The ladies footballers of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim begin their respective 2022 campaigns this weekend with the return of the Lidl Ladies National Football League.
There have been alternations to the competition’s format for the upcoming season.
There are four divisions consisting of eight teams. Each division is divided into an “A” and “B” section with four teams in each section. Each team plays each other in its section once with the top two advancing to the semi-finals.
In Division 1A, Donegal welcome Galway to Ballybofey on Saturday evening. Maxi Curran’s charges enjoyed a fine league campaign last season winning three games out of three in the group stages before a narrow defeat to Cork in the semi-final.
Moville’s Niamh McLaughlin continues as captain of the team, while manager Curran has made changes to his backroom team for the upcoming season. Barney Curran of Downings is a new face to the setup as is All Ireland men’s winner in 2012, Mark McHugh from Kilcar.
Sligo host Louth at IT Sligo in Division 3A on Sunday. Anthony Brennan begins the second year of his three-year term and has appointed Sarah Reynolds of Geevagh as team captain.
One former Sligo Ladies captain, Jacqui Mulligan will not be part of Brennan’s plans for the 2022 season, however. Following many years of distinction in the black and white of Sligo and blue and white of St. Farnan’s, Mulligan has announced her retirement via her Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/jmullig/status/1491220841870532608
Meanwhile, in Division 4A, Ballinamore is the venue for Leitrim’s opening game against Fermanagh. Leitrim ended 2021 on a high defeating Roscommon in the Connacht Ladies Intermediate Championship Final.
Hugh Donnelly’s side face a tough league campaign with fixtures all against Ulster opposition with a trip to Derry and another home game against Antrim to come. However, captain Claire Owens and her teammates won’t lack effort and belief.
Fixtures:
Saturday, Feb 12th
Lidl NFL Division 1A
Donegal v Galway
Ballybofey, 7:30pm
Commentators: Conor Breslin & Roisin Friel
(Live in association with the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny)
Sunday, Feb 13th
Lidl NFL Division 3A
Sligo v Louth
IT Sligo, 2pm
(Live in association with Bernie’s Beauty Salon)
Division 4A
Live updates on Leitrim v Fermanagh
Ballinamore, 2pm
Live updates from PJ Leddy.
