Galway retain Connacht crown

Galway held onto their TG4 Connacht ladies senior football championship crown on Sunday afternoon and Monaghan claimed four in a row in Ulster, as the two remaining provincial finals were decided.

Galway scored a 0-16 to 1-9 victory against Mayo at a sweltering Tuam Stadium — with Edel Concannon hitting 0-6 for the Tribeswomen. A 1-3 haul from Aileen Gilroy and 0-5 from Cora Staunton was not enough for Division 1 finalists Mayo, as Galway held firm.

Mayo blew a 10-point lead against Galway in last year’s provincial showpiece but they were never allowed to build up that kind of advantage on this occasion as Galway boss Barry Downey had his tactics right.

Galway were 0-6 to 0-1 ahead midway through the first half before Gilroy netted to bring Mayo back into contention. At half-time, Galway led by 0-9 to 1-3 and held out comfortably in the second half as temperatures soared and tempers frayed.

In Ulster, Monaghan claimed a fourth successive provincial crown with a comfortable 4-16 to 1-10 victory over Tyrone at Celtic Park. After 15 minutes the sides were level at 0-5 apiece. Monaghan bagged their opening goal in the 19th minute from Therese McNally before they struck again four minutes later, with leading scorer Caoimhe Mohan (1-5) on target for a second green flag, as the Farney girls led by 2-6 to 0-5 at half-time.

In the second half, Monaghan hit 1-7 on the trot, with a goal from a penalty netted by goalkeeper Linda Martin.

Gemma Begley, scorer of 1-5 for Tyrone, responded with a Tyrone goal 11 minutes from time but from Monaghan’s next attack, Cora Courtney responded in kind.

On Saturday, Dublin retained their Leinster provincial crown with a comfortable 3-14 to 0-9 victory over Meath, in what was a repeat of last year’s final.

Noelle Healy won the player of the match award for Dublin as the Jackies produced a strong second-half performance to retain the provincial silverware at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow on Saturday.