Reigning Division 1 Champions Kerry had a fine win over All-Ireland Champions Dublin on Saturday evening. Meath put in an excellent performance as they defeated Mayo by six points in the Connacht Airdrome.
Armagh 2-08 Waterford 2-03
First half goals from Aimee Mackin and Aoife McCoy helped Armagh to a five point win over Waterford.
Waterford had taken an earlier lead with a goal from Lauren McGregor but the Orchard County hit back with Mackin and then McCoy raising the green flag. McGregor got a second goal before the break as Armagh led 2-06 to 2-00.
Waterford outscored Armagh three points to two in the second half but the damage was already done in the first half.
Cork 1-06 Galway 0-05
Katie Quirke scored 1-06 as Cork gained revenge on Galway in their opening game of Division 1 in Mallow. Last year Galway got the better of Cork but this year it was the Rebel County that were full value for the win.
Quirke scored all of Cork’s five first half points as they led at half-time 0-05 to 0-01. Ailbhe Davoren scored Galway’s point.
In the 41st minute Quirke found the back of the net as Cork went ahead by nine points. That was to be Cork’s last score of the game. Galway kicked over four points in the second half but there was no dramatic comeback.
Dublin 0-06 Kerry 1-08
Division 1 Champions Kerry made a fine start to their league campaign with five points to spare against Dublin in Parnell Park.
Emma Dineen scored 1-3 for the Kingdom as they got the better of the All-Ireland Champions. Dublin only scored one point in the first half while Kerry fired over five.
Dineen grabbed the game’s only goal in the 41st minute. In the 47th minute Kerry were ahead by nine points. Dublin hit a purple patch near the end but Kerry had done enough to claim the win.
Mayo 1-13 Meath 2-18
Emma Duggan kicked 0-09 as Meath recorded an excellent win away to Mayo in an entertaining encounter.
The sides were level five times in the opening half before a goal from Tara Needham in the 16th minute put Mayo ahead by two. Meath replied with a goal from Meadbh Byrne. A second goal from Byrne before the interval gave the Royal County a five point lead.
Points were exchanged in the early stages of the second half before Meath took control of the game with Marion Farrelly and Duggan kicking over points. Mayo had no answer as they slipped to a six point defeat.
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Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland