There were victories for Kerry, Armagh, Cork and Meath in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League as the top flight campaign got underway at the weekend.
At Parnell Park on Saturday evening, Kerry ousted Dublin by 1-8 to 0-6 as the reigning league champions defeated the All-Ireland winners. Emma Dineen struck 1-3 for Kerry, who led by 0-5 to 0-1 at the break.
Dublin, who had eight starters of their All-Ireland final team on board compared to five for the Kingdom, rallied with scores from Niamh Hetherton and Kate Murray but new Kerry skipper Niamh Carmody extended their lead to get their campaign off to a winning start.
On Sunday, Armagh, Cork and Meath got their seasons off to winning starts with victories over Waterford, Galway and Mayo respectively.
A superb individual display from Katie Quirke ensured Cork were successful at Bishopstown when she scored their entire total in a 1-6 to 0-5 triumph over Galway.
Cork led by 0-6 to 0-1 at the interval after opting to play with the strong wind and while they managed only one score after the break, that 38th minute goal from Quirke was decisive.
Galway responded and Roisin Leonard came off the bench to land a couple of good points but they were unable to get in for the goal they really needed to mount a successful comeback.
Most of the scores came in the opening half in Crossmaglen where Armagh scored a 2-8 to 2-3 win over Waterford.
Goals from Aimee Mackin and Aoife McCoy pushed Armagh 2-6 to 2-0 in front at the break, with Lauren McGregor getting both goals for Waterford.
Both teams managed just five points between in the deteriorating wind and rainy conditions after the restart as Armagh held on for victory.
Mayo and Meath didn’t have to contend with the storm as their clash was switched from Ballina to the superb indoor arena at the University of Galway GAA Air Dome in Bekan and they served up a good contest which the Royals won by 2-18 to 1-15.
Meadbh Byrne got both goals in the opening half to ensure Shane McCormack’s reign as manager begin on a winning note. They led by 2-10 to 1-8 at the break with Emma Duggan finishing with 0-10, five of them from play.
Maria Cannon was outstanding for Mayo, getting their goal in the opening half and ending with a haul of 1-12, but it was not enough to catch Meath.
In Division 2, there were victories for Tyrone, Tipperary, Kildare and Donegal, while Division 3 saw Roscommon, Clare and Louth record wins and Offaly and Sligo shared the spoils.
And in Division 4, there were wins for Limerick, Leitrim and Longford over the weekend in Round 2 of the competition, while Carlow and Fermanagh drew.
RESULTS:
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Round 1
Kerry 1-8 Dublin 0-6
Cork 1-6 Galway 0-5
Meath 2-18 Mayo 1-15
Armagh 2-8 Waterford 2-3
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 2 Round 1
Tyrone 2-9 Westmeath 1-7
Tipperary 1-4 Cavan 0-2
Kildare 1-6 Monaghan 0-5
Donegal 0-7 Laois 0-3
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 Round 1
Roscommon 0-11 Down 0-4
Clare 1-7 Wexford 0-1
Louth 1-10 Antrim 1-6
Offaly 1-8 Sligo 1-8
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4 Round 2
Limerick 1-8 Derry 0-4
Leitrim 4-6 Wicklow 0-15
Carlow 2-10 Fermanagh 2-10
Longford 4-9 Kilkenny 2-1
Report compiled by John Fallon
