Byrne's second-half treble guides Kildare to victory and sends Tyrone down

Mayo also suffered relegation to Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League for 2026 after going to a superior Waterford outfit

FINE FORM: Róisín Byrne of Kildare Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

A second half hat-trick by Róisín Byrne helped Kildare turn around a lack-lustre first half and a one point half time deficit to defeat Tyrone in Round 7 of the Lidl NFL Division 1 tie at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge and so retain their Division 1 status for 2025.

In the process the Kildare win sends Tyrone down to Division 2 for next season.

It was also an historic day as it was the first ladies football game to be played at the newly developed Kildare county grounds.

Kildare opened the brighter and Lara Curran pointed inside two minutes. The Lilywhites won possession from the kickout and Róisín Byrne sent Aoife Murnane in to finish a left footed shot to the net.

The Lilywhites looked to be blooming at that stage but they failed to capitalise on possession and recorded a number of wides. This inspired Tyrone and on their first major attack they came away with a goal after Chloe McCaffrey’s 14 yard free was defected past Mary Hulgraine in the Kildare goal.

The sides were level on three occasions in the first half but Tyrone knocked over three points in a row in the third quarter through Niamh O’Neill, two from frees to lead by two as half time approached.

Róisín Byrne finally stopped Kildare’s wastefulness with a point just before half time to see her side trail 1-3 to 1-4 at the break.

Kildare got the perfect start to the second half with a point from Aoife Rattigan inside ten seconds and the corner forward then set up Byrne for the first of her three second half goals two minutes later. Byrne got her second from a free in the 37th minute after the Tyrone goalkeeper, Caitlin Donnelly and the defence failed to stop the ball from crossing the line and Kildare were now firmly in the driving seat at 4-6 to 1-4, despite losing Amy Mahon to the sin bin in the 33rd minute.

Byrne’s hat-trick arrived in the 40th minute when substitute Gillian Wheeler’s long punt was flicked to the net by the corner forward. Despite losing Meabh Mallon and Jayne Lyons to yellow cards in the closing stages Tyrone continued to fight and they were rewarded with a goal from substitute Aoife McGahan on the stroke of full time.

It was too late, though, to trouble Kildare and their bid to retain Division 1 status as the Lilywhites ran out comfortable winners on the day.

Also for the drop, Mayo suffered relegation to Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League for 2026 after going to a superior Waterford outfit at Kilmacthomas.

Two goals from Lauren McGregor were the main highlights as Tomás Mac a t’Saoir’s side, who finished third in the Division 1 table, triumphed 2-13 to 1-6 as Mayo finished bottom after just one win from seven games.

Mayo led briefly when Annie Gough buried a well-taken goal in the second minute with their best move of the game.

However, Liam McHale’s side failed to replicate that ingenuity as Waterford re-took the lead when McGregor finished a goal at the end of the first quarter.

The Déise played the rest of the game with a tempo and intensity that Mayo did not match.

Meanwhile a late rally from Meath saw them grab a one-point win over Armagh, 2-12 to 4-5, at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in the last round of the LIDL National League. In a dead rubber contest, the three-points on offer made no impact on the final placing in the table.

Defending champions Armagh qualified for the league final last weekend despite suffering their first defeat of the season to Waterford. For long periods of Saturday’s encounter they held the lead, but Meath nipped ahead late on.

Both sides emptied their benches in the second half, with the home side making 13 changes while Meath introduced seven new players. Shane McCormack’s side finished the stronger of the two teams, with the incredible Emma Duggan proving the hero.