Surprise defeats for Cork and Dublin in ladies football action
Dublin were stunned by Mayo at DCU while champions Cork lost by a point against Monaghan.
Cora Staunton was the star of the show for Mayo as they inflicted a 0-13 to 0-8 defeat on the Sky Blues. Nine-time All Star Staunton helped herself to 0-11, including eight frees, with Rachel Kearns and Natasha Gaughan adding the other scores for the westerners.
At half-time, Mayo were 0-8 to 0-3 clear and by then, Carnacon star Staunton had seven points to her name.
Sinead Goldrick, Lucy Collins and Nicole Owens were on target for the hosts, who added second half points from Lyndsey Davey (three), Niamh Rickard and Amy Connolly.
Cork saw their 100% record disappear as Monaghan recorded a 2-11 to 2-10 victory.
In front of a bumper crowd, Monaghan struck for the opening goal of the game, scored by Laura McEnaney. But Cork, playing with the breeze in the opening half, responded to lead by three points, with Geraldine O’Flynn and Valerie Mulcahy among their scorers.
The game’s next significant development was Monaghan’s second goal, scored by Cathriona McConnell, and the Farney girls led by 2-3 to 0-7 with 18 minutes on the watch.
At half-time, Monaghan were 2-5 to 0-8 in front and the lead stretched to five points before the game turned when Grace Kearney netted for Cork and the home side lost Grainne McNally to the sin-bin.
Cork tied the game with their second goal, Kearney again on target, but Monaghan responded with late points from Caoimhe Mohan and McConnell to edge home with just the bare minimum to spare.
Galway took advantage of Cork and Dublin’s slip-ups to claim top spot in Division 1. At Tuam Stadium, the hosts scored a massive 4-15 to 1-6 victory over bottom of the table Tyrone. The Red Hands did score the opening goal after just 13 seconds from Gemma Begley but Galway goals from Edel Concannon, Sinead Burke and Louise Ward helped to open up an unassailable lead.
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