Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL round up

MONAGHAN had to settle for a draw at home to Laois in Division 1 of the Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League on Sunday but a point was still good enough to send the Farney county to the top of the table.

Monaghan sit top of the pile on points difference only ahead of Dublin, Laois and Galway following the second round of fixtures.

Noirin Kirwan scored a late equalising point for Laois as they secured a 1-9 to 2-6 draw against the home side at Inniskeen.

At half-time, the sides were deadlocked and the highlight of the opening half was Edel Byrne’s brilliant goal for Monaghan in the 28th minute.

Laois responded to Monaghan’s first half haul of 1-4 with seven points of their own and it was the experienced Kirwan and Tracey Lawlor who kept the visitors in contention throughout.

Laois had Grainne Dunne sin-binned in the first half but they battled hard and rallied again when Therese McNally netted a second Monaghan goal eight minutes into the second half.

Martina Dunne responded in kind for the O’Moore girls six minutes later and in a tit-for-tat finish, both sides traded the lead before the game finished level.

In Division 2, Armagh roared to the top of the table with their second victory from two outings.

The Orchard County secured a narrow 2-13 to 3-9 victory against the north-westerners at Carracruppen as new star Kelly Mallon played a leading role for the winners.

Armagh led comfortably at half-time as a 1-4 haul from Mags McAlinden helped to ensure a 1-9 to 0-5 interval lead for the hosts.

Mallon scored Armagh’s second half goal but they had to withstand a ferocious second half effort from Donegal, who got off to a flier against Down in their opening league match.

Donegal rediscovered some of that form as Niamh Hegarty scored two second half goals and Ailish Ward added another for the visitors.

In the opening half, Donegal had Karen Guthrie sin-binned but coped well before coming close to securing a remarkable come from behind win.

For Armagh, Mallon continues to catch the eye during the early stages of the new season while Aoife Lennon was also impressive at centre half forward.

Meanwhile, Cavan moved into the promotion picture in Division 3 as they came away from Longford with a 0-13 to 0-3 victory.

The Breffni county made it two wins from two league outings this season to move onto six points and second only behind Waterford on scoring difference.

At Emmet Park in Killoe, Cavan fought hard in the face of adversity after having four players sin-binned – two in each half.

The visitors led by 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time before they pulled away in the second half, inspired by top scorer Aisling Doonan.

In Division 4, Leitrim moved to the top of the table as they secured a 3-16 to 4-11 victory against promotion rivals Antrim at the Leitrim Village Community Centre.

Antrim led by 2-7 to 0-10 at half-time but Leitrim turned it around in the second half to secure a two-point win.

Áine Tighe scored two crucial second half goals for Leitrim and Sharon Kerrigan added another as the hosts collected their second win from two league outings.

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Results:

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 1

Dublin 1-9 Galway 2-6
Monaghan 2-6 Laois 1-9
Mayo 2-12 Tyrone 3-7

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division

2

Meath 2-10 Sligo 3-6
Armagh 2-13 Donegal 3-9
Tipperary 6-7 Kildare 1-9
Down 3-8 Clare 4-5

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 3

Longford 0-3 Cavan 0-13
Fermanagh 4-10 Roscommon 3-4

Westmeath 3-9 Wicklow 3-13
Waterford 2-10 Wexford 1-9

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 4

Leitrim 3-16 Antrim 4-11
Louth 0-12 Kilkenny 1-4