Mayo, Dublin and Laois secured qualification for the quarter-finals of the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC with victories over Kerry, Waterford and Sligo yesterday.
Cora Staunton finished with nine points for Mayo as the Connacht champions accounted for the Kingdom by 0-16 to 0-7.
They led by 0-11 to 0-4 at half time and were in cruise control after the resumption, as a very disappointing Kerry never threatened a comeback.
Dublin were given a huge fright by Waterford as the Munster finalists scored three late goals from Karen Kelly, Mary O’Rourke and Niamh Briggs to come from 11 points down to lose by just one at the end, 3-9 to 3-8.
Gerry McGill’s side led by 2-7 to 0-7 at the break after a brace of goals from Sinéad Aherne and a brilliant penalty save by Cliodhna O’Connor.
When Ann Marie Murphy drove to the net after a brilliant move, it looked all over bar the shouting, but Waterford came with a late rally that fell agonisingly short.
Laois booked their place in the last eight with a 2-17 to 2-7 win over Sligo. The Leinster queenpins were in imperious form in the first half to lead by 2-12 to 1-3 courtesy of goals from Eimear Fitzpatrick and Tracey Lawlor, with Bernice Byrne replying for Sligo after Bernice Deegan had saved Marian O’Donnell’s shot.
The second half was a non-event although Gráinne O’Gara in the Sligo defence must take credit for limiting the Laois attack, while substitute Imelda McNulty struck for a consolation goal.
The O’Moores’ qualification was confirmed when Tyrone beat Sligo in Omagh by 3-9 to 2-7.
Ailish Gormley gave the Red Hands a significant boost with a goal from long range but Donegal struck back with points from Niamh Hegarty to trail by just 1-3 to 0-5 at the change of ends.
It was nip and tuck after the resumption but Gemma Begley’s two second half goals gave the winners the upper hand until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Armagh placed one foot in the last eight by overcoming a doughty Meath effort in Clones.
The Orchard women would have been kicking themselves if they had lost, however, as they had shot a plethora of wides while Alma O’Donnell had a penalty saved by Irene Munnelly, who also pulled off a wonderful first half stop.
It looked like they might pay for their wastefulness as Meath - with Jackie Shiels, Katie O’Brien and Louise McKeever prominent - moved into a one-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Armagh finished strongly in the final quarter, however, with Aileen Matthews slotting a pair of frees to gain the victory.
Results:
Group 1: Mayo 0-16 Kerry 0-7; Dublin 3-9 Waterford 3-8
Group 3: Laois 2-17 Sligo 2-7; Tyrone 3-9 Donegal 0-7
Group 4: Armagh 0-12 Meath 0-10
