Staunton earns Mayo crack at Cork

Ladies’ Football: Reigning All-Ireland champions Cork have been paired with Mayo in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies’ senior football championship quarter-finals.

Mayo’s reward for a hard-fought 3-8 to 1-13 victory over Westmeath in last Saturday’s round two qualifier is a crack at the Eamonn Ryan-trained Brendan Martin Cup holders.

Elsewhere, Leinster champions Dublin will meet Kerry in another mouth-watering tie, with Armagh pitted against Laois.

The tie of the round, however, could well turn out to be the meeting of Connacht champions Galway and Monaghan, beaten All-Ireland finalists last year.

Monaghan saw off Ulster rivals Tyrone at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford on Saturday.

Forwards Niamh Kindlon and Catríona McConnell split 0-10 between them en route to a 1-16 to 3-7 victory.

Muireann Atkinson scored Monaghan’s second-half goal but Tyrone, who had majors from Gemma Begley, Tori McLaughlin and Niamh O’Neill, missed an early second-half penalty, when Begley saw her effort saved by Linda Martin.

Begley would later net a second penalty but while Monaghan did enough to advance, they must improve.

Also in Longford on Saturday, Cora Staunton bagged 2-6 as Mayo claimed a narrow one-point win against Westmeath.

Staunton’s disputed late free settled a tie that was level after Westmeath sub Sarah Dolan scored a stunning late goal.

Staunton netted in both halves while Sarah Rowe scored the other goal for Mayo in a nervy win for the Westerners.

Meanwhile, goals from Martha Kirwan, Meaghan Dunne and Laura Marie Maher eased Laois past Cavan on a 3-10 to 0-10 scoreline.

Last year’s All-Ireland intermediate champions Cavan were pre-match favourites with the bookies but Laois bounced back from their heavy Leinster final defeat to Dublin to set up a last-eight clash with Ulster champions and All-Ireland dark horses Armagh.