Sarah Rowe brace maintains Mayo’s 100% record
Mayo concluded their group campaign on top of the pile on a day when the Cork-Armagh tie was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
Mayo scored a 2-11 to 1-9 victory over Monaghan in Ballina, with that late brace from Rowe getting the job done.
Mayo led by 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time but Monaghan opened the second half in blistering fashion as Therese Scott hammered home a long-range goal.
Pushing on, Monaghan drew level at 1-7 to 0-10 and they were two points clear before Rowe’s first goal put Mayo 1-10 to 1-9 ahead.
Rowe’s second goal put some daylight between the sides and a late free from Cora Staunton made the game safe.
At Parnell Park, Galway beat Dublin to ensure four teams are locked together on 12 points, nine behind Mayo. If Cork beat Armagh in their rearranged fixture, five teams will be separated by scoring difference only.
At half-time, Galway were 3-6 to 1-7 clear of hosts Dublin, with Róisín Leonard hitting a remarkable 2-5 in the first half alone, including four pointed frees. Megan Glynn also netted for Galway as Dublin’s Sinead Aherne scored 1-1, including a penalty goal.
By full-time, Leonard had taken her match tally to 2-9, eight of her points from frees, and Mairead Seoighe scored the fourth goal for the visiting Tribeswomen as they ran out 4-12 to 1-14 winners.
Aherne finished with a personal haul of 1-8 for Dublin, whose scoring difference should ensure they make the semi-finals.
In Sunday’s other Division 1 fixture, Kerry enjoyed a massive 7-22 to 0-8 victory against relegated Tyrone at Fitzgerald Stadium. Laura Rogers, Anna Galvin and Sarah Houlihan scored Kerry’s first half goals as the Kingdom led by 3-13 to 0-3 at half-time.
The second half continued in a similar vein as Kerry piled on the pressure and they were were rewarded with further goals from Megan O’Connell, Amanda Brosnan, Kate O’Sullivan and Caoimhe O’Sullivan.
In Division 2, Donegal won the big Ulster derby against Cavan, as the home side ran out 2-7 to 1-2 winners at Tír Chonaill Gaels. Donegal got off to a brilliant start and were 2-1 to 0-0 clear within the opening six minutes, Amber Barrett and Geraldine McLaughlin scoring the goals.
Donegal led by 2-3 to 0-1 at half-time and while Cavan netted through Catriona Smith, the visitors ended up on the wrong end of the result.
Laois, Westmeath and Kildare were also victorious in their Division 2 fixtures while in Division 3, there were wins for Waterford, Tipperary, Wexford and Down.
