Back for a 14th season
up to the players to drive on and win promotion.
“It was us that got relegated last season, so now it’s up to us to get back to Division 1 again. Kerry need to be playing Division 1 football but we have to prove that we are good enough to do so. I suppose my role as captain will be to help out the younger players to be there for them and give advice and a helping hand. There are still 7 or 8 of us more senior girls left though, so we are all leaders in our own way so the burden will be shared.”
Waterford
WATERFORD finished in top place in Division 2 last season but missed out on promotion after losing the semi-final to Cavan. They have recently changed manager with Johnny Troy of Stradbally stepping into the hot seat in place of Pat Sullivan who had spent four years at the helm. Troy guided the Deise to All-Ireland U-16 glory in 2017 and was at the helm when Waterford claimed the Munster ‘B’ championship in 2018. Waterford have proven performers in Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty and Katie Murray and they will be a tough nut to crack.
Laois
LAOIS won just two out of their seven games in last years Division 2 and are going through a transition stage at the moment. They have a new manager in Kildare native David Gibson for this season, with Sarsfields Laurie Ann Maher captaining the side. A largely unknown quantity, Kerry will should have too much in the tank for this inexperienced side.
Wexford
WEXFORD will travel to Tralee in March with former Kerry great Bernie Breen operating as their most influential player at midfield. Wexford were promoted to Division 2 after winning the Division 3 title in 2018 by virtue of a 3-10 to 1-12 victory over Meath in the final. Catriona Murray was on fire that day scoring 3-5 and is certainly a player that Kerry will have to keep tabs on. the Division 2 table last season with four wins from their seven games and qualified for the league final after a 1-8 to 0-8 victory over Waterford in the semi. They controversially lost the final to Tipperary when a penalty was firstly awarded to them in the dying seconds of the game, but then overturned, when they were a single point behind.
Players like Aisling Maguire, Ciara Finnegan and Aisling Sheridan are top performers and they will provide a stern test for Kerry.
Armagh
ARMAGH won four out of their seven games in last season’s Division 2 league before losing the semi-final to eventual champions Tipperary on a 3-6 to 4-10 scoreline. Caroline O’Hanlon continues to be their main star at midfield, whilst Aimee Mackin has the x factor in the forward division. Lauren McConville, Clodagh McCambridge and Kelly Mallon are other notable players. A tough journey north awaits.
Tyrone
TYRONE finished in fifth place in the Division 2 table last season but only lost out on a semi final spot on points difference after enjoying four wins from their seven games played. This experience stood to them and they went on to claim the All-Ireland Intermediate championship last September with a 6-8 to 1-14 win over Meath in the final. A young up and coming team, their star act Gemma Begley bowed out of inter-county football after that triumph, and they will be hoping that players like the experienced Neamh Woods, along with youngsters Grainne Rafferty and Aine Canavan lead the charge.