Dublin focused on championship after League relegation 

By JOHN FALLON

Dublin joint manager Paul Casey said they will turn their full attention to the championship now after suffering relegation to Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League.

The reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions defeated Cork by 2-8 to 1-6, who were already through to this year’s final against Galway, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them making the drop along with Kildare.

“Ultimately you get from the whole National League what you deserve,” said Casey. “We did our part today, we had to beat Cork and we were delighted to get out with the win, particularly now with championship around the corner.

“Ultimately the results didn’t go our way, but that’s all for next year and we’re fully focused on the Leinster championship in five weeks’ time.

“Delighted with a couple of performances towards the end of the National League. We definitely saw the experienced players coming back in and adding something. We got to see lots of players get lots of game time over the course of the seven games. Hopefully now they can bring some of that form into the championship.”

Cork’s Rosie Corkery said they can learn a lot from the game as they prepare to face Galway in the final in what will be a repeat of last year’s Lidl Division 2 final which was won by the Connacht champions.

“We weren’t shy about the fact we wanted to keep the 100% unbeaten record, but it didn’t work out for us today,” she said.

“In the first half we were a bit flat-footed, we had a long journey up this morning. We improved as the game went on, so there’s learnings and there’s a few positives to take from the game as well today.

“We’re really looking forward to the league final. At the start of the year, people thought we’d be in the bottom two of the league. Looking forward to a league final now and a chance to get some silverware into Cork. Focused on that for the next few weeks.”

Galway will also go into that final also on the back of a defeat after an understrength side was defeated by 2-12 to 0-10 in a dead rubber against Waterford.

We made quite a few changes, we were hoping to see players put their hands up for a spot in the league final,” said Galway manager Daniel Moynihan.

“That was the aim of today, a free shot for the players and the subs that we brought on.”

Reigning league champions Kerry did enough to secure a 2-10 to 2-9 win over Kildare with goals from Danielle O’Leary and Síofra O’Shea.

And with Marion Farrelly producing a late equaliser for Meath to draw with Armagh it confirmed that Dublin and Kildare will play their 2027 Lidl National Football League campaign in Division 2.

In Division 2, Donegal earned promotion and will join Cavan in the final on Saturday April 11.

A convincing 0-11 to 0-3 win over Wexford confirmed promotion to the top flight for Donegal and also ensured an all-Ulster divisional final.

Cavan, having already qualified, went down by 1-15 to 2-9 to relegated Westmeath.

In Division 3, Antrim were promoted and will play Louth in the final on Sunday, April 12.

In a winner takes all promotion clash, it was Antrim who claimed the spoils at Páirc Esler by 2-8 to 1-9.

Laois defeated Louth by a point but could not avoid joining Limerick in making the drop to Division 4.

And the Division 4 final will be contested by Leitrim and Carlow on Sunday April 12.

In Sunday’s semi-finals, which also doubled up as promotion deciders, Leitrim beat neighbours Sligo by 2-10 to 1-11 after extra-time, while Carlow defeated Offaly by 4-11 to 2-8.

Results:

Lidl NFL Division 1

Dublin 2-8 Cork 1-6

Kerry 2-10 Kildare 2-9

Meath 0-11 Armagh 1-8

Waterford 2-12 Galway 0-10

Lidl NFL Division 2

Westmeath 1-15 Cavan 2-9

Donegal 0-11 Wexford 0-3

Mayo 2-14 Monaghan 0-9

Tyrone 5-10 Tipperary 5-5

Lidl NFL Division 3

Antrim 2-8 Down 1-9

Clare 2-9 Roscommon 2-9

Laois 0-9 Louth 0-8

Fermanagh 2-10 Limerick 1-7

Lidl NFL Division 4 Semi-Finals

Carlow 4-11 Offaly 2-8

Leitrim 2-10 Sligo 1-11 (aet)