Big day ahead for Kildare sides as National League action takes centre stage

It's a big day for the senior footballers of the county as the men kick off their Allianz National Football League Division 2 campaign away to Meath in Navan, while the ladies will play their first home game in the league at the same time in St Conleth's Park.

Cian O'Neill brings a strong looking Kildare side to Pairc Tailteann for the 2pm throw-in against the old enemy, who are now managed by former All-Ireland Club Championship winning manager Andy McEntee as he begins his first season with the Royals after winning the 2016 All-Ireland with Ballyboden St Enda's of Dublin.

Meath had a similar run to Kildare in the O'Byrne Cup; remaining undefeated in the group stage before suffering a disheartening loss in the semi-final to Louth, but both sides will be looking to get off to a good start in what should be the most competitive of the four divisions.

Morgan O'Callaghan's ladies team will play on home soil for the first time since they were crowned All-Ireland champions back in September, with Tyrone as the opposition in St Conleth's Park for the 2pm throw-in. The Lilywhites lost their opening fixture to Laois last Sunday, while Tyrone enjoyed a four-point win over Sligo in their first game, so Kildare will be looking to pick up some points rather than remaining winless as they did in the first four rounds of last year's league campaign.

KildareNow will have coverage from both of those games today.

Kildare team to face Meath

1 Mark Donnellan Maynooth

2 Mick O’Grady Celbridge

3 David Hyland Athy

4 Ollie Lyons Celbridge

5 Johnny Byrne Allenwood

6 Eoin Doyle Naas

7 Keith Cribbin Johnstownbridge

8 Kevin Feely Athy

9 Tommy Moolick Leixlip

10 Fergal Conway Celbridge

11 Niall Kelly Athy

12 Paul Cribbin Johnstownbridge

13 Neil Flynn Maynooth

14 Daniel Flynn Johnstownbridge

15 Ben McCormack Sarsfields

Kildare ladies team to face Tyrone

1 Aoife Molyneaux- Kilcullen 2 Tara Hallinan- Leixlip 3 Erica Burke- Balyna 4 Rachel Cribbin- Balyna 5 Shauna Kendrick- Sarsfields 6 Rachael Corrigan- Naas 7 Aisling Curley- Moorefield 8 Rachel Reidy- Na Fianna 9 Aisling Holton- Balyna 10 Orlaith Kirwin- Maynooth 11 Molly Price- Sarsfields 12 Eadaoin Connolly- Rathangan 13 Ellen Dowling- Suncroft 14 Róisín Byrne- Sarsfields 15 Mikaela McKenna- Na Fianna