fennell, M Ryan, A Wall.
- Munster IFC
- Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 5 pm
- Aisling McCarthy is lower back to offer Tipperary a great championship enhancement.
The famous Cahir person spent the spring with the Western Bulldogs inside the Australian Women’s AFL but will pull on the Tipperary blouse for the first time in 2019 while the Premier County tackless Limerick in Thurles.
This first-round TG4 Munster Intermediate conflict pits Tipp, who was relegated from the senior ranks last year, against Limerick, who earned promotion to the Intermediate grade after touchdown the All-Ireland Junior crown.
Limerick will aim to consolidate in the Intermediate grade in 2019, even as Tipp will begin as one of the warm favorites to win the All-Ireland crown outright.
Limerick (v Tipperary): M Lyons; R Daly, A Hartigan, J O’Malley; K Reidy, N Ryan, C Mee; L Hanley, M O’Shea; C Ní Cheallaigh, M Kavanagh, O Giltenane; O O’Donoghue, C Davis, C Hickey.
Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, S Lambert, E Cronin; B Condon, M Curley, C Kennedy; A.R. Kennedy, A McCarthy; R Daly, A Moloney, C Condon; C Lonergan, A Carey, A Fennessy.
- Sunday
- Connacht IFC
- Sligo v Leitrim, Tourlestrane, 11 am
Sligo defeated Meath last weekend in the Lidl NFL Division Three Final.
The Yeats County faces a quick turnaround as they tool up for their championship opener with Leitrim.
A slot inside the Final is provided for the winners here. While Sligo has some injury concerns, such as goalkeeper Noelle Gormley and captain Jacqui Mulligan, they’ll start as favorites.
However, Leitrim will present risky opposition, and Iey’ve been returning toto the Championship movement this year after opting out in 2018.
Sligo reached the last 4 of the All-Ireland collection remaining year, but they’ll desire to begin with a struggle to return the Connacht crown from holders Roscommon.
Leitrim (v Sligo): M Monaghan; C Owens, L Maguire; K Connolly; A Heslin, S O’Rourke, A Gilmartin; E O’Dowd, L O’Dowd; C Le Guen, M Heslin, E Kelly; C McGovern, V Egan, B O’Rourke.
Sligo: N Gormley; A Morrisroe, M McNamara, J Mulligan; N Brennan, B Byrne, A.M. Coleman; R Goodwin, S Regan; L Boles, C Gorman, S Naughton; K Walsh, E Keavney, L Casey.
