Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL round-up

AINE Tighe was unstoppable as Leitrim were crowned Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 4 champions at Cavan’s Breffni Park on Saturday.

The ace corner forward scored 2-9 as the 2007 All-Ireland intermediate champions announced their return to the big time with a 2-17 to 2-11 victory against Limerick.

Former minor star Tighe hit 1-4 before half-time and added 1-5 in the second half as the Westerners completed a six-point win.

Leitrim came from six points down in the first half as Limerick’s search for elusive national silverware continues.

The Shannonsiders lost against Cavan in the Division 3 final in 2008 and were also denied by Antrim in last year’s All-Ireland junior final.

With 19 minutes on the watch, Limerick led by 2-4 to 1-1 but Leitrim hit back to remain very much in contention at half-time, trailing by 1-8 to 2-7.

Three goals in as many minutes illuminated the first half as Tighe struck with nine minutes on the watch before Limerick hit back with strikes from Louise Higgins and top scorer Dymphna O’Brien.

But the second half belonged to Leitrim as they outscored the Shannonsiders by 1-9 to 0-4 and it was Tighe who continued to torment the Limerick defence.

She netted her second goal of the game from close range in the 39th minute as Leitrim hit the front for the first time since scoring the opening point of the game.

Leitrim never looked back from there and can now look forward to the forthcoming Connacht senior championship with renewed optimism while Limerick will regroup for their junior championship assault.

Meanwhile, Kildare set up a Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL Division 2 final showdown with Donegal next Saturday thanks to a 3-9 to 1-8 semi-final replay victory against Armagh at St Peregrines in Dublin.

Armagh dominated the early exchanges and top scorer Shauna O’Hagan netted after ten minutes but Kildare struck back in the 25th minute when Donna Berry goaled.

At half-time, Armagh led by 1-5 to 1-4 but second half goals from Aine Gately and top scorer Tracy Noone sealed the win for the Lilywhites, who will face Donegal at Parnell Park next weekend.

In Division 3 of the Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League, Waterford booked their place in next Saturday’s final with a 2-10 to 1-9 semi-final replay victory against Fermanagh at St Peregrines.

Waterford trailed at half-time, 1-4 to 0-8, as Sinead Ryan’s goal kept the Déise in touch at the midway point.

Sharon Little grabbed Fermanagh’s goal in the second half but Waterford finished the game strongly and Gráinne Kenneally scored a crucial goal in the 57th minute to send the winners through to meet Cavan at Parnell Park.

Results:

Bord Gáis Energy NFL Division 4 final:

Leitrim 2-17 Limerick 2-11.

Bord Gáis Energy NFL Division 2 semi-final replay:

Kildare 3-9 Armagh 1-8.

Bord Gáis Energy NFL Division 3 semi-final replay:

Fermanagh 1-9 Waterford 2-10.