Captains from the six competing teams have gathered at Croke Park ahead of next Sunday’s (August 13) TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals.
With the countdown to Sunday continuing, the respective team captains; Meghan Doherty (Down), Róisín Ambrose (Limerick), Caoimhe Harvey (Clare), Grace Clifford (Kildare), Carla Rowe (Dublin) and Síofra O’Shea (Kerry) got a feel for Croke Park ahead of the big day.
The Senior decider, the 50th in LGFA history, pits Dublin against 2022 runners-up Kerry, with the counties set to meet for the very first time in a Brendan Martin Cup decider.
Sunday's match will be only the third time in history that the same counties have contested the men’s and ladies finals in the same year.
This will be Dublin’s 13th appearance in the final, having won five and lost seven so far. They have played five counties in the final — Cork (six times), Mayo (twice), Galway (twice), Tyrone and Meath.
This will be Kerry’s 14th final and Dublin will be the ninth team they have faced in the showdown.
That game throws in at 4pm and is preceded by the Intermediate Final between Clare and Kildare (1.45pm) and the Junior Final between Down and Limerick (11.45am).
In the first game on the Croke Park triple-bill, Down will be aiming to gain promotion back to the Intermediate ranks at the first attempt, following relegation last year.
However, the Mourne County won’t get anything easy from opponents Limerick, who were TG4 All-Ireland Junior Champions in 2010 and 2018.
Down return to Croke Park for just their second appearance in a Junior Final, with victory achieved in their previous outing in 2000.
Down won the All-Ireland Intermediate title at Croke Park in 2014, while next Sunday will mark a fourth Junior Final outing for Limerick in their history.
Clare and Kildare, meanwhile, will renew rivalries in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final, after playing out two cracking games in Division 3 of the 2023 Lidl National League.
Kildare won narrowly on both occasions, including in the League decider that went to extra-time at Parnell Park.
Clare and Kildare last played in a TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final in 2016, when Kildare won at Croke Park against the Banner County.
This will be Clare’s fourth Intermediate Final appearance, following victory in 2009 and defeats in 2008 and 2016, as Kildare prepare for their third Final.
The Lilywhites lost to Waterford in 2015 but came back 12 months later to defeat Clare.
In the Senior Final, a win for Kerry, managed by Declan Quill and Darragh Long, would put the Kingdom out in front on the all-time Senior roll of honours list.
They’re currently on 11 All-Ireland Senior Championship wins – a haul matched by the great Cork teams that were dominant from 2005-2016.
Their opponents, Dublin, are going in search of a sixth title, following previous successes in 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Next Sunday will mark a 14th All-Ireland Senior Final appearance for Kerry, who lost to Meath in the 2022 decider and against Cork in 2012.
Prior to that, Kerry won their first Senior title back in 1976 and enjoyed nine-in-a-row successes from 1982-1990.
Kerry’s last Final win was back in 1993, when they overcame Laois.
The countdown continues! ⏳
Just 3⃣ days to go until the 2023 @TG4TV All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals at @CrokePark! 🏆
Get your tickets! ➡️ https://t.co/vrtTHIMJc8 🎫🎟️@dublinladiesg @kerryladiesfoot @Clarelgfa @KildareLGFA1 @DownLGFA @LKLadiesGaelic@SportTG4 #ProperFan pic.twitter.com/iUuhYFqr9w— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) August 10, 2023
To excite attendees and TV viewers ahead of Sunday’s Croke Park triple-header, TG4’s Ceiliúradh Peil na mBan, presented by Máire Ní Bhraonáin, will air from 8pm on Saturday evening.
The programme will visit all six counties playing in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior deciders.
This celebratory programme will feature music from each of the counties, with former players reflecting on the 2023 Championships so far and looking ahead to Sunday’s big games.
Spórt TG4 will also have exclusive behind the scenes action from the TG4 All-Ireland Finals Day in Croke Park across its social media channels.
Looking ahead, and reflecting on another outstanding season of partnership, TG4 Director General Alan Esslemont said:
“This is a very special All-Ireland Final, the 50th Senior Final in the history of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, an organisation which has played the most powerful pioneering role in the advancement of women’s sport in Ireland."
"The aim to achieve prominence and parity of esteem for women’s football is still very much a work in progress and I believe that this is a vision which is shared by everyone who is passionate about the conditions and health of female sport, especially Gaelic games."
Mícheál Naughton, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, said:
“Next Sunday will afford us the opportunity to draw breath and reflect on how far the Ladies Gaelic Football Association has come since 1974. It’s remarkable to think that the Dublin-Kerry game will mark the 50th All-Ireland Senior Final in the LGFA’s history – and what a tie we have in store to celebrate that milestone."
"I wish Dublin and Kerry the very best of luck as they aim for Brendan Martin Cup success, and we are also looking forward to welcoming former All-Ireland winning captains since 1974 to Croke Park to join us in a day of celebration."
“We are delighted that TG4 will broadcast all three Finals live from Croke Park next Sunday to viewers at home and all around the world. To launch the 2022 TG4 All-Ireland Championships, we were delighted to announce a five-year extension of our partnership."
Sunday July 31
11.45am – TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Final – Down v Limerick
1.45pm – TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final – Clare v Kildare
4pm – TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final – Dublin v Kerry
Tickets for Sunday’s games are priced at €30 for adults and €15 for students, OAPs and U18s. Tickets are available at usual GAA outlets and online at https://bit.ly/43TASin
