Fitzgerald Stadium
TipperaryKerry v Galway
GalwayKerry v Mayo
MayoKerry v Waterford
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored 1-4 off the bench to inspire Kerry to a six points victory over a dogged Waterford outfit at Fitzgerald Stadium in the second round of the Lidl National Football League Division 1. Ní Mhuircheartaigh entered proceedings in the 47th minute when Kerry were a point ahead but the Footballer of the Year then took with a fine performance that included a beautiful lobbed goal in the 64th minute. Waterford, playing into the wind and rain in the opening half, got off to a whirlwind start after 45 seconds when Kellyann Hogan scored a fortuitous goal as her tame shot slipped through the hands of an unsighted Kerry netminder Mary Ellen Bolger. Bríd McMaugh followed with a point on five minutes and as Waterford continued to boss the opening exchanges a free from Hogan fell short for Mairead O’Brien to punch to the net . That put Waterford 2-1 to 0-0 after 10 minutes before Kerry finally got moving. Their comeback started when Niamh Carmody pointed her first of four frees in the half following a foul on Jadyn Lucey, and Lucey hit the back of the net soccer style in the 14th minute after being put through by Carmody. Carmody added another free and then Emma Dineen put over when she might have goaled and suddenly Kerry were just a single point behind, 1-3 to 2-1, with eight minutes left in the first half. Waterford needed a lifeline of their own and they got it when Aine O’Neill drove through for a good score but two Niamh Carmody frees saw the sides go in level at half time, 1-5 to 2-2. Half time substitute Danielle O’Leary gave Kerry the lead for the first time in the game four minutes into the second half and followed up three minutes later with another beautiful score. Alannah McNulty got one back for the visitors and the Kerry goal was living dangerously but Mairead O’Brien’s effort was ruled out for a throw ball. Ní Mhuircheartaigh then entered the game and popped over a free and by the 59th minute the sides were level at 1-11 to 2-5 apiece. Then came Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s goal after she was fed by Danielle O’Leary and Kerry were able to see out the remainder of the game. By DAN KEARNEY
Louise leads Kingdom to Waterford Win after Slow Start
WaterfordKerry 2-17 – 0-9 Westmeath
SFC: Kerry through to the quarters
Half-time substitute Rachel Dwyer scored 1-5 and Kerry advanced to the quarter-finals of the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship after victory over Westmeath at a windy Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.
The victors, who go through as Group C winners, also ensured that Westmeath would face into a relegation play-off after their second consecutive defeat.
Kerry made six changes to their line-up from the Galway game but it mattered little as they raced into a 1-5 to 0-0 lead after just 13 minutes, playing with the wind at their backs. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored two early frees before the returning Síofra O’Shea got her first of two first half points in the 8th minute, to push Kerry three ahead.
Katie Brosnan and Niamh Carmody then added scores in the 11th and 12th minutes before Ní Mhuircheartaigh punched to the net after excellent approach work from Mary O’Connell. Westmeath looked in serious bother but started to string some cohesive moves together and Sarah Dillon and Karen Hegarty pointed to reduce the deficit.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh stemmed the Westmeath tide with a lovely score in the 25th minute after a great clearance from Eilis Lynch, but once again Westmeath fought back and the impressive Sarah Lynch scored a free from an acute angle, and Chloe Kelly popped up from the backs to slot another effort to bring the score to 1-6 to 0-4 with one minute remaining.
The last two scores of the half belonged to Kerry though with Katie Brosnan and O’Shea getting their second points of the game to see the Kingdom take a 1-8 to 0-4 lead into half-time.
Impressive substitute Dwyer got an early second half goal for Kerry when she punched in from close range and O’Shea was unlucky a minute later when her effort was miraculously cleared off the line.
Westmeath tried hard but could not find a way past a resolute Kerry defence and by 50 minutes the result was beyond doubt as Kerry led by 2-14 to 0-6.Sarah Dillon (free) and Lucy Power continued to carry the fight for Westmeath but in the end, scores from Niamh Broderick and two from Dwyer (one free), sealed top spot for Kerry.
WestmeathCork 2-11 – 1-9 Kerry
Cork crowned Munster Champions
Orla Finn scored 1-3 and Cork retained their TG4 Munster SFC title at the expense of Kerry at a sun-kissed Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.
The Kingdom were guilty of kicking six wides during an entertaining opening quarter in which they dominated possession. Cork proved more clinical in front of goal, however, Finn and Libby Coppinger points preceeded an Emma Cleary penalty to make it 1-2 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartcaigh, Anna Galvin and Lorraine Scanlon scored to keep Kerry on the front foot before the former and Áine Terry O’Sullivan exchanged scores. Then, in the 22nd minute, Ní Mhuircheartcaigh reacted quickest to a Meabh O’Sullivan save and found the net from close range.
Cork’s reaction was positive with Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Doireann O’Sullivan (free) making it 1-5 to 1-4. A superb Cork move ended with Ciara O’Sullivan releasing Finn who made no mistake with a rasping finish to the net. The Kinsale forward added a terrific point and Cork went in at half-time leading by 2-6 to 1-4.
Danielle O’Leary got Kerry’s first score of the second period and a series of turnovers enabled the Kingdom enjoy a purple patch. Yet, the hosts failure to capitalise allowed Cork reassert control. Doireann O’Sullivan and Louise Ní Mhuircheataigh exchanged frees as Cork maintained their four-point advantage heading into the final quarter.
Ní Mhuircheataigh (free) and O’Leary brought Kerry to within two but Laura O’Mahony responded with a fisted point and Finn (free) quickly restored their team’s advantage. Cork finished strongly with late scores from Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Rachel Leahy cementing a deserved victory.
Kerry v Tipperary
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.