Busy Weekend sees Favourites Dominate

 

There was Provincial Championship Action in all 4 provinces at the weekend as the TG4 Provincial Championships got into full swing. There were plenty of big games but the favourites all pulled through these early tests.

In Munster it was business as usual for Cork who cruised past a plucky but ultimately outclassed Clare side. The Tg4 All Ireland Champions hit the net on no fewer than 7 occasions with a pair of goals for both Ciara O’Sullivan and rising star Eimear Scally with Emma Farmer top scoring with 1-07. Ominously for the rest of the All Ireland contenders Cork were able to withdraw both Rena Buckley and Briege Corkery at half time whilst also introducing Nollaig Cleary who made her return to the panel. Cork will now go on to meet Kerry in the next round at Pairc Uí Rínn on Saturday at 2:30pm. Elsewhere in Munster, Waterford were forced to work hard to overcome a determined Limerick challenge but goals from Linda Wall and Hannah Landers helped to seal a 2-12 to 0-11 win.

Dublin rank amongst the All Ireland favourites and reinforced their credentials with a 6-14 to 1-09 hammering of Kildare. Although they were forced to line out without the likes of Siobhan McGrath, Sinead Goldrick and Niamh McEvoy but they were able to call on some of their young stars that had just claimed the Aisling McGing Under 21 title. Molly Lamb and Sarah McCaffrey resumed their midfield partnership with Carla Rowe moving back into the forwards as Colleen Barrett came in at wing back. However, the story of the game must be the performance of Sinead Aherne who scored 3-06 with all but 1 point of the tally coming from frees. Lyndsey Dabey and Lindsay Peat also added goals as did Noelle Healy. Westmeath await Dublin in the Semi final this weekend with Martin Flanagan’s team sure to provide a stern examination of Dublin’s Championship credentials.

Armagh will aim to break Monaghan’s dominance in Ulster as both counties reached the provincial decider. Armagh maintained the impressive form that saw them promoted to Division 2 of the TESCO Homegrown NFL as they faced a tough test against Donegal. The Orchard’s key players were very much to the fore with Fionnuala McKenna accounting for 7 points and Caroline O’Hanlon striking the goal in their 1-15 to 1-09 victory over Donegal. It was far more straight forward for Monaghan who struck 5 goals on the way to a 5-14 to 1-05 victory over a Cavan side that had just been promoted from the Intermediate grade. In the Intermediate grade Fermanagh took a step closer to retaining their Ulster crown as they defeated a battling Antrim side on a scoreline of 5-10 to 3-09.

In Connacht it was  Sligo that advanced to the Connacht Final after a fantastic struggle with Roscommon. It took extra time to seperate the two sides but the ability of Sligo to introduce the likes of Noelle Gormley and Emma Hansberry turned the tide of the game in their favour. They will now go on to face Leitrim in the Provincial final on July 6th in Castlebar.

TG4 Ladies Football Championship Results:

 

Friday, June 20^th

 

TG4 Munster Senior Football Championship Round 1

 

Cork 7-23 v Clare 1-06

 

TG4 Munster Intermediate Football Championship Round 1

 Limerick 0-11 v Waterford 2-12

 

TG4 Connacht Intermediate Football Championship Round 3

Sligo 4-19 v Roscommon 3-15 (AET)

 

Saturday, June 21^st

 

TG4 Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi Finals

 

Monaghan 5-14 v Cavan 1-05

Donegal 1-09 v Armagh 1-15

 

TG4 Ulster Intermediate Football Championship Semi Finals

 

Fermanagh 5-10 v Antrim 3-09

 

Sunday, June 22nd

 

TG4 Leinster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round

Kildare 1-09 v Dublin 6-14