Clare v Roscommon

Carlow v Limerick

Longford v Clare

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Galway v Kerry

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Donegal 0-10 – 1-5 Waterford

SFC: McLaughlin bags 7 as Donegal edge Waterford

Geraldine McLaughlin scored 0-7 to help Donegal earn a hard fought win over Waterford in the opening round of the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship at a blustery Birr.

BY TOMÁS MCCARTHY

Maxi Curran’s side led by six points early in the second half but had to hold off a late rally from a determined Déise outfit. A goal from substitute Aisling Mullaney left just one point between them entering the closing stages, before Yvonne Bonner sealed victory for Donegal.

On an afternoon of sunshine and showers, Hannah Power and Geraldine McLaughlin (free) traded early points. Lauren McGregor edged Waterford back in front as the Waterford blanket defence frustrated their opponents. Donegal full back Evelyn McGinley was sin-binned on 14 minutes for a trip on Annie Fitzgerald.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Katy Herron levelled matters at 0-2 to 0-2. Geraldine McLaughlin’s second free put Donegal ahead for the first time on 22 minutes. The Ulster runners-up had a goal chance off Waterford’s short kickout but Megan Dunford cut out the danger.

Curran’s side led 0-3 to 0-2 after a cagey opening half. Waterford absorbed three minutes of Donegal pressure before Laura Mulcahy made a big catch on the edge of the square.

Geraldine McLaughlin tapped over another free three minutes into the second half. Waterford were then awarded a penalty as Katie Murray was pulled back after her sister Emma sent her through on goal. Kellyann Hogan fired the spot kick right and wide, however.

At the other end, Katie O’Hanlon saved a low shot from Geraldine McLaughlin. The TG4 All-Star attacker was fouled earlier in the move and converted her fourth free of the evening.

She added two more before substitute Susanne White scored from play to make it 0-8 to 0-2. Chloe Fennell then kicked Waterford’s first point in 33 minutes. Pat Sullivan made a double substitution and it worked straight away as Mullaney slipped the ball to the bottom corner.

Geraldine McLaughlin nearly caught out O’Hanlon with a lob but her shot landed over the bar instead of under. Points from Kate McGrath and Bríd McMaugh left just one between them with nine minutes left.

Nevertheless, Bonner nailed a point from 40 metres with six minutes left to get Donegal across the line after a close encounter.

Roscommon 0-9 – 1-5 Wexford

Roscommon edge Wexford to take Division 3 silverware

Roscommon emerged victorious over Wexford by the smallest margin thanks to a 63rd minute Roise Lennon free kick in what was a cagey Lidl National League Division 3 final.

Despite receiving two yellow cards over the course of the game, Roscommon were the more clinical in front of goal throughout a low scoring affair. Wexford missed several great chances late in the game which allowed the Rossies edge a dramatic finale.

Wexford started the game the better and dominated play in the game's early stages. Two frees from Catriona Murray put the Slaneysiders ahead while Roscommon struggled to get out of their own half amid pressure from their opponents.

The Rossies had to fight through a packed midfield to get near to goal and Laura Fleming pointed a free-kick to earn them their first score on six minutes.

Wexford hit back with a point from Sherene Hamilton, who came very close to goal after she received a cutting pass from the Wexford midfield, and another excellent effort from Amy Wilson.

The tide turned in Roscommon's favour as they got on more ball and spent more time in the Wexford area as the half went on.

Jenny Higgins scored a point while Laura Fleming added another two to her side's tally from frees.

Roscommon's momentum slowed when Lisa O'Rourke received a yellow on 23 minutes and the play became even tighter.

Catriona Murray again stepped up for Wexford to put over another free which saw her side lead by a point going into half-time.

The opening stages of the second-half were quite poor and neither side scored for the first 9 minutes as shots fell short or went well wide of the target.

Roscommon's star forward Aisling Hanley looked out of sorts in the first half and was replaced by the more than capable Roise Lennon but it was another substitute, Lauren Shanagher, who opened the scoring in the half, bringing the Rossies level with a great point on 39 minutes almost immediately after coming on.

Sarah Harding-Kenny featured off the bench for Wexford with 15 minutes remaining after playing earlier in the day in the Division 2 Camogie final which saw her county defeat Waterford but as Roscommon notched another point the Slaneysiders appeared to be in trouble.

Catriona Murray had other ideas, however, and finished off a Wexford move forward with a fantastic goal from outside the box to bring her side unexpectedly a point ahead.

Wexford were soon behind again though, as Roise Lennon nailed a free kick to bring things level despite defender Rachel Fitzmaurice receiving a yellow card on 50 minutes.

Catriona Murray and Ellen O'Brien missed two golden chances to give Wexford the lead again after the hour mark and Roise Lennon made sure she didn't do the same thing when she stepped up to give Roscommon the lead with a free kick on 63 minutes.

As the time ticked away Wexford were desperate to get forward and had one last chance but Murray was unable to kick a free from distance to bring things level.

With time up Roscommon were Division 3 champions and promoted, emulating the success of the men's side who were also victorious in their Division 2 final at Croke Park today.

Limerick 4-4 – 3-12 Offaly

Promotion for Offaly & D4 silverware as Faithful dig in for home final win

A fine second half performance saw Offaly defeat Limerick in the Lidl Division 4 National League Final today to earn a hard-fought for promotion to Division 3.

It was a case of goals win games at St. Brendan's Park in Birr as Limerick kept there necks in front early in the fixture thanks to three first half goals to keep Offaly at bay.

The Faithful County raised the green flag three times themselves in the second half however, to add to their decent tally of points and finally pull away from Limerick.

The final got off to a blistering start, with the Treaty County's Mairead Kavanagh notching a point and Catriona Davis scoring a goal in the first minute of the game.

Ellee McEvoy led Offaly forward, scoring three successive points to bring her side back into the game while a Fiona Dempsey point levelled the match on 11 minutes.

Driven by wing forward Cathy Mee, Limerick continued to have forays into the Offaly half but a lack of composure in front of the goalposts saw the side fail to score again in the first 15 minutes as a point from Emma Hand saw the Faithful lead into the water break.

Offaly added a brace of points as the first-half continued and looked to be pulling away but two goals from Iris Kennelly saw Limerick storm back into contention as the Treaty County took advantage of their opponent's open defence. The Faithful County had no such luck going forward and were forced to take their scores from distance and Limerick led by a point at half-time

Limerick looked to have the edge early in the second half as they found their point-scoring boots but Offaly added a few points of their own to stay in touch though still lacked that killer blow.

That changed just before the second water break as they finally notched a goal and then two more in quick succession through Emma Hand, Ciara Walsh, and Ellie McEvoy, putting some clear distance between they and their stunned opponents who had been reliant on goals all game.

Limerick got a fourth goal soon after through Cathy Mee but the gap between the two sides proved too much as Offaly saw out the game in a professional manner for a well-earned final victory and promotion to next years Division 3.