Meath 2-14

Cork 1-7

Deniese O’Flaherty reports from Páirc Tailteann 

CORK WERE RELEGATED from Division 1 of the Lidl NFL when they suffered a 10-point defeat to Meath in Páirc Tailteann.

The Rebel County will now play in Division 2 of the league next season for the first time since 2003.

Emma Duggan kicked over two fine points for the home side inside the opening two minutes. Cork were twice in the opposition half in the early minutes but gave away the ball cheaply when in possession.

Emma Cleary kicked over a free for Cork in the sixth minute. Megan Thynne restored Meath’s two point advantage in the 9th minute. The Royal County dominated play but their shot selection was poor and they were unable to extend their lead. During the first half they kicked eight wides.

Cleary fired over another free in the 23rd minute but that was cancelled out by an excellent Marion Farrelly point.

A poor Meath kick-out was picked up by Lydia McDonagh in the 25th minute, she passed to Sadhbh O’Leary who found the bottom corner of the net. It was the first time the Rebels were ahead.

A fine Máire O’Callaghan put Cork ahead by two in the 30th minute but Aisling McCabe cut the deficit to one going in at the break at 1-4 to 0-6.

Three minutes into the second half Cork had a chance to extend their lead after Daire Kiely was fouled for a penalty, but her spot-kick was saved by Meath keeper Robyn Murray. Within two minutes Meath were ahead by three; a free from Duggan and a goal from Shelly Melia.

Two excellent points from Marion Farrelly put Meath ahead by five in the 44th minute. Cork’s first score of the second half had come before through a pointed free from substitute Éabha O’Donovan.

The lead could’ve been more in the 47th minute but Farrelly was unfortunate to see her powerful effort hit the crossbar. Duggan’s effort was pushed over the bar by Melissa Duggan two minutes later as it looked like Meath would get their second goal.

Meath were to raise the green flag again in the 57th minute when Farrelly finished to the net. Substitute Ailbhe Leary sealed a fine win with a point in stoppage time.

This weekend’s results mean that Armagh will face Kerry in the 2024 Lidl National League Division 1 Final at Croke Park on Sunday 7 April.

Armagh were already safely through before Saturday’s clash with Dublin and will now face off against the reigning champions Kerry in the top flight showpiece.

Kerry booked their place in the final with a 2-11 to 0-12 win over Galway in Killarney. Leading by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break thanks to a goal from Danielle O’Leary, the holders held off an improved Galway side with Hannah O’Donoghue getting their second goal to seal the win.

Galway will now face Waterford in a refixed game which was postponed last week due to weather, with the losers making the drop to Division 2.

Waterford went down by 2-9 to 2-6 to Mayo in Ballina. Fionnuala McLaughlin got both goals for Mayo, while Lauren McGregor got 2-2 for Waterford but it wasn’t enough.

In Division 2, Kildare and Tyrone were already assured of a final place at Croke Park on April 7 ahead of the final round of group fixtures. Both sides finished with victory with Kildare defeating Westmeath by 2-9 to 1-7 while Tyrone overcame Cavan by 1-10 to 1-5.

Donegal were single point winners against Tipperary with Katy Herron and Niamh McLaughlin finding the net. Monaghan ensured their Division Two status as they were big winners against Laois by 3-18 to 0-6.

At the bottom of the table, it will be Cavan who join Laois in Division 3 next season, a five-point defeat to Tyrone confirming their relegation.

And in Division 3, with Clare and Roscommon also through to a final at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park in Birr on Saturday April 6, all eyes were focused on the battle for survival.

After both were defeated this afternoon, Antrim and Sligo will be playing Division 4 football next year. Roscommon defeated Antrim by 4-6 to 1-14 and with the final to come, ended their round games at the top of the table. However, defeat for Antrim also sees them relegated, just a season after promotion.

Down ended their league on a high as they defeated finalists Clare. Meanwhile, Offaly were big winners over Wexford while Louth also came up with a big performance, defeating Sligo by 2-12 to 2-7, ensuring the Wee County’s safety in Division Three and relegating Sligo.

The 2024 Lidl National League Division 4 Final, at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park, Birr, on Saturday April 6, will be contested by Limerick and Carlow. Limerick got the better of Leitrim by 2-10 to 1-11 in one semi-final, while a late goal from Maeve O’Neill snatched a 2-8 to 1-10 win for Carlow against Fermanagh in the other semi-final to secure a place in the final and promotion.

Scorers for Meath: E Duggan 0-7 (2f), M Farrelly 1-3, S Melia 1-0, K Newe, M Thynne, A McCabe, A O’Leary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: S O’Leary 1-0, E Cleary (2fs), A O’Leary 0-2 each, S Leahy, M O’Callaghan, É O’Donovan (1f) 0-1 each.

MEATH: R Murray; A Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, N Troy; K Kealy, L Young, K Newe; M O’Shaughnessy, E Moyles; M Thynne, S Melia, A McCabe; E Duggan, N Gallogly, M Farrelly.

Subs: A Cleary for Kealy (40), O Gore for Moyles (52), A Leahy for Thynne (55), A Leahy for McCabe, C Doherty for Farrelly and R Casserly for Melia (56), A O’Leary for Duggan (60), C Lawlor for Troy and O Gore for Young (60+3)

CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan. S McGoldrick, E Twomey; L O’Mahony, S Leahy, K O’Driscoll; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; E Cleary, D Kiely, A McDonagh, K Smith, L McDonagh, S O’Leary.

Subs: C Richmond for Murphy, A Healy for S McGoldrick and É O’Donovan for L McDonagh (ht), L Coppinger for A O’Mahony (37), E Hurley for Smith and B Smith for Kiely (43), K Redmond for O’Leary and A Ryan for Twomey (53), N O’Mahony for L O’Mahony (55), D Kinirhy for E Cleary (60)

Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Round 7  

• Dublin 7-10 Armagh 1-4 
• Mayo 2-9 Waterford 2-6 
• Meath 2-14 Cork 1-7 
• Kerry 2-11 Galway 0-12 

With reporting by John Fallon

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