Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL round-up

Cork ran out 1-16 to 1-9 winners against the Kingdom in this Division 1 encounter but the visitors put up a spirited display and trailed by just two points at half-time.

Cork are struggling for early season momentum but after losing to Dublin in their opening match and then seeing the proposed clash with Monaghan snowed off, the Rebelettes will be relieved to have secured a much-needed win.

Looking ahead for some championship pointers, Kerry will have travelled home optimistic that they can put up a better showing in Munster this year, having lost heavily to Cork in last year’s provincial final.

At half-time, Cork led by 1-7 to 0-8 as Nollaig Cleary’s goal after ten minutes gave the home side the edge at the break.

In the second half, both teams seemed in the mood to experiment as a number of substitutes came into the fray and Cork eventually pulled away to secure a comfortable win.

Cork, playing without injured star Norita Kelly (Achilles) and Briege Corkery, who is abroad, will hope that this win will kick-start their season.

Form may be temporary but class is certainly permanent and once again, lethal forward Valerie Mulcahy led the way in the scoring stakes with seven points, including five frees.

Rhona Ní Bhuachalla also impressed for the winners but defensively, Kerry gave Cork plenty to think about as Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Patrice Dennehy scored three points each, while Mairead Finnegan chipped in with two points.

Kerry’s goal was scored five minutes from time as Mags O’Donoghue’s free went all the way to the net but it wasn’t enough for the visitors to take something from the game.

In the early Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL standings, Cork lie in an unfamiliar sixth position in the table while Kerry are second from bottom on scoring difference after losing three successive games.

In Division 2, Sligo remain in the hunt for promotion but will but disappointed that they didn’t take maximum points from Sunday’s drawn encounter with Down at Kevinsfort in Sligo Town.

The Yeats County led by nine points at half-time, 2-8 to 1-2, but a dramatic second half fightback secured a draw for Down, 2-10 apiece, and it was the Mourne County pushing for a dramatic win at the finish before time ran out.

Sligo failed to score during the last twenty minutes but they were rampant in the first half as Noelle Gormley and Sinead McTiernan scored goals to help open up a comfortable half-time advantage.

Stephanie O’Reilly was causing endless problem for the Down defence with her direct running from centre forward but the visitors upped their game considerably in the second half.

Orla Fegan’s first half goal had left Down clinging to Sligo’s coattails before Niamh Canavan at full back, centre back Catherine Boden, captain Kyla Trainer and midfielder Clara Fitzpatrick led the fightback.

Trainer’s goal invigorated Down’s challenge and it was young minor star Ciara Turley who scored the equalising point four minutes from time.

The stalemate leaves Sligo third in Division 2 while Down are second from bottom and still looking for their first win of the campaign.

Results:

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 1:

Cork 1-16 Kerry 1-9.

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 2:

Sligo 2-10 Down 2-10.