Dublin team v Donegal named
- Jan 26,2018
LIDL NFL Division one
Sunday January 28th, 2018
Donegal v Dublin
The 2018 LIDL NFL gets underway this coming weekend and division one looks like being the most competitive since the competition began way back in 1979. All eight teams would have aspirations and certainly the capabilities of contesting the final come the 6th of May.
There is no doubt that All Ireland champions, Dublin have been handed a tough opening fixture as Mick Bohan’s side make the long journey to Letterkenny on Sunday for a meeting with Ulster champions, Donegal.
Just nine of the Dublin team who lined out in last Septembers All Ireland final versus Mayo are listed to start this weekend. Missing from the side are defenders Sinead Finnegan and Sinead Goldrick along with Player of the Year, Noelle Healy. All Star forwards Nicole Owens and Sinead Aherne are however named amongst the Dublin replacements. But Dublin boss Mick Bohan will have to plan without All Star defender, Rachel Ruddy for the entire 2018 season as the Ballyboden St Endas club player is unavailable for selection owing to overseas travel commitments.
However the Dublin manager will be pleased that he can call upon the services of a number of former Dublin U21 All Ireland winners, namely Muireann Ni Scanaill, Katie Murray, Eabha Rutledge and Oonagh Whyte. All of whom make a welcome return to the County fold and indeed Sunday’s starting line-up.
Sunday’s opposition, Donegal have a good record in the NFL and were fierce unlucky to lose out to Cork in last year’s decider in Parnell Park with just the bare minimum separating the two sides at the final whistle. Sisters, Niamh and Ciara Hegarty went on to pick up All Star Awards last November while Geraldine McLoughlin and Yvonne McMonagle have long been recognised as two of the best forwards in the Country.
Referee Ger Carmody of Roscommon will get the action underway at 2pm in O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny home of St Eunan’s GAA club.
Dublin v Donegal: 1 Ciara Trant (St Brigids), 2 Martha Byrne (Cuala), 3 Katie Murray (Clontarf), 4 Laura McGinley (Naomh Barrog), 5 Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), 6 Muireann Ní Scanaill (Fingallians), 7 Niamh Collins (Foxrock Cabinteely), 8 Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), 9 Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), 10 Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire), 11 Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps) 12 Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes), 13 Sarah McCaffrey (Clontarf), 14 Niamh McEvoy (St Sylvester’s), 15 Oonagh Whyte (Clann Mhuire).
Dublin replacements: Nicole Owens (St Sylvesters), Sinead Aherne (St Sylvesters), Hannah O’Neill (Foxrock Cabinteely), Deirdre Murphy (St Brigids), Kate Fitzgibbon (O’Tooles), Rebecca McDonnell (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Julia Buckley (Kilmacud Crokes), Danielle Lawless (St Sylvester’s), Lucy Collins (Na Fianna), Emily Flanagan (Ballyboden St Endas), Aoife Kane (Kilmacud Crokes).
Dublin LGFA are proudly sponsored by AIG Ireland www.aig.ie