Crettyard GAA
TipperaryCavan v Waterford
Waterford will play Senior Championship Football in 2024, as they were 14 point winners over Cavan in Crettyard, sending them down to the Intermediate grade next year. Not a familiar sight seeing Waterford in Navy and Cavan in White, but that was the case ahead of throw in, a game where the prize was safety, it was tight in the opening exchanges, but Waterford’s running was hard to match. Kellyann Hogan, Lauren McGregor and the Murray contingent were all at their sparkling best, while Sadbha Hallihan goaled in the opening half, a big score that saw them stretch a lead they never lost. Cavan started on the front foot, Aishling Sheridan was at the end of a move that cut open the Waterford defence, she grabbed the opening point in the opening minute, a sniff of a goal chance being so close to goal, but the shot went over the bar, Aisling Gilsenan gave them a two point lead after eight minutes. The Deise responded well, Lauren McGregor and three points from Kellyann Hogan built a two point lead at the end of the opening quarter, Aine Smith sent over a fine point to make it a one point game, but at the other end Sadbha Hallihan palmed the ball to the net after a Lauren McGregor shot dropped short and is saved by the Cavan keeper Roisin O’Reilly. Waterford pressed on from that score, despite McGregor being sent to the bin with a yellow card after 22 minutes, points from Hogan, Hallinan and Katie Murray, giving them a 1-08 to 0-03 lead at the break. Murray had a goal chance for Waterford saved well by O’Reilly in the second half, as the teams started to exchange scores in the early minutes, Annie Dennher and Cara McCaffrey, who was tasked with frees for Cavan in the second half, while for Waterford McGregor and Murray both added points. McCaffrey added three points in a row to cut the gap, but the Deise were still looking strong in front of goal, McGregor and Brid McMaugh putting Waterford ten ahead, 1-15 to 0-18. They finished with a flurry as Catherine Hynes, McGregor and McMaugh, who kicked three in a cameo from the bench, capped off a strong outing to see them remain in the Senior grade.
Waterford Secure Senior Status For 2024
WaterfordKilkenny 1-5 – 7-19 Sligo
Sligo comfortable victors over Kilkenny
A first-half hattrick from Leah Kelly led Sligo Ladies comfortably past Kilkenny Ladies by a score of 7-19 to 1-5 in their All Ireland Junior Championship Group A matchup.
An early score by Rachel O’Brien got the game underway and scores from Aife Haran and another from O’Brien gave Sligo an early three-point lead.
Kilkenny responded through a Sarah Smith point but this would be the team from Leinster’s only score of the first half.
Sinead Regan claimed the first goal of the game after eight minutes with a calm finish past Niamh Gillen in the Kilkenny goal.
Leah Kelly sparked into life after Regan’s goal, with the Sligo corner forward ruthlessly grabbing a hattrick of goals between the tenth and seventeenth minutes.
Leah Kelly, Rachel O’Brien and Sarah Reynolds chipped in with a flurry of points before the half time whistle, the scoreline 4-9 to 0-1 in favour of Sligo.
The second half started well for Sligo, but a brilliant save from Gillen from Maeve Casserly’s low shot was one of the highlights of the game.
Kilkenny notched three points in a row after Gillen’s tidy save, with two from Kate Purcell and one from Katie Grace creating momentum for the team in amber and black.
But a misjudged ball at the back allowed the clinical Leah Kelly through on goal to slot home her fourth of the afternoon.
Second-half goals from Leah Duffy and Nicola Brennan rubbed salt in the wound for Kilkenny as the team in white extended their massive advantage.
There was a consolation goal for Kilkenny as Kate Purcell’s looping free-kick deceived everyone to give the Kilkenny fans something to cheer about.
Purcell finished with 1-3 as her free kick was the final action of today’s one-sided affair.
Kilkenny remain rooted to the bottom of Group A after another difficult loss. Sligo claims their first win of the group after losing the previous two games to Down and Limerick.
SligoLaois v Tyrone
TyroneRoscommon 1-9 – 6-11 Wexford
Wexford reach Intermediate final with Aisling Murphy starring
Aisling Murphy’s stunning display enabled Wexford to return to the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final after she scored four goals during her side’s demolition of Roscommon in the sweltering heat of Crettyard.
BY IAN COONEY
Lizzy Kent’s team maintained the recent trend of the previous year’s beaten intermediate finalists returning to Croke Park’s showpiece a year later, and they were full value for this comfortable victory on the Laois/Kilkenny border.
