Defending champions Cork picked up where they left off last year as they opened the defence of their Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League crown with a comprehensive 2-12 to 0-04 victory against outclassed Kildare on Saturday.
The Rebelettes, All-Ireland champions for the last four seasons, were in terrific form at Cork IT, with the game was effectively over at half-time as Cork led by 2-6 to 0-1.
Lethal forwards Valerie Mulcahy and Mary O’Connor supplied the first half goals and, while the Lilywhites made more of a game of it in the second half, this was the best possible start to the new season.
Elsewhere, last year’s beaten finalists Kerry earned a hard-fought 2-06 to 1-06 victory against hosts Armagh at Killeavey.
Armagh led by 0-05 to 0-04 at half-time but goals from Linda Cronin and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh turned the game in favour of the Kingdom as the visitors moved 2-6 to 0-5 in front with ten minutes remaining.
Substitute Kelly Mallon brought Armagh back into the game with a goal, followed by an Aileen Matthews point, but Kerry held on for the opening day win.
Meanwhile, there was a dramatic finish in Killanin as hosts Galway were defeated 1-09 to 1-06 by Clare.
The game was heading for stalemate before Clare’s Louise Henchy stole the points, netting with the last kick of the game to secure a dramatic win for the Banner County.
The sides were level at 1-3 to 0-6 at half-time as Sarah Burke supplied Galway’s first half goal.
Tyrone proved Mayo’s bogey once again as the influential Gemma Begley hit 0-05 for the Red Hands in their 1-9 to 1-7 victory at Trillick.
Tyrone led by 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time as Dearbhla McCallan pounced for a 7th minute goal.
Four minutes after half-time, Mayo star Cora Staunton, who finished with 1-05, scored a deflected goal to haul the Westerners right back into contention but Tyrone held out for a notable victory.
Dublin showed that they could be a real force to be reckoned with in the coming season as they shocked last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Monaghan on a 4-7 to 1-7 scoreline.
Niamh Hurley scored 2-02 for the Sky Blues while Sinéad Ahern and Lindsey Davey supplied the other goals for the winners, who led by 1-05 to 0-02 at half-time.
Edel Byrne scored a second half goal for Monaghan which proved merely a consolation as the Metropolitans laid down an early marker.
And Laois went goal-crazy against hapless Donegal at Mountmellick en route to a facile 7-12 to 1-05 win.
The O’Moore girls led by 4-05 to 1-03 at half-time and never took their foot off the gas in the second half as Tracey Lawlor finished as top scorer with 2-04.
Aileen O’Loughlin and Áine Quigley helped themselves to a brace of goals each and Martina Kirwan weighed in with 1-03 as Nora Stapleton replied with Donegal’s goal.
