Tipperary, Waterford and Kildare have sealed spots in the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship.
Kildare have edged out Ulster champions Armagh by 1-12 to 1-10 to advance to the knock-out stages.
A strong second-half performance from Waterford saw them defeat Leitrim by 6-16 to 3-4.
While Tipperary enjoyed an 11-points to 1-6 win against Donegal.
Cork won by 3-8 to 1-10 against Mayo.
Kildare 1-12 Armagh 1-10
By Shaun Casey
KILDARE caused a massive upset knocking Ulster champions Armagh out of the competition at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds to book their spot in the last eight.
The visitors were sharper from start to finish and withstood a late Armagh onslaught to complete a famous victory. Armagh were without captain Clodagh McCambridge and Aoife McCoy, but Kildare were full value for their win.
Three sensational saves from Anna Carr kept Armagh in touch during the first half, while the hosts only kicked 1-3 from play. Kildare on the other hand had nine different scorers and their defence was on top throughout.
Caroline O’Hanlon swapped scores early on with Ruth Sargent and Gillian Wheeler while Aoife Rattigan and Niamh Henderson also cancelled each other out. Kildare then went two in front thanks to efforts from Lara Curran and Alannah Prizeman.
Kildare were reduced to 14 players for the final ten minutes of the opening period, with Lisa Shaw picking up a yellow card. During that time, Niamh Reel and O’Hanlon posted frees while Ciara Wheeler pointed to see the sides level at the break at 0-6 apiece.
Kildare captain Laoise Lenehan extended the Lilywhites’ lead from the second half throw in as Roisin Byrne and Reel (free) raised white flags at either end of the field.
Both sides struggled to hit the target and passed up a series of scoring opportunities before Reel tapped over a free. Mia Ryan, kicking a score with her first touch after being introduced, and Henderson registered points at either end.
Kildare then put a real stamp on proceedings by delivering the first goal of the game. Byrne did all the hard work before slipping the ball across to Lenehan, who tapped home the easiest of finishes.
Rattigan made it a five point game but Armagh could have had a goal of their own. Niamh Coleman set up Kelly Mallon, but the former captain’s palmed effort was saved on the line by Mary Hulgraine.
Emily Druse and Prizeman pointed before Armagh skipper Lauren McConville, played through by Henderson, handed her side a massive lifeline by smashing the ball to the bottom corner.
Aimee Mackin, making her first appearance of the season, tapped over a free to leave one the margin but Kildare had the final say and Ryan’s second of the day confirmed their victory.
Scorers – Kildare: L Lenehan 1-1, A Prizeman 0-2 (2f), A Rattigan 0-2, M Ryan 0-2, R Sargent 0-1, C Wheeler 0-1, G Wheeler 0-1, R Byrne 0-1, L Curran 0-1.
Armagh: C O’Hanlon 0-4 (4f), L McConville 1-0, N Reel 0-2 (2f), N Henderson 0-2, E Druse 0-1, A Mackin 0-1.
Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Lenehan, M Doherty; L Shaw, L Murtagh, M Aspel; L Reilly, C Moran; C Wheeler, A Rattigan, L Curran; G Wheeler, A Prizeman, R Byrne. Subs: M Ryan for L Murtagh (43 mins), E Dowling for A Rattigan (50 mins), A Mahon for G Wheeler (57 mins).
Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, C Towe, R Mulligan; E Druse, M McCann, G Ferguson; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; L McConville, C McNally, B Mackin; K Mallon, N Henderson, N Reel. Subs: E Lavery for B Mackin (HT), E McConaghy for C McNally (40 mins), E McGeown for K Mallon (50 mins), A Mackin for N. Reel (55 mins).
Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down).
Tipperary 0-11 Donegal 1-6
By Michael Heverin
Tipperary never trailed as they beat Donegal by two points in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship at Bansha to book a place in the quarter-finals.
It was Tipperary’s best display to date in both the Munster and All-Ireland campaigns, racing into a 0-4 to no score lead midway through the opening half, and restricting Donegal to a single point from play in the first half.
A much improved Donegal display brought them back to within a point at the halfway stage of the second half, 0-10 to 1-6, with a Jodie McFadden goal kickstarting the Ulster side’s revival, but Tipperary saw out the closing minutes, with a late Aisling Moloney point from a free putting a little more daylight between the sides.
