Down and Armagh get back to winning ways

DOWN AND ARMAGH bounced back from their provincial championship defeats to record victories over Meath and Waterford, respectively, in yesterday’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football qualifiers.

Bryansford’s Natasha Ferris and Downpatrick player Kyla Trainor both scored 1-1 as Down defeated Meath 2-12 to 0-13 in the second of two games at St Loman’s Lakepoint Park in Mullingar.

Ferris, a late inclusion on the Down team, scored the crucial first-half goal for her side who led 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time. After the break Meath made a real fight of it, recovering to lead by two points. The pendulum swung back and forth in the second-half but Trainor scored the crucial goal in the last five minutes to secure a precious victory for the Mourne County.

Orla Fegan, Michaela Downey, who scored two points, and wing-back Sinéad Fegan were the Down lynchpins as they got their championship campaign back on track following the Ulster championship defeat by Tyrone.

Elaine Duffy scored five points and Gráinne Nulty chipped in with four for Meath, who must now regroup for a relegation play-off.

Armagh, meanwhile, remain a formidable outfit and recovered from their Ulster championship exit against Donegal by recording a 1-11 to 0-8 victory over Waterford in the first of a double-header.

The lethal Aileen Matthews led the way in the scoring stakes for the Orchard County with a 1-6 haul, with 1-3 on the board before half-time. Armagh raced into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead and Matthews’ goal just before half-time established a 1-6 to 0-2 interval lead.

Alma O’Donnell and Shauna O’Hagan were also in good scoring form for Armagh as O’Donnell registered two points, with O’Hagan going one better.

Michelle Ryan top-scored for Waterford with five points.