Monaghan go top of ladies football league

Ladies Football

Cathriona McConnell bagged a hat-trick of goals as Monaghan claimed top spot in Division 1 of the Tesco Ladies National Football League.

The Farney girls are ahead of champions Cork on scoring difference after thumping Mayo by 3-12 to 1-8.

Mayo lost Martha Carter to a red card and suffered a ten-point defeat but the Westerners remain in the top four ahead of Dublin.

McConnell, who hit 3-4, had the game’s opening goal and they led 1-4 to 0-1 when Carter was dismissed.

Monaghan were 1-8 to 0-3 clear at half-time but Mayo started the second half with two excellent points from their leading scorer Cora Staunton.

Monaghan’s first score of the second half was McConnell’s second goal and she went on to complete a superb treble as the Ulster side collected a fourth victory from five League outings.

Staunton, who finished with 1-5, found the net late on from a penalty.

Valerie Mulcahy bagged two goals for Cork as they beat Tyrone by 3-12 to 1-7. Orlagh Farmer netted Cork’s other goal, in the first half, as the hosts led by 2-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

A second Mulcahy goal helped to complete a 14-point success as Tyrone remain pointless and deep in relegation trouble. Cork’s next assignment is against Laois, the other team in Division 1 yet to register a point.

The O’Moore ladies were crushed by visitors Dublin in Crettyard, as the Sky Blues won by 5-22 to 0-3.

First half goals from Lyndsey Davey and Nicole Owens put Gregory McGonigle’s charges firmly in the driving seat and in the second half, Davey, Carla Rowe and Hannah Noonan added further goals.

Captain Davey finished with 2-5 while former minor star Rowe added 1-6 as Dublin kept their playoff hopes alive.

Galway boosted their semi-final hopes by defeating Kerry by 3-12 to 2-9 at Tuam Stadium.

Goals from Roisin Leonard and Patricia Gleeson had Galway 2-1 to 0-1 ahead and the hosts never looked back from there.

Galway were 2-9 to 0-5 in front at the break and a goal shortly after the resumption from Edel Concannon increased the lead.

Kerry lost Bernie Breen to a yellow card before late goals from Eilish O’Connor and Linda Cronin brought a degree of respectability to the scoreboard.

In Division 2, there were wins for pacesetters Donegal and Cavan, as fourth-placed Westmeath accounted for visitors Kildare.