Farney girls rule over Ulster

It was a busy weekend of provincial action, with titles in Leinster and Ulster decided yesterday.

Bord Gáis Energy National League Division 1 champions Monaghan laid down a real marker by claiming a third successive Ulster title, courtesy of a 5-25 to 1-8 victory over Donegal in Clones yesterday.

The Farney County rattled Donegal with three goals in a devastating five-minute first-half spell as Caoimhe Mohan, Amanda Casey and Therese McNally found the net.

Donegal did manage the first score of the game but failed to trouble the umpires for 17 minutes after as Monaghan ran riot.

Casey added a second goal and Cathriona McConnell also raised a green flag in the first half as Monaghan led 5-13 to 1-4 at the interval.

Donegal’s sole scorer in the first half was Geraldine McLaughlin and there was further pain to follow for Micheal Naughton’s charges after the break. Monaghan were in no mood to ease up and hit eight successive points before McLaughlin opened Donegal’s second half account with 11 minutes remaining.

McLaughlin then notched a cracking goal for Donegal and the ace full-forward would finish with 1-6.

In Leinster, meanwhile, Dublin regained the Leinster title they last won two years ago.

The Sky Blues defeated Meath by 3-9 to 1-6 at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow to collect a fourth provincial title in five seasons.

At half-time, Dublin led by 2-3 to 1-4 but it was Meath who started the brighter and registered the game’s opening goal from Jenny Rispin.

Amy Ring and Sinead Ahern scored Dublin’s first-half goals before sub Natalia Hyland added a third in the second half.

Ring, Ahern and Hyland tied for the honour of top scorers for Dublin, while Katie O’Brien led the way for Meath with four points.