Compiled by John Fallon
Galway and Donegal will do battle next week, with Mayo also still in the hunt to reach the Lidl National Football League Division 1 semi finals.
Andrea Trill hit four goals for Galway as they gave themselves a chance of reaching the knock-out stages with a 6-13 to 2-7 win over Westmeath in Pearse Stadium.
Megan Glynn and Nicola Ward also hit the net for Gerry Fahy’s side, who need to beat Maxi Curran’s Donegal at Tuam Stadium next Sunday to progress.
“That’s great for us because everyone is looking for tough games in the lead-up to Championship and we will be going flat out to get a win in Tuam and hopefully move on to the next stage,” said Fahy.
“The conditions were tough, it was very warm and energy-sapping but I was very impressed with our skill levels. It was a really good effort from everybody.”
Waterford were 5-13 to 2-12 winners against Tipperary in Clonmel yesterday (SUN) and can reach the last four of the competition with victory over Cork next Sunday at Fraher Field.
You'd have to go a long way to see a better finish 🔥https://t.co/7wxVzQWmWV
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) May 30, 2021
Eimear Fennell and Maria Delahunty hit two goals each in the derby win, and manager Ciaran Curran is excited at the chance to go toe-to-toe with Cork again after Ephie Fitzgerald’s side impressed in defeat to Dublin on Saturday.
“It was an incredible game in fairness,” said Curran.
“Cork are top opposition. We’ll focus on ourselves this week again and get our set-up right for the game. I’m looking forward to it, it is a game where if we can win it, it puts us in a semi final.”
For the second week in a row Hannah Tyrrell was the star of the show for Dublin, and their 3-15 to 4-11 win at Páirc Uí Chaoimh sees them safely into the Division 1 semi finals.
Tyrrell scored 2-7 as Cork tried in vain to haul back the Dubs with Hannah Looney, Sadhbh O’Leary, Emma Cleary and Ciara O’Sullivan goaling for Cork in a cracking game.
“It was high-scoring, it was open but that’s the nature of these two teams, they just go at it don’t they,” said Dublin manager Mick Bohan.
“You’re trying to blood players and for us to be through to the league semi final now guarantees us four games and that gives us a chance to do that.
“We found ourselves clinging on in the end but that’s typical of Cork: they don’t stop.”
Donegal claimed their second win and are in the driving seat in Division 1A after captain Niamh McLaughlin scored a decisive penalty in Saturday’s 1-11 to 0-11 win over Mayo.
“We have been on the receiving end against the top four more often than not. We’ve played well but ended up as valiant runners-up. We felt this was a game we had to win and we did that,” said Curran.
“It wasn’t so much about the three points, but it’s about seeing where you are and challenging yourselves against a really good team, which Mayo are. It was two competitive teams.”
In Division 2A Meath stormed to a 7-17 to 0-5 win over Wexford, with Stacey Grimes’ four goals helping her side to their first win of the competition. Elsewhere in the division, Kerry sealed their place in the semi finals with a 4-13 to 3-11 win. Siofra O’Shea scored two goals, while Hannah O’Donoghue and Lorraine Scanlon also hit the net for the Kingdom.
Two first-half goals from Lauren McVeety and another from Geraldine Sheridan paved the way for Cavan as they ran out 4-11 to 2-10 winners over Tyrone. All is still up for grabs in this all-Ulster division, after Monaghan claimed a 2-11 to 1-13 win over Armagh.
In Division 3A Sligo were impressive winners away in Fermanagh, Anthony Brennan’s side claimed a 2-12 to 0-7 win, while Roscommon fought hard to claim a 5-15 to 3-12 win over Down. The game didn’t pass without controversy, however, with Down scoring a goal after the referee punished Roscommon for what we’ll call a tactics break rather than a water-break. You’d imagine they won’t disrespect the water-break again.
Fair to say Roscommon won't disrespect the water-break ever again 🥤
The smirk on the Down manager's face tho 😅pic.twitter.com/gwkGP5R3id
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) May 31, 2021
Roscommon and Sligo play next weekend, but both teams are already through to the Division 3 semi finals.
In Division 3B Laois were 3-14 to 1-9 winners in Longford and they have made sure of their semi final spot as a result, while Kildare came from behind to beat Wicklow on a 1-9 to 2-5 scoreline.
Meanwhile, in Division 4A, Leitrim picked up a 1-18 to 0-7 win against Derry, while Louth romped to a 4-14 to 0-8 win against Antrim. Offaly qualified for the semi final following their 3-12 to 2-10 win against Limerick, who will go head-to-head with Carlow next weekend to see who claims the final Division 4B semi final place.
RESULTS
29th May 2021
Round 2
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 A
Donegal 1-11 Mayo 0-11
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 A
Cork 4-11 Dublin 3-15
30th May 2021
Round 2
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 A
Galway 6-13 Westmeath 2-7
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 B
Tipperary 2-12 Waterford 5-13
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 A
Wexford 0-5 Meath 7-17
Kerry 4-13 Clare 3-11
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 B
Tyrone 2-10 Cavan 4-11
Armagh 1-13 Monaghan 2-11
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 A
Fermanagh 0-7 Sligo 2-12
Roscommon 5-15 Down 3-12
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 B
Longford 1-9 Laois 3-14
Wicklow 2-5 Kildare 1-9
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4 A
Leitrim 1-18 Derry 0-7
Louth 4-14 Antrim 0-8
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4B
Offaly 3-12 Limerick 2-10
