FOOTBALL: TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship Round Two Previews 

FOOTBALL: TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship Round Two Previews 

By Aisling Clery 

With the weather putting a dampener on proceedings last weekend, supporters travelling to the second round of the TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship this weekend will surely be hoping for some dryer conditions.

Friday night lights is the first order of business this weekend as Carlow host Wexford at IT Carlow this evening at 8pm.

Then on Sunday, Wicklow host Louth in Baltinglass GAA, Laois welcome Offaly to MW Hire O’Moore Park, while St Helen’s GAA is the venue as Longford battle Kildare.  

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Carlow v Wexford 

A run of goals for Longford early in the second half put Carlow to the sword last weekend and they will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself as they welcome Wexford to IT Carlow.

Aoibhinn Gilmartin and Dannah O’Brien were to the fore for Ed Burke’s troops with Niamh Kelly converting a spot kick last time out.

They will be looking to capitalise on lessons learned last weekend. They take on a Wexford side that were beaten in a high scoring contest with Kildare in Round One. Aisling Murphy found the net twice while Catríona Murray found a third goal but it wasn’t enough.

They will be hoping to get back to winning ways this evening and secure their first points of this year’s Championship. 

Carlow (v Wexford): N Hanley; O Hickey, O Fitzpatrick, A Dowling; R Bermingham (C), E Atkinson, R Bailey; N Mohan, N Murphy; N Kelly, E Ware, A Gilmartin; S Doyle, D O’Brien, R Sawyer. 

Wexford (v Carlow): S Merrigan; C Neville, A Halligan, S Murphy; O Kehoe, R Murphy (C), C Donnelly; K Kearney, C Banville; S Hamilton, C Murray, E O’Brien; A Wilson, A Murphy, B Breen. 

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Wicklow v Louth 

Wicklow welcome Louth to Baltinglass.

The teams are no strangers to one another – having faced each other most recently in the NFL Division Three Relegation Final.

It was a game that Louth got the right side of, relegating Wicklow to Division Four for 2023. However, this is Championship and both sides need a win after suffering defeats last weekend.

Both teams have plenty of match winners and after almost coming to her side’s rescue last week, Rebecca Carr is named at full forward with Michelle McMahon and Ciara Woods also brought in to start for Wayne Freeman’s side.

For Wicklow, being at home will undoubtedly be advantageous as they try to earn their first points of this IFC campaign. 

Wicklow (v Louth): No teamlist submitted by county. 

Louth (v Wicklow): R Lambe Fagan; E Hand, S Quinn, M McMahon; C Nolan, S McLoughlin (C), A Russell; A Halligan, R Hanna; R Kavanagh, L Collins, J McCourt; K Flood, R Carr, C Woods. 

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Laois v Offaly 

Both sides enjoyed the taste of victory last time out, but both had to cope with tremendously difficult weather conditions to do so.

Laois were rescued by Mo Nerney’s second half goal to ensure they defeated Louth, while Marie Byrne’s two opening half goals were key as Offaly saw off Wicklow.

Laois will not have been happy with their performance last time out and this could be ominous from an Offaly perspective.

However, Offaly’s rearguard withstood Wicklow’s offensive pressure last weekend, so this combination makes for an intriguing battle ahead. 

Laois (v Offaly): E Barry; C Dunne, A Potts, A Kelly (C); R Williams, E Healy, A Healy; J Moore, A Donoher; E Lawlor, LM Maher, E Fitzpatrick; M Nerney, SA Fitzgerald, E Galvin. 

Offaly (v Laois): E Evans; I Fleming, E Nally, N Buckley; M Mann, E Maher, S McGuinness; E Hand, R Ennis (C); F Dempsey, C Walsh, M Byrne; S Doyle E McEvoy, R Mealiff. 

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Longford v Kildare 

Both sides got off to a winning start last time out with Kildare defeating Wexford while Longford overcame Carlow.

Perhaps not surprisingly, both managers have named unchanged starting teams from last week’s battles.

Longford upped the gears in the second half to defeat Carlow, however they may not be able to wait to the second half to up those gears against a Kildare team that start at a blistering pace.

Neasa Dooley hit a hat trick for Sean Finnegan’s side last time out and given any opportunity, there can be no doubt she is capable of doing so again.

However, Kildare have a plethora of sharp attackers and with Grace Clifford and Hazel McLoughlin in the centre of the field they can ensure the forwards are fed plenty of possession.

However, Longford are a team building nicely and in players like Grace Shannon, Lauren McGuire and Kamille Burke they have forwards who can pick off scores in tight angles.

A win for either side here would give them one foot into a semi-final position with the final round robin game next weekend. 

Longford (v Kildare): R Jones; S McCormack, E O’Brien, M Noonan; C Farrell, L Keegan, K Crawford (C); M Victory, N Brady; A Cosgrove, G Shannon, E Heaney; L McGuire, K Burke, L Monaghan. 

Kildare (v Longford): D McGinn; C Nugent, L Lenehan, G Harnett; M Doherty, L Gilbert, R Cribbin; G Clifford (C), H McLoughlin; C Wheeler, A Rattigan, C Sullivan; N Dooley, G Wheeler, L Curran.