Carla Rowe: Refreshed Dublin ready to go for new campaign

In 2022, 5,000 were in Páirc Tailteann for the Meath-Dublin clash in Division 1 of the Lidl Ladies National Football League.

A year on and both counties get this year's competition up and running when meeting at DCU St Clare's on Saturday. While the latter venue boasts excellent facilities, it is a surprise that the game was not fixed for a county ground, namely Parnell Park.

At the launch of the 2023 league at Lidl's headquarters in Tallaght, Dublin's Carla Rowe was asked about the choice of venue.

"To be honest we only got word of the pitch yesterday," she told RTÉ Sport's Pauric Lodge.

It's clearly then not a topic that is playing on her mind a few days out from the start of competitive action.

"We trained yesterday [Tuesday], train again on Thursday and the game is on Saturday. Is the venue an issue? Absolutely not.

"I don't think the facilities are an issue; we train up in DCU and the facilities in terms of playing are second to none. The pitches are stunning and are kept very well. Parnell Park, if the crowds were going to be as big as in previous years, would probably be better suited.

"Otherwise, for us a team we are not focussing on the venue. Maybe on the outside it's an issue for some people."

2022 was a frustrating year for the Mick Bohan's Dubs. They relinquished their Division 1 title and then lost to Donegal at the quarter-final stage of the TG4 All-Ireland championship.

For Rowe, who missed the last two league campaigns with injuries, the start of a new season is one that she is relishing.

"Between the matches coming back and the refreshment of our panel with a lot of new faces involved, the excitement is huge," she added.

"The younger girls are helping to create and even more positive set-up and they are pushing