Dubs Captain a doubt for opening championship game
- Jun 18,2014
TG4 Senior Leinster Championship
Dublin v Kildare
Sunday June 22nd, 2pm
Johnstownbridge, Co Kildare
Dublin Captain a doubt for Sunday’s championship opener versus Kildare
Dublin Ladies begin the defence of their Leinster title this coming Sunday when they travel to Johnstownbridge GAA club, for their opening round championship clash with Kildare.
Former Galway All Ireland medal winner John Divilly is manager of the Kildare ladies, the Kilkerrin-Clonberne native will have his chargers well primed and prepared for Sunday’s contest versus the reigning Leinster champions.
The two sides meet at the semi-final stage last year, Kildare battled hard on that occasion with Dublin only pulling away from the Lilywhites late in the last quarter with Natalia Hyland scoring a crucial second half goal to kill off the Kildare challenge.
Both sides had contrasting NFL campaigns while Dublin enjoyed an unbeaten run in division one up until the league final versus Cork, Kildare struggled somewhat unexpectedly in division two.
Kildare clocked up just two wins out of seven games defeating both Fermanagh and Down while suffering setbacks at the hands of Westmeath, Clare, Cavan, Galway and Meath.
However as we all know league form goes out the window once championship football begins and Kildare have had numerous weeks now to prepare for the visit of the Dubs.
Divilly has been preparing Kildare meticulously for this championship campaign knowing that all of the pressure will be on Dublin giving Kildare the prime opportunity to overturn the hotly fancied Leinster champions.
Dublin is expected to name their line out for Sunday’s clash with Kildare after training on Thursday night. Dublin boss, Gregory McGonigle will have to make a number of changes to his line out as key players Siobhan McGrath, Denise Masterson and Nicole Owens are all unavailable for selection due to hand injuries.
While All Star defender and team captain Sinead Goldrick is unlikely to feature in Dublin’s starting fifteen after picking up a knock in training. The Foxrock Cabinteely star is recovering well and could still play some part in Sunday's contest if called upon.
The winners of Sunday’s clash will play Westmeath in the TG4 Leinster semi-final on June 29th.
Westmeath who are managed by former County star Martin Flanagan have been going well this season having reached the division 2 league decider versus Galway back in May.