A superb display from Anna Rose Kennedy helped Tipperary to 0-8 to 0-3 lead at the interval, with the Aherlow star hitting four superb points from play. Kirsty Crotty Ryan had hit their opening point in the first minute, added a second four minutes from the break, with Emma Morrissey and Aisling Moloney from a free also getting on the scoreboard.
Donegal had to wait until the 19th minute for their first score, a pointed free from Susanne White, and she pointed from another free a minute later. Tipperary were dominating play and restricted Donegal to half chances. The Ulster side’s first score from play didn’t come until three minutes before the half time hooter from Blaithnaid McLaughlin.
Tipperary looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they extended their lead to 0-10 to 0-3 eleven minutes into the second half, with Moloney pointing two frees.
But with the risk of the game running away from them, Donegal rallied and hit 1-3 without reply. A swift counter attack cut open the Tipp defence through the centre and Katie Dowds stroked over a lovely point. Then following a foul on Eva Gallagher, Jodie McFadden pointed the free.
The Donegal pressure on the Tipp defence was now relentless, and after a high kick came back off the upright, McFadden was first to react to shoot low past Lauren Fitzpatrick in the Tipperary goal. When McFadden pointed another free to make it 0-10 to 1-6, the alarm bells were ringing for Tipperary.
But after the pain of losing too many tight games in both league and championship this season, this time they shut up shop at the back. They held the visitors scoreless for the final quarter – Donegal were reduced to fourteen players in the closing stages with a yellow card for half-back Blaithnaid McLaughlin – with Aisling Moloney wrapping up the scoring for Tipperary.
Scorers – Tipperary: AR Kennedy 0-4, A Moloney 0-4 (4f), K Crotty Ryan 0-2, E Morrissey 0-1.
Donegal: J McFadden 1-2 (2f), S White 0-2 (2f), B McLaughlin, K Dowds 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: L Fitzpatrick; N Martin, L Spillane, E Cronin; S English, M Curley, C English; L Morrissey, E Morrissey; N Towey, AR Kennedy, N Shelly; A McGuigan, A Moloney, K Crotty Ryan. Subs: A O’Shea for N Shelly (23), A Fennessy for K Crotty Ryan (44), I Carr for N Towey (46), A Ryan for A McGuigan (53).
DONEGAL: C Friel; S McFadden, A Temple Asokuh, S McFeeley; B McLaughlin, E McGinley, C Gillespie; R Rodgers, R McColgan; S White, K Dowds, F McManamon; E Gallagher, J McFadden, N Boyle. Subs: A McDermott for F McManamon (45), A Walsh for C Gillespie (49), M Bennett for E Gallagher (53), A McGranaghan for S White (58), F Naughton for R Rodgers (58).
Referee: Angela McCarthy (Dublin)
Waterford 6-16 Leitrim 3-4
By Deniese O’Flaherty
Waterford advanced to the quarter-final with victory over Leitrim in Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada.
The Deise were made work hard for the win against a battling Leitrim who never gave up.
Leitrim keeper Michelle Guckian was called into action in the opening minutes. She pulled off two great saves to deny Lauren McGregor and Katie Murray.
McGregor (free) and Ailbhe Clancy traded points before Clancy was sin-binned in the 11th minute. Waterford then edged back in front. The Deise got their first goal in the 16th minute when McGregor played the ball to Karen McGrath and she made no mistake.
Leitrim enjoyed possession but just couldn’t get scores with the Waterford defence standing firm. Waterford got a second goal in the 22nd minute; with Guckian out of her goals, Katie Murray took advantage with an excellent effort to extend the lead to 12 points.
Credit to Leitrim they fought hard and in the 27th minute Laura O’Dowd grabbed a goal with a fine strike. The score at the break was 2-7 to 1-1 in favour of Waterford.
Waterford got their third goal in the 35th minute through Brid McMaugh but Leitrim’s response was a goal from Rachel McIntyre. Waterford were able to up their game. McGaugh scored 1-2 while Walsh and Murray fired over points to put 17 points between the sides in the 45th minute.
Substitute Síomhra Quinn hit over a lovely point for the home side in the 46th minute. Waterford hit back with McGregor finding the back of the net. Despite the setback of conceding a fifth goal, Leitrim rallied and got their third goal of the game in the 49th minute; Aisling Quinn with a fine finish.
Guckian kicked over two frees for Leitrim. Waterford kept the scoreboard ticking and in the first minute of stoppage time got a sixth goal; substitute Megan Dunford with a fantastic finish. Another sub Aileen Wall got on the scoresheet right at the end firing over a neat point in a resounding win for Waterford.
