Gilroy Fires Mayo Past the Kingdom

AILEEN Gilroy netted a brace of goals and Cora Staunton collected 0-6 as in-form Mayo made it five wins from five outings in Division 1 of the Lidl Ladies National Football League on Sunday.

Mayo made the trip to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney a successful one as they scored a 2-8 to 2-6 victory over hosts Kerry.

Sarah Houlihan registered 2-3 for the Kingdom but it wasn’t enough as Mayo preserved their 100 per cent record.

Gilroy’s goals in either half proved crucial to the outcome as she raised her first green flag in the 23rd minute before striking again four minutes from time.

Gilroy’s opening effort put Mayo 1-3 to 0-3 clear but Kerry rallied to lead by 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time, as Houlihan collected the first of her brace three minutes before the interval.

Houlihan was on target again eight minutes into the second half as Kerry grabbed a firm stranglehold on the game but Mayo fought their way back and ultimately it was a run of 1-5 without reply that swung the game in favour of the Westerners.

After Houlihan’s second goal, Kerry didn’t score again until stoppage time and by then, Mayo had fashioned a powerful comeback.

As Armagh lost to Galway, Dublin took the chance to claim second place outright in the table as they walloped a Tyrone side that looks almost certain to be relegated.

Hosts Tyrone were beaten by 0-1 to 3-18 as Dublin inflicted huge damage on the Red Hands in Drumragh.

Dublin were 2-9 to 0-0 clear at half-time as Niamh McEvoy and Carla Rowe (penalty) scored the goals.

Emma Hegarty scored Tyrone’s only point of the game in the second half but Dublin added another 1-9, including a Nicole Owens goal.

Rowe hit 1-5 for Dublin as McEvoy and Owens finished with 1-2 each for the Sky Blues.

At the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, Armagh lost for just the second time this season as Galway ended the round of fixtures with a place in the top four – level on points with Sunday’s opponents.

Roisin Leonard was star of the show for Galway as they won by 1-19 to 3-7, with Edel Concannon adding six points for the Tribeswomen.

Armagh were 3-2 to 0-8 ahead at the break, with Blaithin Mackin, Aoife McCoy and Sinead Finnegan scoring the goals, but their cause wasn’t helped by second half sin-binnings for Lauren McConville and Sharon Reel.

Galway took advantage to run up a big second half score and put themselves firmly in the picture for a playoff place, sitting three points ahead of Munster rivals Cork and Kerry.

In Mourneabbey on Saturday evening, Cork recovered from the concession of an early goal to thump Monaghan by 5-16 to 1-3.

Cora Courtney netted in the first minute for the visitors but by half-time, the Rebelettes were in complete control, leading by 3-7 to 1-1.

Cork responded quickly, Orla Finn registering their opening point before Annie Walsh goaled to hand the hosts the lead.

Doireann O’Sullivan scored Cork’s second goal on her home patch in the 12th minute and she struck again six minutes later to put Ephie Fitzgerald’s charges in firm command.

Aine O’Sullivan registered two second half goals as Cork remain in the hunt for playoff places after securing a second victory of the campaign.

In Division 2, Donegal won the top of the table clash against Clare by 4-11 to 2-7.

Yvonne McMonagle scored a hat-trick of goals and Geraldine McLaughlin added another as Donegal made it five wins from five outings, ending Clare’s previously unbeaten record in the process.

There were also victories for Westmeath, Sligo and Cavan in Division 2 as Waterford, Leitrim, Roscommon and Tipperary claimed Division 3 wins.

In Division 4, Wicklow, Antrim and Longford collected maximum points from their Sunday fixtures.

 

Results:

 

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1:

 

Tyrone 0-1 Dublin 3-18

Kerry 2-6 Mayo 2-8

Armagh 3-7 Galway 1-19

Cork 5-16 Monaghan 1-3

 

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 2:

 

Westmeath 4-14 Meath 3-12

Donegal 4-11 Clare 2-7

Sligo 1-13 Kildare 1-9

Laois 0-12 Cavan 0-16

 

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3:

 

Wexford 3-7 Waterford 1-17

Leitrim 7-9 Offaly 4-10

Roscommon 3-15 Fermanagh 2-2

Down 2-11 Tipperary 8-16

 

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4:

 

Wicklow 6-18 Derry 0-1

Antrim 1-11 Louth 2-3

Carlow 0-3 Longford 8-21