Weekend National League Openers

Littlewoods Ireland Division 1

Kilkenny v Dublin

Kilkenny will hope that they start the league better than last year. It will be a difficult task with seven players either retired or have stepped away from the panel for 2021 Anne Dalton, Michelle Quilty, Anna Farrell,  Catherine Foley, Noreen O’Keeffe, Lucinda Gahan and Edel Coonan manager Brian Dowling will probably use the league to experiment some of his new players. Kilkenny last won the league in 2018 which was their fourteenth title since the league began in 1976. Kilkenny’s opponents will be Dublin who has a new manager at the helm. Limerick native Adrian O’Sullivan has taken over the Dubs, Adrian of course had a spell with our Intermediates who won the All Ireland in 2016 and hes also managed UL to five Ashbourne titles in a row so he will bring a wealth of experience to the setup. Dublin hasn’t won the league since 1983. The last meeting of the two sides was back in 2019 when Kilkenny ran away with the game. The noresiders have had the upper-hand on the Dubs over the last number of years but one would say that this league encounter could be a very tight affair. Last years All Ireland referee Owen Elliott from Antrim is the man in the middle and throw in is 2pm from John Locke Park

Division 2

Wexford v Kilkenny

John Scott will bring his Intermediate team to take on Wexford in Enniscorthy for their League opener. This is Wexford’s first team as they got relegated from Division 1 a couple of years ago. Wexford will be a strong test for the Kilkenny girls who have also welcomed back Katriona Parrock to the setup and along with Aoife O’Connor and Una Sinnott just to mention a few they will be looking to get promotion back to division one as soon as possible. Kilkenny having had no games last year due to the pandemic will be eager to start strong. Roisin Phelan will captain the side after helping Conahy get promoted to Senior last year. It will be a tough game for the noresiders traveling to Bellfield which has been a fortress for Wexford down through the years but it will be a test that the Kilkenny girls will relish and look forward to it. Kilkenny last won the division two league back in 2006 which is a long time and John and his team will be hoping that this could be their year. Dublin man Gavin Donegan will take charge of this encounter