Armagh to meet Kerry in next year’s National League opener whilst Down travel to Limerick

Armagh will make the trip to the Kingdom on Saturday January 25 for a live TV clash on TG4 (3pm), in what will be a repeat of the 2024 Lidl NFL Division 1 Final between the counties.

Armagh won on that occasion at Croke Park but when the sides met again later in the season, at the semi-final stage of the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship, it was Kerry who prevailed in Tullamore before they annexed a first All-Ireland Senior title since 1993.

What promises to be a highly-competitive Division 1 campaign also contains Leinster trio Dublin, Kildare (2024 Division 2 champions) and Meath, along with newly-promoted Tyrone, who were 2024 Division 2 finalists, Mayo and Waterford.

The LGFA and TG4 have also confirmed a number of live TV fixtures in the 2025 Lidl National Leagues.

The Kerry-Armagh clash gets the schedule underway on Saturday January 25. On Saturday February 8, Dublin’s home clash with Armagh (3.30pm) is scheduled for live TG4 coverage, followed by Armagh’s home game with Mayo (7.30pm) on Saturday February 22.

For Down, they meet Limerick on opening weekend (Sunday January 26) in a repeat of the 2023 All-Ireland Junior Football Final. That was a famous day for Down, as they brought the All-Ireland title back to the Mourne County.

Down’s first home game takes place on February 2 against Cavan.

Last year, the red and black were cruelly unlucky to miss out on promotion from Division 3, having won five of their seven league matches. The year was a positive, as they won the Ulster Intermediate Championship, but their season came to an end with a narrow loss against Tyrone – who will play Division 1 football this year – in the All-Ireland Intermediate Semi-final.

Division 3 is made up of Carlow (promoted from Division 4 as champions), Cavan (relegated from Division 2), Down, Laois (relegated from Division 2), Limerick (promoted from Division 4), Louth, Offaly and Wexford.

All four divisions will each contain eight teams in 2025, with the top two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 progressing straight to their respective Finals, while there are semi-finals scheduled for Division 4 on Sunday March 30.

The Divisions 1 and 2 Finals will be played at Croke Park on Saturday April 12, with the Divisions 3 and 4 Finals scheduled for Sunday April 13.

Both Armagh and Down are under new management, with Darnell Parkinson and Joe Feeney succeeding Gregory McGonigle as joint-managers of Armagh, whilst Colm Donnelly steps in for Peter Lynch and Caoibhe Sloan in the Down dugout.

FIXTURES

ARMAGH

Saturday January 25: Kerry v Armagh

Sunday February 2: Armagh v Tyrone

Saturday February 8: Dublin v Armagh

Saturday February 22: Armagh v Mayo

Sunday March 2: Armagh v Kildare

Saturday March 22: Waterford v Armagh

Saturday March 29: Armagh v Meath

DOWN

Sunday January 26: Limerick v Down

Sunday February 2: Down v Cavan

Sunday February 9: Down v Laois

Sunday February 23: Louth v Down

Sunday March 2: Wexford v Down

Sunday March 23: Down v Offaly

Sunday March 30: Down v Carlow