Scorers - Waterford: B McMaugh 1-6, K Murray 1-4, C Walsh 1-2, L McGregor 1-1 (1f), K McGrath, M Dunford 1-0 each, C Fennell 0-2, A Wall 0-1.
Leitrim: R McIntyre, A Quinn, L O’Dowd 1-0 each, M Guckian (f), S Ward, A Clancy, S Quinn 0-1 each.
WATERFORD: K Gardiner; A Murray, L Mulcahy, C Murray; H Power, K McGrath, A O’Neill; E Murray, E Power; L Ní hArta, B McMaugh, K Murray; C Fennell, C Walsh, L McGregor. Subs: Á Power for Ní hArta (ht), M Dunford for A Murray, N Power for Walsh and A Wall for O’Neill (47), C McCarthy for McMaugh (53).
LEITRIM: M Guckian; J Maye, C Tyrrell, E Quigley; D Beirne, C Owens, R McIntyre; N Tighe, A Quinn; A Gilmartin, V Egan, A Clancy; L Fox, S Ward, L O’Dowd. Subs: S Quinn for Egan (36), L McKeon for Tyrell (47), L Redican for Clancy (53), L Tivnan for Quinn (58), E Shanley for Quigley (60).
Referee: Philip Conway (Armagh).
Cork 3-8 Mayo 1-10
By Stuart Tynan
Goals in each half from Katie Quirke sent Cork into the All-Ireland quarter-finals as they held off a late Mayo fightback in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.
The Rebels got off to the perfect start when Máire O’Callaghan ran through the heart of the Mayo defence and fired into the net just seconds after the throw-in.
With a strong wind at their backs, Mayo’s go-to sharpshooter Sinead Walsh struck over two frees before Hannah Looney fisted over Cork’s first point after evading the Mayo defence on the end line.
Mayo were back level by the end of the first quarter thanks to a third Walsh free and a splendid point from play by substitute Ava McDonnell, who came on in the fourth minute for the injured Erin Murray.
Sherin El Massry nudged Mayo ahead before Looney restored parity and Cork went back in front after Katie Quirke’s point attempt from 20 metres out sailed over the head of Julia Gawalkiewicz and into the net on 21 minutes.
Quirke, a free, and Ava McDonnell traded scores before Mayo were denied a goal themselves after a short Cork kickout was intercepted by Clodagh Keane. The full-forward fed Walsh but Cork goalkeeper Sarah Murphy got back to block, before the game was heavily delayed after Shauna Kelly suffered a serious injury after being caught by the Cork goalkeeper when Murphy blocked Walsh’s effort.
Leading 2-3 to 0-6 at half-time, Cork kept Mayo at arms’ length in the third quarter as a point from Aoife Geraghty and two Walsh frees were matched by a trio of Aine O’Sullivan points.
Cork appeared home and hosed after Quirke’s second goal on 52 minutes but Mayo were back to within three after substitute Annie Gough found the net. Mayo thought they had levelled it, with a draw enough to send them through at Cork’s expense, when Clodagh Keane got on the end of Gough’s pass a minute later but it was ruled out for a square ball, and Laura O’Mahony’s point made sure of Cork’s passage to the last eight late on, while Mayo play Leitrim in the relegation playoff in two weeks’ time.
Scorers – Cork: K Quirke 2-1 (0-1f), M O’Callaghan 1-0, A O’Sullivan 0-3, H Looney 0-2, L O’Mahony 0-2.
Mayo: S Walsh 0-6 (5f), A Gough 1-0, A McDonnell 0-2, A Geraghty 0-1, S El Massry 0-1.
CORK: S Murphy; S Kelly, S Leahy, M Duggan; A Corcoran, S Cronin, R Corkery; M O’Callaghan, A Healy; A O’Mahony, L O’Mahony, K Horgan; A O’Sullivan, H Looney, K Quirke. Subs: E Cleary for Kelly (25-inj), A Ring for Corkery (45), S McGoldrick for Horgan (50), L Hallihan for A O’Mahony (53).
MAYO: J Gawalkiewicz; L Wallace, N O’Malley, C Durkin; D Caldwell, E Brennan S El Massry; H Reape, S Lally; L Hanley, S Walsh, A Geraghty; E Murray, C Keane, K Sullivan. Subs: A McDonnell for Murray (4-inj), A Gough for Sullivan (42), C Whyte for Hanley (50), B Hession for Brennan (52).
