Kingdom Down Champions

 

CHAMPIONS Cork slumped to their second defeat of the season in Division 1 of the Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League on Sunday afternoon.

Ace forward Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored the winning point as neighbours Kerry came from behind to secure a 1-8 to 1-7 victory in Dingle.

In a repeat of last year’s Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final, 2013 provincial winners Kerry got one over on the All-Ireland champions to put themselves in the picture for a place in the Division 1 semi-finals.

Cork got off to the ideal start when Doireann O’Sullivan netted in the first minute and the Leesiders went on to lead by 1-3 to 0-2 at half-time.

Freezing weather conditions and 24 frees ensured a stop-start first half but hosts Kerry upped the tempo after half-time and were within touching distance with 37 minutes on the watch, trailing by 0-4 to 1-4.

Ní Mhuircheartaigh goaled to put Kerry ahead for the first time at 1-5 to 1-4 before a point from Valerie Mulcahy levelled proceedings.

Cork moved back in front when 2013 Player of the year Geraldine O’Flynn landed a free and Kerry suffered a blow when Julie Brosnan was sent to the sin-bin.

But William O’Sullivan’s charges dug in and were level with two minutes remaining, 1-7 apiece, when Sarah Houlihan pointed.

And in the final minute, Ní Mhuircheartaigh popped over the winner to hand Cork their second loss from four League outings this year.

Elsewhere, Dublin kept up their unbeaten League record with a comfortable 5-9 to 0-7 victory away to Donegal.

Noelle Healy netted twice for the Sky Blues and there were goals too for Siobhan Woods, Lyndsey Davey and Carla Rowe.

Mayo also had a big win as last year’s beaten finalists hammered Laois by 7-10 to 0-9.

Fresh from her magnificent haul of 5-12 in the final of the Páidí Ó’Sé tournament, Cora Staunton was on fire again as she racked up 4-7 against Laois.

Staunton bagged all of Mayo’s 2-5 in the first half as the hosts established a seven-point interval lead.

Martina Dunne responded with all four points for Laois in the first half but the floodgates opened after half-time and the visitors were swamped.

Staunton added another 2-2 as Sarah Roe helped herself to a brace of second half goals.

Aileen Gilroy also raised a green flag for rampant Mayo and not even sin-binnings for Sarah Tierney and Caoilfhionn Connolly could stop their momentum.

And in Killeeshil, Monaghan also preserved an unbeaten start to the season by scoring a comprehensive 4-15 to 0-6 victory on their travels against Ulster rivals tyrone.

Monaghan led by 2-10 to 0-2 at half-time as Caitriona McConnell and Caoimhe Mohan struck for goals.

McConnell (penalty) and Niamh Kindlon, an All-Ireland medallist back in 1997, added further goals for the Farney County in the second half.

In Division 2, there were victories for Westmeath, Down, Galway and Kildare.

In Division 3, Waterford, Tipperary, Wexford and Armagh recorded wins while Limerick, Wicklow and Roscommon collected victories in Division 4.

 

Results:

 

Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League Division 1:

 

Kerry 1-8 Cork 1-7

Donegal 0-7 Dublin 5-9

Mayo 7-10 Laois 0-9

Tyrone 0-6 Monaghan 4-15

 

Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League Division 2:

 

Westmeath 1-18 Meath 2-7

Cavan 0-11 Down 3-10

Clare 1-4 Galway 4-12

Fermanagh 1-5 Kildare 3-9

 

Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League Division 3:

 

Longford 0-5 Waterford 6-15

Tipperary 6-13 Sligo 5-3

Wexford 2-11 Leitrim 0-13

Armagh 3-14 Offaly 0-3

 

Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League Division 4:

 

Louth 0-12 Wicklow 1-11

Derry 2-3 Limerick 7-8

Roscommon 3-14 Antrim 2-7