:format(auto))
LIDL NFL Division one Rd 1 – Round up.
Dublin joint manager Paul Casey said they tried out a lot of new players (ten debutants) and gained a lot from that despite the loss.
“Really tough conditions, for both teams as well. We’d loads of new faces on the pitch today. I thought the honesty of effort they had was fantastic. They fought there until the end and kept plugging away. It was really, really tough conditions there, but good to get the show on the road as they say and good to see so many new faces play for Dublin today as well,” he said.
Kerry midfielder Mary O’Connell said they were pleased to get the defence of their Lidl NFL Division 1 title off to a winning start under the new rules.
She found the net along with Jadyn Lucey to see off TG4 All-Ireland champions Dublin by 2-9 to 0-9 in difficult conditions.
“I think we’re adjusting well to the new rules,” she said. It’s going to take a few games obviously. The three up is something we have to look at and the space that’s there.
Obviously maybe today wasn’t the day for it with the conditions, but solo and go helped quicken the game a bit. Then obviously the mark we only used once or twice, but hopefully it will get better as the league goes on.”
Galway manager Daniel Moynihan said they needed to make an immediate impression on their return to the topflight and they did it with a 0-16 to 0-8 victory over Meath, with Kate Slevin leading the way with a haul of 0-7.
“It’s important for us to get off the mark very early, we had an awkward experience two years ago in Division 1 so it’s nice to have a better one for ourselves starting off,” said Moynihan.
“Happy with the performance, happy with the players and what they are doing on the football field but we know ourselves there is plenty to work on too.”
Meath manager Wayne Freeman said they have plenty to work on but the signs are encouraging.
“There are things we can look at and work on and I do think if we clean up the areas of our game that we were poor on today, I think we’ll be a lot better next week. We know the areas we need to look at this week,” said Freeman.
Cork needed a late point from Katie Quirke to get a share of the spoils with Kildare on their return to Division 1 but manager Joe Carroll said they build on the display.
“I suppose there’s relief that we got the draw and a bit of a disappointment because we gave away two very bad goals of our own making,” said Carroll. “Look, I suppose we have a new team, there were a lot of learnings in it for our players and I was very, very pleased.”
Kildare manager Pat Sullivan was also pleased with what his side produced in the contest.
“Overall, I'd be really, really happy. It’s the first round of the league, it's a learning zone for a lot of these players who haven’t been here before. We are trying to develop players as well,” said Sullivan.
Waterford, with goals from Chloe Fennell and Treasa Ní Chrontaigh, secured an impressive 2-14 to 0-8 win in Armagh, and manager Tomás Mac an tSaoir was delighted with the winning start.
“There not many teams that are going to come up here and win so we can be really happy with that. But I wouldn’t read too much into it. Armagh are going to be there or thereabouts in every competition they play so for us to come up with a win, we’re really happy with that,” he said.
Armagh manager Gregory McGonigle was without several key players and knew they would have a battle on their hands with Waterford.
“Waterford beat the girls well down in Waterford last year so we knew we were coming up against one of the favourites, I would think, for the All-Ireland,” he said.
:format(auto))
:format(auto))
:format(auto)){kind=logo}
:format(auto))
:format(auto)){kind=logo}