Aileen Gilroy and Cora Staunton help preserve Mayo’s fine run
Sarah Houlihan registered 2-3 for the Kingdom but it wasn’t enough as Mayo kept their perfect record.
Gilroy’s goals in either half proved crucial -her first came in the 23rd minute before striking again four minutes from time. Gilroy’s opening effort put Mayo 1-3 to 0-3 clear but Kerry rallied to lead 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time, as Houlihan collected the first of her brace three minutes before the interval. Houlihan was on target again eight minutes into the second-half as Kerry grabbed a firm stranglehold but Mayo fought their way back and ultimately it was a run of 1-5 without reply that swung it their way.
After Houlihan’s second goal, Kerry didn’t score again until stoppage time and, by then, Mayo had fashioned a powerful comeback. As Armagh lost to Galway, Dublin took the chance to claim second place as they walloped a Tyrone side that looks certain to be relegated.
Hosts Tyrone were beaten 0-1 to 3-18 as Dublin inflicted huge damage on the Red Hands in Drumragh. Dublin were 2-9 to 0-0 clear at half-time as Niamh McEvoy and Carla Rowe (penalty) scored the goals. Emma Hegarty scored Tyrone’s only point of the game but Dublin added another 1-9, including a Nicole Owens goal. Rowe hit 1-5 for Dublin as McEvoy and Owens finished with 1-2 apiece.
At the Athletic Grounds, Armagh lost for just the second time as Galway ended the round of fixtures with a place in the top four – level on points with their Ulster opponents. Roisin Leonard was star of the show for Galway as they won 1-19 to 3-7, with Edel Concannon adding six points.
Armagh were 3-2 to 0-8 ahead at the break, with Blaithin Mackin, Aoife McCoy and Sinead Finnegan scoring the goals, but their cause wasn’t helped by second-half sin-binnings for Lauren McConville and Sharon Reel. Galway took advantage to run up a big second half score and put themselves firmly in the picture for a playoff place, three points ahead of Cork and Kerry.
In Mourneabbey on Saturday, Cork recovered from the concession of an early goal to thump Monaghan 5-16 to 1-3. Cora Courtney netted in the first minute for the visitors but by half-time, the Rebels were in control, leading 3-7 to 1-1. Cork responded quickly with Orla Finn registering their opening point before Annie Walsh goaled to hand the hosts the lead. Doireann O’Sullivan scored Cork’s second goal in the 12th minute and she struck again six minutes later to put Ephie Fitzgerald’s charges in firm command.
Aine O’Sullivan registered two second-half goals as Cork remain in the hunt for play-off places after securing a second victory of the campaign.
In Division 2, Donegal won the top of the table clash against Clare 4-11 to 2-7. There were also wins for Westmeath, Sligo and Cavan in Division 2 as Waterford, Leitrim, Roscommon and Tipperary claimed Division 3 wins.
