By Declan Rooney
A remarkable performance and late equaliser from Tipperary’s Aishling Moloney earned Shane Ronayne’s side a point as TG4 All-Ireland champions Dublin were unable to get their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 campaign off to a winning start in Ballyboden.
Moloney struck the game’s only goal before the break to give last year’s Intermediate champions a healthy five-point cushion at half-time, but spurred on by a superb performance from Carla Rowe, Dublin remained in touch.
Rowe – who scored five points from play – Kate Sullivan and Niamh Collins pushed Dublin ahead in the closing stages, but Moloney converted a late free to give Tipperary something for their efforts in a 1-7 to 0-10 draw.
Elsewhere, in Corofin, nine points from Tracey Leonard almost rescued Galway, but four first-half goals from Waterford proved crucial in their 5-4 to 1-15 triumph.
Triplets Emma, Aoife and Katie Murray all hit the net for the Déise, who marked their return to the top flight with a precious win in the west.
Waterford held a 4-3 to 1-6 lead at the interval, with Roisin Leonard scoring Galway’s goal, but with scores at a premium for the Déise side after the break, Chloe Fennell’s point was the vital score in the end.
Meanwhile, in Swinford, Lisa Cafferky and Rachel Kearns hit two goals each for Peter Leahy’s Mayo side to give them a promising start to their Lidl league campaign.
Donegal never really recovered from Mayo’s bright opening half and left empty-handed despite Geraldine McLaughlin and Nicole McLoughlin goals in a 4-7 to 2-9 win for Mayo.
And in Saturday’s historic game, Orla Finn got Cork off to a flying start at Páirc Uí Chaoimh with four quick points, but it was Eimear Scally’s goal midway through the first-half that got the champions up and running by 1-9 to 0-6.
Rachel Dillon and Lucy McCartan pointed for Westmeath before half time but they still trailed 1-5 to 0-3 at the break, and although they closed the gap to four points in the second half Cork kicked on and made sure of the win in the closing stages.
In Division 2 action, Blaithin Mackin scored a goal in each half as Armagh picked up an away win against Clare in Doonbeg, while Aisling Maguire’s late goal was not enough for Cavan, who fell to Kerry by a single point. Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh hit a goal in each half for the Kingdom in their 4-8 to 3-10 win.
Monaghan were very impressive winners in Wexford and their 6-23 was the biggest tally scored by any team in the opening round of the national league. And first-half goals from Kelsey Nesbitt and Bridgetta Lynch were vital for Meath, who ran out 2-14 to 2-6 winners against Meath.
In Division 3 Kildare were impressive victors against Fermanagh after an eight-point win, while a late Michelle Farrell goal was not enough for Longford to halt Down, who claimed the honours at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park by 3-8 to 1-7. In Boyle, two goals from Sinead Glennon and a third from Jenny Higgins was key in Roscommon’s victory in the North West derby against Sligo, while Sinead McGettigan kicked a late, late equaliser for Wicklow to force a share of the spoils in their clash with Laois.
And in Division 4 there were wins for Carlow over Limerick, Leitrim had a very convincing away win in Derry, while Offaly edged past Antrim by four points.
RESULTS
Lidl National Football League Division 1
Cork 1-9 Westmeath 0-6
Galway 1-15 Waterford 5-4
Dublin 0-10 Tipperary 1-7
Mayo 4-7 Donegal 2-9
Lidl National Football League Division 2
Clare 1-8 Armagh 5-8
Cavan 3-10 Kerry 4-8
Wexford 2-6 Monaghan 6-23
Meath 2-14 Tyrone 2-6
Lidl National Football League Division 3
Longford 1-7 Down 3-8
Roscommon 3-12 Sligo 2-8
Fermanagh 0-12 Kildare 3-11
Laois 2-16 Wicklow 3-13
Lidl National Football League Division 4
Carlow 2-9 Limerick 1-11
Derry 0-3 Leitrim 5-17
Antrim 2-10 Offaly 3-11