The Lidl LGFA National League gets underway this weekend and promises to be the start of what could be the most competitive ever season for the sport.
Players from eight competing counties gathered at Lidl Ireland’s Head Office in Tallaght, Dublin, yesterday and all were keen to point out the fact that three of the four semi-finalists in last year’s TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship had not been there the year before, and that neither Cork or Dublin had made it past the Quarter-final stage.
Meath went on to add the Championship to their breakthrough win of 2021 and their victory in the Lidl League Division One last season so they are the favourites to emerge on top again, albeit under new management after Davy Nelson replaced Eamonn Murray.
They will get the League started in front of the TG4 cameras against Dublin on Saturday at 5-15 but under the less familiar surroundings of the DCU pitch where Dublin train.
It is a disappointment that this marquee game will be played at a ground which has no spectator facilities bar a rail and only limited facilities to host the TG4 cameras.
Dublin GAA were unable to provide Parnell Park due to pitch damage after heavy use and freezing temperatures and Dublin has no other suitable facilities outside of Croke Park. This is not therefore a men vs women argument over facilities but one which hurries up the need for Dublin to develop one of the potential centres of excellence being considered at the Spawell and elsewhere.
An easy sticking plaster would be potentially to construct dugouts at the St Peregrines pitch which does at least have a stand.
Dublin has played at DCU before, and at the Naul home ground of Captain Carla Rowe but never a game of this magnitude which should have been expected to draw an enthusiastic crowd in the thousands.
Apart from the lack of any stands the car parking around the ground is almost non-existent except for the multi-storey car park at the main college facility which is a good kilometre from the pitch.
Moving on though TG4 have confirmed that this opener will be the first of 13 games to be screened live over the campaign, with all other games across all four divisions being shown on the LGFA streaming service.
Next week, on Saturday, January 28, Lidl NFL Division 2 champions and TG4 All-Ireland Senior Finalists Kerry are the visitors to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence for a clash with Mayo at 12.45pm. This fixture will be a repeat of last year’s TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park, which the Kingdom won by 4-10 to 0-13.
Meath v Galway and Cork v Dublin will both be televised live on Bank Holiday Monday, February 6, before Kerry entertain Dublin in the live TV offering on February 18. On February 25, Dublin will play host to Mayo and that game is followed by two live TV fixtures on St Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, when Dublin visit Donegal and Cork host Kerry in a Munster derby.
The live TV action from the League rounds concludes on March 25 when Cork entertain Meath, while TG4 will also provide live coverage of the Lidl National League Divisions 1 and 2 Finals from Croke Park on Saturday April 15. The Divisions 3 and 4 Finals will also be available live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel on Sunday April 16.
“Another fascinating Lidl National League campaign lies in store, as the race for silverware across all four divisions begins,” said LGFA President Micheál Naughton.
“Once again, our fans at home and across the world have the opportunity to catch every second of the action via TG4’s live TV coverage and our live-streaming service. We can look forward to another season of stunning action and plenty of drama unfolding along the way before our four divisional champions are crowned.”
“I would like to pay a special word of thanks to our National League sponsors and Official Retail Partner, Lidl Ireland, as we enter our eighth year of partnership. Lidl have helped to elevate our sport to new heights since coming on board with us in 2016. Their #SeriousSupport is deeply appreciated and it is wonderful to be in a position to announce more live Lidl National League TV fixtures than ever before on TG4, and to unveil four new Lidl ambassadors.”
Speaking on behalf of Lidl Ireland, Senior Partnership Manager, Joe Mooney, added: “We are delighted to be launching the 2023 Lidl National Football Leagues as the Ladies’ Gaelic football season gets underway. With a return to a full schedule of League fixtures and with more live TV games than ever before, it promises to be a very exciting competition with so much to play for across all four divisions.”
“We are particularly pleased to introduce our four new Lidl-LGFA partnership ambassadors who are great role models for young girls in their own counties and throughout the country. The partnership itself has delivered hugely positive results for players at all levels of the game and, as a company, we’re extremely proud to continue to be the biggest supporter of women’s sport in Ireland.”
Social media will be a strong component of the partnership with the return of the ‘Lidl Magic Moment of the Month award. There will be one award winner for January, February, March and April and submissions will be invited via social media. These magic moments, from the 2023 Lidl National Football Leagues, can be anything from a great save, a stunning goal, wonderful points, an example of fairness, or anything else that fans feel is worth a submission by using the hashtag #LidlMagicMoment and tagging the LGFA’s social media channels. Monthly winners will receive a €100 Lidl voucher.
LISTEN MORE: Listen to the Players speak in a special edition of the Sport for Business Women in Sport Podcast dropping later today.
WATCH MORE: Lidl will later today announce the expansion of the One Good Club initiative with Jigsaw and that features as today’s Sport for Business Daily Video.
