Dublin v Meath

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Kildare v Wexford

Carlow v Kilkenny

Laois v Meath

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Laois v Monaghan

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Kilkenny v Limerick

Dublin 2-14 – 1-7 Mayo

SFC: Dunne inspires Dublin win

Jennifer Dunne inspired Dublin to victory and top of Group A in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship at Mayo’s expense in MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

BY KEVIN EGAN

This was Dublin’s third win from three in the group, as last year’s beaten finalists set up a clash with Donegal in the quarter-finals. Mayo are also into the last eight where they will face Cork.

Michael Moyles’ side had the breeze at their backs in the first half but Dublin still burst out of the blocks with two early points from Carla Rowe and Nicole Owens. With kicking from distance an option at the other end, Mayo were able to get on the scoreboard throughout the first half through Tara Needham,

Sinéad Walsh and Sinéad Cafferky, but they weren’t able to pile on the pressure, and Dublin secured an 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead, despite not kicking any score from more than 20 metres out.

Dunne took advantage of the increased scoring range when she hoisted over a magnificent point to open the scoring in the second half, and while Ciara Whyte replied immediately for Mayo, that was to be their third last point.

Defensively, Mayo held out for as long as they could but their faint hopes of pulling off an upset were all but extinguished when Rowe and Dunne set up Kate Sullivan for the game’s first goal in eighth minute of the second half, pushing the lead out to seven points.

A measure of the quality available to Dublin manager Mick Bohan was when he was able to spring four-time All-Ireland winner Lyndsey Davey off the bench and the Skerries Harps player made an immediate impact after coming in, adding the finishing touch to Owens’ pass for Dublin’s second goal.

Hannah Tyrrell also featured strongly in the second half, scoring three times, but she also picked up a yellow card with 10 minutes to play, and this opened the door for Mayo to enjoy an increased share of the play in the closing stages.

Their unflinching efforts were rewarded when Lisa Cafferky pounced on a breaking ball and sidestepped Ciara Trant for a late goal, but they still have questions to answer in advance of what’s sure to be a tough test against the Rebel County next time.

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Cork 2-10 – 1-5 Waterford

SFC: Cork deny Waterford knock-out berth

Doireann O’Sullivan shot 1-7 and Cork survived a stern test of their TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship credentials with victory over Waterford at MW Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

BY KEVIN EGAN

Shane Ronayne’s side had to come from four points down against their Munster rivals before securing their place in the quarter-finals as Group D winners following a double-scores result.

Waterford have now been plunged into the relegation series and a one-off battle for survival against Monaghan, but they will take huge heart from their first 20 minutes against the Rebels this evening.

Aided by a strong breeze in the first half, Pat Sullivan’s charges conceded the first point to a free but immediately struck two gorgeous scores from the boot of Katie Murray to hit the front.

The Déise women were enjoying plenty of possession in the early exchanges and starved the talented Cork attackers of the ball, up until a poorly-placed short kick-out was seized by Áine O’Sullivan, 30 metres out from the Waterford goal.

Two quick passes later, the ball was in the hands of Doireann O’Sullivan, who duly picked out the bottom corner of the net with a very composed finish.
Waterford’s response was exemplary, as they retook the initiative through a Lauren McGregor goal, tapped in from close range after Annie Fitzgerald timed her pass perfectly.

When Katie McGrath sent a soaring kick over the bar from 35 metres, Waterford were 1-5 to 1-1 in front, and had a real chance of delivering an upset.

Arguably the next ten minutes was the winning of the game for Cork as they took control of possession, and halved the deficit by half-time. Ciara O’Sullivan’s deft work led to a glorious point, and realistically, a two-point interval lead was never likely to be enough for Waterford.

Defensively, Waterford held out well, aided by a couple of excellent saves from Katie O’Hanlon and good play from captain Karen McGrath, but in Doireann O’Sullivan, Cork had a free-scoring attacker that simply wouldn’t be denied.

From frees and from play, the Mourneabbey star clipped over points with ruthless accuracy to give Cork the lead, before turning provider for the clinching goal after 53 minutes.

Her delivery into the Waterford square was brilliantly fielded by Libby Coppinger, who held off the challenge of O’Hanlon to get her shot away and rattle the net, giving Cork enough breathing room to comfortably see out their win.

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Laois v Tyrone

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Laois v Wexford

Provincial Intermediate Championship Round Up

Clare made it three wins from three in the Connacht Championship with victory over Sligo on Friday night. Although they were the only county unbeaten in the province they can’t partake in the final.

In Leinster Kildare and Wexford will meet in the Intermediate Final. The Lilywhites got the better of Offaly in their semi-final while Wexford came from 11 points down to defeat Laois, after extra-time. 

Connacht Intermediate Championship

Clare 3-13 Sligo 1-10

Clare made it three wins from three in the Connacht Championship when they defeated Sligo by nine points on Friday night.

Amy Sexton scored two goals while Lauren Conway also raised the green flag. The lead was 10 points at the break as the Banner County started the game very well. After 20 minutes they held a four point lead and were 2-10 to 0-06 in front at the break.

Sligo tried to stage a comeback and grabbed a goal in the second half but Clare added 1-07 to their tally after the break. Lizzy Roach scored 0-5 while Aisling Reidy chipped in with four in a fine win for the Banner County.

Leinster Intermediate Championship semi-finals

Kildare 5-14 Offaly 3-06

Kildare advanced to the Leinster Final with a comprehensive win over Offaly in Hawkfield. The Lilywhites took the game to Offaly straight from the throw-in and scored four of their five goals in the opening half as they held a 12 point lead going in at the break.

Nessa Dooley scored a brace of goals while Orlaith Sullivan and Grace Clifford scored a goal each in the first half. Kildare were ahead by five in the early exchanges but a goal from Maria Byrne brought Offaly right into the game and minutes later it was a one point game but Dooley’s second goal extended Kildare’s lead soon after and killed off the Offaly challenge.

Dooley completed her hat-trick after the break while Sarah Kehoe and Byrne scored late goals for the Faithful County.

Laois 4-14 Wexford 4-16

The game of the weekend took place in Portlaoise where Wexford advanced after an extra-time win over .

Wexford forced the game to extra-time when they came from 11 points down. Orlagh Kehoe hit a stunning goal near the end of normal time to draw her side level. Wexford held a three point lead at half-time in extra-time. Mo Nerney cut that gap to one but a Bernie Breen point gave Wexford a two point win.

Breen had given Wexford an early lead, scoring the game’s opening point but Laois replied with a goal from Laura Marie Maher. Nerney got Laois’ second goal but it was cancelled out by Aisling Murphy’s effort. Ellen Healy and Eva Galvin added goals as Laois extended their lead to 11 points but Tara Doyle raised the green flag for Wexford as they trailed at half-time 4-07 to 2-05.

Nerney hit over two fine points in the second half to keep Laois ahead but her second point was their last score of that half as Wexford produced a stunning comeback. Doyle got her second goal of the game to leave it a three point game before Kehoe made sure there was extra-time.

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