Football

Amanda Brosnan eyes return to top flight with Kerry

Kerry's Amanda Brosnan (fourth from left) pictured at this week's launch of the Lidl NFL finals Picture by Sportsfile
Kerry's Amanda Brosnan (fourth from left) pictured at this week's launch of the Lidl NFL finals Picture by Sportsfile Kerry's Amanda Brosnan (fourth from left) pictured at this week's launch of the Lidl NFL finals Picture by Sportsfile

KERRY captain Amanda Brosnan is hoping that her side can put the turmoil of 2018 behind them and claim an immediate return to the top flight with victory over Waterford in the Lidl National Football League Division Two final on Sunday.

The Munster rivals face off in the Parnell Park decider at 2pm, which is followed by the Division One final between Cork and Galway at the same venue.

And with Kerry and Waterford set to meet again six days later in the Munster championship, this is sure to be a fierce battle.

Nothing separated the teams when they played earlier this year in the second round of the Lidl NFL, and Brosnan (30) thinks it will be exactly the same in the final on Sunday and when the championship launches.

“Absolutely Division One is our target. Straight up, that’s what we want,” said Brosnan.

“I mean, last year we had a poor year all around. I think we only really had about 24 players on the panel. We had, I think, three different management set-ups along the year. We were just all over the place.

“Maybe it’s a good thing, in hindsight looking back. Maybe it is a good thing to be in Division Two this year and to build from there. And, you know, try to get those younger girls experience.”

Waterford have been the slow burner of Division Two, where defeats to Armagh and Clare threatened their progression, before they blitzed Cavan in the semi-final with a scoring masterclass.

And Brosnan is wary and armed with previous experience of their Munster rivals. Two games in six days against the Déise side has her on edge.

“They’re going to be tough. We’ll be under no illusions. We drew with them in Tralee at the start of the League. We were missing a couple of players then, but so were they. So it’s going to be very, very tough.

LIDL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS

Saturday (Clones)

Division Four: Antrim v Fermanagh (2pm)

Division Three: Meath v Sligo (4pm)

Sunday (Parnell Park)

Division Two: Kerry v Waterford (2pm)

Division One: Cork v Galway (4pm)