Lidl National Football League – Division 2 FINAL Cork v Galway; Croke Park, 3pm – Live on TG4.

JUST like Saturday’s Division 1 decider at Croke Park, there’s a familiar feel to the pairing for the Lidl National League Division 2 Final. Cork and Galway are teams that know plenty about each other, having met in Round 2 of the group phase. That game resulted in a 2-8 to 0-12 win for Galway, in what was the first competitive meeting between the sides since the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final.

Galway won that one, before falling to Kerry in the Final, after Cork had beaten Galway in the round-robin phase of the Championship. Those 2024 Championship tussles came on the back of a desperately disappointing League campaign for both counties last year, when they were relegated from Division 1. Cork and Galway were favourites to make an instant return to the top flight, however, and so it proved. Galway won seven from seven to top the table, with Cork winning six of their seven games (a sole blip coming at the hands of Galway).

Having contested a TG4 All-Ireland Senior Final last year, Galway will be pleased to get back to Croke Park so quickly and have the chance to savour a winning feeling here. The goal at the start of the League campaign for both of Saturday’s finalists will have been promotion and the chance to capture a trophy now is a lovely bonus. Championship may be just around the corner but Cork and Galway will give it everything as they chase the win.

Cork are the proud holders of 12 Division 1 titles but they’ve also won the Division 2 crown on three occasions – 2003, 1992 and 1988. On Saturday, Galway go in search of their third Division 2 title win, following previous successes in 2014 and 2002. With the potential to provide some real clues as to the Championship prospects of both counties, this Division 2 Final should be a really interesting game.

Galway’s will be desperate to atone for last year’s TG4 All-Ireland SFC Final loss to Kerry, while Cork’s ultimate goal is to get back to a first Senior Final since 2020. Going into the Championship with a major national title would be a real boost – and that’s the opportunity that presents itself. Two talented teams with huge potential are ready to put on a show at Croke Park. The old saying is that familiarity breeds contempt but, in this case, it will almost certainly breed entertainment, too.

Cork: S Murphy; D Kiniry, S Kelly, M Duggan; E O’Shea, S Leahy (capt.), R Corkery; A Corcoran, A Healy; A O’Mahony, L O’Mahony, E Cleary; H Looney, L Coppinger, K Quirke.

Galway: D Gower; M Jordan, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty (capt.); H Noone, N Ward, C Trill; L Ward, S Divilly; O Divilly, S Hynes, A Davoren; L Noone, R Leonard, K Slevin.

Article Courtesy of Ladiesgaelic.ie