Carroll joy as Cork find killer touch 

Cork gained a measure of revenge at Páirc Uí Rinn for last season’s Division 2 final loss to Galway.

Cork captain Emma Cleary on the break against Galway during the Lild NFL division 1, round 2 at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Cork manager Joe Carroll was thrilled with the way his side battled as they edged out Galway by 1-10 to 2-5 to get their first win back in the top flight of the Lidl National Football League.

In the process Cork, who drew their opening game against Kildare, gained a measure of revenge Páirc Uí Rinn for last season’s Division 2 final loss to Galway.

“Delighted to get the win, I think our attitude against Kildare was brilliant but maybe we didn’t have the killer instinct up front. We worked on that a good bit during the week and I think it helped,” said Carroll.

“But coming towards the end there our defensive work was outstanding. We gave the ball to Galway a few times and they had a chance of a two pointer to level it. However we never let them get the kick off and eventually turned the ball over and the final whistle went then.

“Work rate was great and we worked hard all through, which you have to do against a team like Galway. Hopefully we can build on this as we have a tough game away now to Armagh next weekend.” 

A goal from Aine O’Sullivan proved decisive for a Cork side who led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break. Andrea Trill and Leanne Coen found the net for Galway but O’Sullivan’s goal put Cork in the driving seat as they maintained their unbeaten return to Division 1.

“Not too happy with the performance, don’t think we got going at all in the whole game and we rightly got punished for it,” said Galway manager Daniel Moynihan.

“They had their back up after last weekend and had a bit of fire in their belly and that’s what happens in Division 1.” 

Armagh manager Greg McGonigle was pleased with the way they bounced back from their opening round loss to Waterford to defeat Kildare by 0-13 to 0-9.

“I was disappointed not with our attitude, but we didn’t die with our boots on if you use that expression last week,” said McGonigle. “Obviously today we did. We were a lot more compact, worked for each other and won a lot of second balls. Delighted to get the win and good to get a couple of points.” Kelly Mallon led the way as last year’s league runners-up Armagh edged out a Kildare side who knocked them out of the championship last season.

She kicked five frees for an Armagh side who led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break and they pushed on for victory despite Alannah Prizeman also shooting five frees for Kildare.

“We put a lot into last week,” said Kildare manager Pat Sullivan, whose side were held to a draw by a late Cork point on the opening weekend. “Maybe there was a bit of a hangover from last week and we looked a bit tired at the end of it as well there. The performance last week was really, really good to be fair. The performance today in patches, for 45 minutes of that game, was good. There’s a lot of players learning their trade and it’s a learning zone for Division 1, and we’re trying to build that panel for further along the road for championship.” 

There are two games in Division 1 on Monday, as Meath take on Dublin in Stamullen, while holders Kerry entertain Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. Both fixtures get underway at 2pm.

In Division 2, meanwhile, there were wins for Mayo, Donegal, Cavan and Tyrone, with an abundance of goals across the division.

Tyrone, relegated last season, continued their impressive start as they backed up last weekend’s win over Monaghan when they scored seven goals by seeing off Westmeath by 4-15 to 6-6 in a ten-goal thriller at St Loman’s in Mullingar.

Donegal also had three points to spare as they too notched a second win of the campaign as they defeated Monaghan by 2-10 to 0-13.

Tipperary, hoping to back up their opening win over Wexford, fell to a 1-15 to 1-9 loss to a Cavan side who drew with Mayo on the opening weekend in their first match after winning Division 3 last season.

Mayo pushed on from that draw with Cavan to hit the net five times and put Wexford to the sword by 5-14 to 0-7.

In Division 3, there were wins for Louth, Down and Antrim, while Fermanagh and Roscommon drew in a high-scoring game.

Carlow and Leitrim both made it three wins in a row in Division 4, with Longford securing their second win and Offaly getting off the mark with their first victory.