Cork’s remarkable winning streak stretched to 30 not out in competitive games, as they recorded a 3-07 to 0-08 victory over Kildare in Clonoulty to conclude the group stages of the Suzuki Ladies National Football League sitting proudly on top of Division 1B.
They will be joined in the quarter-finals by Galway, Meath, Armagh, Kerry, Mayo and Monaghan, with the pick of the quarter-finals undoubtedly being the repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final between Cork and Armagh. Meanwhile, Waterford and Donegal have been relegated to Division 2.
Goals from Valerie Mulcahy and Laura McMahon inside the opening seven minutes gave the Rebelettes the perfect start to yesterday’s game and they held a comfortable nine point advantage at the break.
Kildare introduced Carol Bergin and Simone Gilabert and the latter, working her way back to fitness after having a baby, weighed in with three points as Pat Ryan’s team put it up to the dominant force in ladies football.
An outstanding individual goal from centre-forward McMahon mid-way through the second half brought the Kildare resistance to an end, however, and though Tracy Noone slotted four points for the Lady Lilies, a similar tally from dual star Mary O’Connor ensured that the defending champions maintained their phenomenal run of victories.
Kerry bounced back from last week’s defeat to Mayo with a four-point victory over Armagh under lights at Crettyard on Friday night to secure top spot in Division 1A. A first half goal from Deborah Murphy sent the Kingdom on their way to a 1-05 to 0-05 half time lead as Armagh struggled to cope with the lively Kerry attack in which Sarah O’Connor and Geraldine O’Shea also impressed.
The Orchard women lost Sinéad McLeary early on with a shoulder injury but fought back from a poor opening with Aileen Matthews and Alma O’Donnell kicking some fine points. Patrice Dennehy struck the match-winning goal after Caroline Kelly started a move involving six players and hard though Armagh tried, they never looked like retrieving the situation.
Elsewhere, Mayo coasted to a 3-09 to 0-03 victory over Tyrone at Fintona. The foundations for their success were laid in the first half when a Fiona McHale goal helped establish a 1-05 to 0-00 interval advantage despite playing into a strong wind.
The second half was a procession, with Marcella Heffernan driving the winners forward relentlessly. Further goals from Cora Staunton, who compiled a personal tally of 1-4, and substitute Michelle Ruane set the seal on a very comfortable win.
Meath and Galway produced another cracking game following their All-Ireland quarter-final draw last year and the teams could not be separated once again, finishing level at 1-11 each at the end of a pulsating encounter.
The sides were locked together at the interval on 1-05 apiece, with Katie O’Brien’s goal for Meath being cancelled out by Ann Marie McDonagh. It was point-for-point after the resumption and a share of the spoils was the fairest conclusion.
Meanwhile, Waterford made a brave bid to avoid the drop and led by a point against Laois at the change of ends, but with Tracey Lawlor weighing in with seven points and Nóirín Kirwan slotting three, the O’Moore girls were able to secure victory despite the Trojan efforts of Mary O’Donnell and Linda Wall.
Monaghan consigned Donegal to Division 2 and secured the final quarter-final spot that was up for grabs this weekend with a 3-06 to 0-04 win in Convoy.
Results: Division 1A: Kerry 2-7 Armagh 0-10; Mayo 3-9 Tyrone 0-3; Laois 0-11 Waterford 0-7.
Division 1B: Cork 3-7 Kildare 0-8; Monaghan 3-6 Donegal 0-4; Meath 1-11 Galway 1-11.