Murphy ended up with a personal tally of 4-3, all from play, and the dye was cast inside a minute when the Gusserane full-forward shook the Roscommon net.
Roscommon, who had beaten Wexford by a point in the Lidl NFL Division 3 decider in early April, did recover initially when Fiona Tully’s effort to the left of goal crept under Mary Rose Kelly’s crossbar, for a much-needed goal for Oliver Lennon’s side.
Further points from Niamh Feeney and Roisín Wynne gleaned further encouragement for the Connacht outfit but when Kellie Kearney was fouled in the 16th minute, after her initial effort came back off the post, Catriona Murray emphatically dispatched the resultant penalty.
Wexford’s pace and ability to find huge gaps through the centre of the Roscommon rearguard were their trump card, and two rapid-fire moves, after the westerners had turned over possession cheaply, ended with Murphy bagging her hat-trick of goals before the break as her side led by 4-5 to 1-5.
The teams swapped scores at the beginning of the new half, with Natalie McHugh and Aisling Hanly adding to Roscommon’s tally. Murphy and Bernie Breen (free) were on target for Wexford before the winners’ fourth goal arrived in the 46th minute. Predictably it was Murphy who got it after being set up by Murray when two Roscommon defenders collided.
Both sides emptied their bench after that, but there was still time for Wexford defender Shauna Murphy to grab her side’s sixth goal after Ciara Banville made inroads through the centre of the park.
Aisling Murphy and Murray found themselves in the sin bin for the last ten minutes, as did Roscommon’s
Aisling MacAuliffe, but the game was already done and dusted.
Wexford are heading back to Croke Park, while Roscommon have to settle for Division 2 football and the intermediate ranks in 2023.
WexfordLaois v Clare
Roundup: Lidl NFL Div2
Kerry, Laois, Monaghan and Armagh all got off to the perfect start in the Lidl Ladies National Football League, as they recorded victories in Division 2. The biggest scalp of which came as newly promoted Laois, came from behind to beat Clare.
Lidl NFL Division 2A:
Kerry 0-11 Tipperary 1-4; Fitzgerald Stadium
Kerry began their 2022 Division 2 season with a four point win over Tipperary in Killarney. Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh managed eight points as they helped to drive Kerry over the line.
The game as a contest started off tame as both teams struggled to find the posts early, the Kingdom steadied themselves to lead 0-6 to 0-1 at half time as the visitors could not hit the mark.
Ni Mhuircheartaigh extended their lead further into the second half, but 1-2 in a matter of minutes helped The Premier County back into the tie, Angela McGuigan getting the only goal of the game.
Laois 2-12 Clare 2-7; Crettyard GAA Club
Newly promoted Laois claimed a big scalp as they managed their first win in division 2 this afternoon,
The visitors, who had the aid of the breeze in the opening half, raced into a 2-2 to no score lead after just ten minutes. Laois fought back brilliantly to be in the lead at half time, 1-7 to 2-3.
Mo Nerney got a goal in each half for Laois while Erone Fizpatrick kicked four brilliant points over the course of the hour. A huge scalp for 2021 TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate semi-finalists.
Lidl NFL Division 2B:
Cavan 0-9 Monaghan 0-10; St Aidan’s, Templeport
A late free from Jodie McQuilan helped Monaghan to a one point win, over fellow Ulster side Cavan. A late comeback saw the visitors pick up a win in their first league outing.
Monaghan lead 0-5 to 0-3 at half time, having built up a four point lead early on in half. Cavan managed their first score in the 18th minute but could not get a clear run of scores into the interval.
The hosts started the second half with intent and drew level in the 42nd minute, before taking the lead a minute later, 0-7 to 0-6 at the water break. They built out a two point margin late in the half, but three late free’s by McQuilan saw them win by the minimum.
Armagh 5-9 Tyrone 1-10; Wolfe Tone GAC, Derrymacash
Armagh looked dominant as they swept Tyrone aside in an 11 victory this afternoon, a great day of scoring by the hosts, as they netted five times showing early intent for the 2022 championship.
The Orchard County led 4-5 to 0-6 at the interval, as Tyrone who were victorious in the relegation play-off last year, could not contend with the Armagh attack.
Last year's league meeting was a tight affair, but Armagh never put a foot wrong in the tie. Tyrone did find their feet in the second half managing 1-4 in the end, but could be relegation threatened again.
Clare