Women's Football/All-Ireland Senior Football Championship:Dublin recovered from a slow start to post the first surprise of the TG4 All-Ireland women's football series with a deserved victory over Kerry in Nenagh yesterday.
Katie Kenneally's goal gave Kerry a six-point lead midway through the opening half, but it was at that stage of the game that Dublin's midfield pairing of Fiona Ní Chorcoráin and Sinéad Finnegan began to exert significant influence.
The crucial moment in the game arrived on the stroke of half-time when Sinéad Aherne hit the net to level at 1-8 apiece and side from the capital never looked back.
They continued to press and debutant Laoise O'Driscoll made a couple of outstanding reflex saves between the Kerry posts before the outstanding Karen Hopkins struck a goal as the game entered the fourth quarter to finish with a tally of 1-6, rendering Rachel Cronin's late goal irrelevant.
Armagh needed a goal from Mags McAlinden four minutes from time to shake off a dogged Kildare outfit in Newbridge on a 2-9 to 0-12 scoreline.
A Mairéad Tennyson goal helped Armagh to a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead, but points from Brianne Leahy, Sinéad Melia and Simone Gilabert kept the home side in touch before McAlinden struck.
Elsewhere, Meath registered a 2-16 to 1-7 victory over Down. An Aileen Pyres goal had the Ulster side within two points at half-time, but second-half goals from Elaine Duffy (penalty) and Jackie Shiels made it comfortable Meath in the end.
There was also a facile victory for Sligo, with Donegal their victims on a 1-18 to 0-8 scoreline.
The victors were superior in most departments and the win was never in doubt once Marian O'Donnell scored an early goal.
Karen Moloney, Louise Smith, Therese Marren and Noelle Gormley all got on the scoresheet as last year's All-Ireland junior champions made an encouraging start to their campaign.
Laois were made to work all the way by Tyrone before eking out a 1-14 to 1-11 victory. Eilish Gormley's goal gave Tyrone heart, but it was a Gemma O'Connor goal that proved the match-winner, while Monaghan had a comfortable 3-18 to 0-9 win over Roscommon.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Cora Staunton produced another wonder display to propel Meath to a comfortable 1-19 to 0-8 victory over Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds.
The Carnacon club woman contributed a personal tally of 1-11 in a truly awesome display as the Connacht champions made light work of the outclassed Waterford side.
Cork opened the defence of their title with a hard-earned 2-13 to 1-11 win over Galway in the second game of the televised double header at the Limerick venue.
A stunning first-half performance was the key to this success as Cork led by 2-9 to 0-5 at the interval courtesy of an expertly converted penalty from Valerie Mulcahy and another goal from Deirdre O'Reilly.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Group One: Mayo 1-19, Waterford 0-8; Dublin 2-15 Kerry 2-12. Group 2: Cork 2-13, Galway 1-11; Monaghan 3-18, Roscommon 0-9. Group 3: Laois 1-14, Tyrone 1-11; Sligo 1-18, Donegal 1-8. Group 4: Armagh 2-9, Kildare 0-12; Meath 2-16 Down 1-7.
