There were victories for Leitrim, Fermanagh and Carlow as the 2024 Lidl Ladies National Football League got under way with a full set of fixtures in Division 4.
At the home of Feohanagh/Castlemahon GAA in Limerick, meanwhile, the points were shared as the hosts and visitors Wicklow finished level at full-time.
Leitrim, who lost the Division 4 final to Antrim last season, laid down an early marker with a 2-18 to 0-2 victory over home side Kilkenny at the MW Hire Training Centre in Dunmore.
Leitrim were on top from the start and led by 1-10 to 0-00 at half-time, with Ailbhe Clancy scoring the opening goal of the game before the break.
Kilkenny continued to battle gamely throughout but Leitrim scored a second goal before the full-time whistle, with Bronagh O'Rourke finding the net late on.
In Donagh, Fermanagh, semi-finalists last year, showed up well against Longford as they recorded a 2-14 to 1-06 victory.
Attackers Eimear Smyth and Bláithín Bogue were in excellent form for Fermanagh and they were very much to the fore in the opening half as the hosts established a 2-09 to 0-4 interval lead.
Elaine Maguire struck for the opening Fermanagh goal on 21 minutes and Niamh McManus followed up with a second major for the winners before half-time.
Longford struck back with a goal from Niamh Brady early in the second half but Fermanagh kept the scoreboard ticking over to claim a crucial win on the opening day.
At Celtic Park, Carlow made the long trip to Derry a winning one, claiming a 3-07 to 2-05 win.
Second-half goals from Clíodhna Ní Shé and Fia Murphy proved crucial for the Barrowsiders in an entertaining fixture.
At half-time, Orla McGeough had all four of Derry’s points as the sides were deadlocked at 0-04 to 1-01, with Maeve O’Neill finding the net for Carlow.
Cara Donnelly’s goal after half-time had Derry 1-04 to 1-02 in front but Carlow responded with green flags raised by Ní Shé and Murphy to help establish a 3-04 to 1-05 advantage.
Derry hit back with a goal from Erin Doherty but Carlow, despite losing Murphy to a yellow card late on, held out for a vital win, as the home side were left to rue five wides in the opening half.
Elsewhere, Limerick and Wicklow fought out a draw in their opening game – and they couldn’t be separated at half-time either, with the sides going in level at 0-02 apiece.
Iris Kennelly scored the game’s only goal on the restart to hand Limerick a three-point buffer but Wicklow, with Sinead McGettigan prominent, recovered to claim a 0-06 to 1-03 draw.
Next Sunday, Leitrim will entertain Wicklow, Limerick are at home to Derry, Fermanagh will make the trip to Carlow, and Kilkenny will play host to Longford.
