Jackies name strong side for SFC opener against Donegal

It's a massive weekend in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championships – with the Intermediate and Senior competitions getting underway.

There are three live TG4 matches in the pipeline – starting on Friday night with the clash under lights between Ulster rivals Tyrone and Armagh at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan (7.30pm).

That’s followed by two live games on Saturday – Tipperary v Galway at the LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick (3.0) and an opening fixture in the 2020 campaign for Champions Dublin, who lock horns with Donegal at Kingspan Breffni (5.0).

On Sunday, the LGFA Facebook Page will have live coverage of Cavan v Kerry in the Senior Championship from St Brendan’s Park in Birr (1.0), while all other fixtures in the Junior and Intermediate Championships over the weekend will be streamed live.

Group 3 Round 1 (Saturday)

Dublin v Donegal – Kingspan Breffni, 5pm – LIVE on TG4

Champions Dublin begin their quest for four-in-a-row in the Senior Championship with a crucial fixture against Donegal.

The Ulster side beat Dublin last year at Croke Park on the opening day of the Lidl National League campaign – but failed to progress from their All-Ireland qualifier group, losing out to Mayo and Tyrone.

Dublin are calling on 12 of last year’s All-Ireland Final team but it could be a tricky assignment for them.

On any given day, Maxi Curran’s Donegal side are capable of a big performance – but it will take something special to unsettle Mick Bohan’s Dublin.

The Dublin team is brimming with talent – and with huge strength in depth to call upon if needed.

Dublin have named 12 of the team that started in the 2019 TG4 All-Ireland Final for Saturday 2020 opener against Donegal at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan (5pm – Live on TG4).

Sinéad Aherne captains the Sky Blues once again as Mick Bohan’s side begin their quest for a fourth successive title.

From the team that lined out against Galway in front of a record 56,114 attendance at Croke Park in September of last year, there are just three changes in personnel.

Sarah McCaffrey, sister of Dublin Senior football star Jack, memorably netted two goals off the bench in the 2017 Final win over Mayo.

McCaffrey returned to the Dublin fold at the start of the year after a spell travelling, and she’s named at left corner forward.

Also included is Leah Caffrey at right corner back, with the Na Fianna player also back in the Dublin squad this year after a stint abroad.

And there’s a start too for Noelle Healy, the 2017 Footballer of the Year who was introduced at half-time in the 2019 Final.

Éabha Rutledge, who enjoyed a terrific 2019 campaign at corner back, misses out through injury, while 2019 All Star Olwen Carey is unavailable this season.

Hannah O’Neill, who netted against Galway in last year’s decider, is named on the bench.

Opponents Donegal, who beat Dublin at Croke Park in the opening round of the 2019 Lidl National League, have brilliant forward Yvonne Bonner back in the fold.

Bonner didn’t play for the county last year as she was in Australia – but she’s back for this one and named at midfield.

Ace forward Geraldine McLaughlin captains the Donegal team from the full-forward position. 

Dublin (v Donegal): C Trant; L Caffrey, N Collins, M Byrne; A Kane, S Goldrick, S McGrath; L Magee, J Dunne; N Healy, N McEvoy, C Rowe; S Aherne (capt.), L Davey, S McCaffrey.

Donegal (v Dublin): A McColgan; D Foley, E Gallagher, E McGinley; N Carr, C Hegarty, N McLaughlin; K Herron, Y Bonner; K Guthrie, N Hegarty, A Boyle Carr; N Boyle, G McLaughlin (capt.), N McLaughlin.