LIDL NFL round-up: Waterford knocked off top spot as Finnegan's goal wins it for Meath

WET AND WILD: Cait Towe of Armagh in action against Galway players, from left, Leanne Coen, Kate Slevin and Andrea Trill during the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Round 4 match between Galway and Armagh at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe, Galway. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Waterford, who had won their opening three games in LIDL NFL Division 1, were knocked off top spot when they went down to Meath by 1-9 to 0-10 in Dungarvan when an opening half goal from Orla Finnegan proved decisive. It’s a second win of the campaign for Meath.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Meath manager Wayne Freeman. “Waterford have been very impressive this year. We felt we were going in the right direction and just needed to get points on the board to show that.

“We were up for the challenge, we were playing well and this week we trained very well. We had a good pep in our step coming down here and the girls were full of energy.”
Galway notched their third win when they saw off Armagh by 3-11 to 0-15 in Ballinasloe on Saturday with Leanne Coen getting two of the goals and Andrea Trill also finding the net to inflict a third loss of the campaign on Armagh.

“We are delighted to have three wins, it’s great for the girls that they are putting in the performances and that they are really backing it up,” said Galway manager Daniel Moynihan.

“It’s nice to put up a decent score and get the points on the board. Once we have that panel mentality we will go places this year.” 

Reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions Dublin got their campaign up and running after three losses as they saw off neighbours Kildare by 3-5 to 1-8 in Balbriggan in a basement clash where both were looking for their first wins. Goals from Michelle Davoran, Kate Sullivan and Ellen Gribben proved decisive.

“Goals are so important at this level,” said Dublin joint manager Paul Casey. “We had only gotten one goal to date, that was in Stamullen against Meath. To get three today was a good return.

“We’re delighted to get the first win under our belt. Probably not the performance that we wanted to get, but training has definitely upped in the last couple of weeks with the return of a couple of our more experienced players to the training pitch. We saw some of them there today and they definitely helped us get over the line in the end.”
In Division Two, Cavan edged out Donegal by 1-6 to 0-7 in a top of the table clash with Niamh Keenaghan getting the only goal of the game in the opening half, while two late Aishling Sheridan points proved decisive in the end.

Mayo and Tyrone shared the spoils in their promotion drive. Goals from Cara McNamee and Sorcha Gormley put Tyrone 2-1 to 0-1 up at the break but Mayo rallied and a goal from Lisa Cafferky hauled them back into contention with Sinead Walsh getting the equaliser.

Monaghan, who trailed by 1-11 to 0-1 at the break, came storming back to force a draw with Tipperary at 1-12 apiece, while Westmeath struck for four goals as they got their first win when they ousted Wexford in a relegation contest.