Teams Ready for Round 2 After Exciting Weekend of Action

CHAMPIONS Cork have been drawn against Armagh in round 2 of the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC qualifiers.

The Rebelettes, foiled by Kerry in their bid for a tenth successive Munster crown, will attempt to regroup against beaten Ulster semi-finalists Armagh on August 10.

Elsewhere, the draw has pitted Laois against Meath in an all-Leinster affair, Westmeath will play Mayo and Clare have been paired with beaten Ulster finalists Tyrone.

On Saturday, RefCam made its debut in Carrick-on-Shannon as two round 1 qualifiers were staged at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada.

Niamh O’Dea was the matchwinner for Clare as the Banner County stunned Kildare 3-17 to 1-22 in a gripping fixture that went to extra-time.

O’Dea hauled the Banner girls level at the end of normal time and she added 1-1 in the second period of extra-time as Clare bounced back from the concession of 8-25 in their last championship outing against Kerry to score a gritty qualifier win.

Full-forward O’Dea finished with a haul of 2-7 from a remarkable game that saw Kildare finish with 14 players, after sub Ashling Savage was sent off early in extra-time.

Martin Flanagan’s Westmeath also marched into round two as the Midlanders recorded a 1-15 to 1-07 victory over Donegal.

Karen Hegarty scored the decisive goal with 14 minutes remaining and full-forward Fiona Leavy chipped in with seven points in all as the Midlanders scored a surprisingly comfortable win.

Donegal had given quite a good account of themselves against All-Ireland contenders Monaghan in the Ulster semi-final and were expected to produce a strong performance.

But Westmeath, beaten by Meath in the Leinster quarter-final, had much of the hard work done by half-time as they had established a 0-07 to 0-02 lead, having played into the teeth of a strong wind that later died down.

 

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC Rd 2 Qualifiers:

Laois v Meath

Westmeath v Mayo

Clare v Tyrone

Armagh v Cork.

 

Ties to be played on August 10.