CATHRIONA MCCONNELL BAGGED a hat-trick of goals as Monaghan assumed top spot in Division 1 of the Tesco Ladies National Football League on Sunday.

The Farney Girls are ahead of champions Cork on scoring difference after thumping Mayo by 3-12 to 1-8 in Blackhill.

Visitors Mayo lost Martha Carter to a red card and suffered a 10-point defeat but the Westerners remain in the top four ahead of Dublin, who got back to winning ways.

McConnell, who collected 3-4 in total, was on target early with Monaghan’s first goal and they led by 1-4 to 0-1 prior to Carter’s dismissal.

Monaghan were 1-8 to 0-3 clear at half-time and while Mayo started the second half with two excellent points from their leading scorer Cora Staunton, the winners were quickly back in their stride.

Monaghan’s first score of the second half was McConnell’s second goal and she went on to complete a superb treble as the Ulster side collected a fourth victory from five League outings.

Staunton, who finished with 1-5, found the net late on from a penalty.

Elsewhere, Valerie Mulcahy bagged two goals for Cork as the Rebelettes beat Tyrone by 3-12 to 1-7.

Orlagh Farmer netted Cork’s other goal, in the first half, as the hosts led by 2-5 to 0-4 at half-time in Fermoy.

Cork should have been further in front but a host of wides hampered their cause.

Nevertheless, a second Mulcahy goal helped to complete a 14-point success as Tyrone remain pointless and deep in relegation trouble.

Cork’s next assignment is against Laois, the other team in Division 1 yet to register a single point.

The O’Moore ladies were crushed by visitors Dublin in Crettyard, as the Sky Blues won by 5-22 to 0-3.

Laois failed to score in the second half, after Dublin led by 2-13 to 0-3 at the break.

First-half goals from Lyndsey Davey and Nicole Owens put Gregory McGonigle’s charges firmly in the driving seat and in the second half, Davey, Carla Rowe and Hannah Noonan added further goals.

Captain Davey finished with 2-5 while former minor star Rowe added 1-6 as Dublin kept their playoff hopes alive.

Galway boosted their semi-final hopes by defeating Kerry by 3-12 to 2-9 at Tuam Stadium.

Early goals from Roisin Leonard and Patricia Gleeson had Galway 2-1 to 0-1 ahead and the hosts never looked back from there.

Galway were 2-9 to 0-5 in front at the break and a goal shortly after the resumption from Edel Concannon increased the lead.

Kerry lost Bernie Breen to a yellow card before late goals from Eilish O’Connor and Linda Cronin brought a degree of respectability to the scoreboard.

But Kerry’s attacking struggles were illustrated by the fact that the Kingdom replaced five of their starting forwards by the 45th minute.

In Division 2, there were wins for pacesetters Donegal and Cavan, as fourth-placed Westmeath accounted for visitors Kildare.

Tipperary, Sligo, Waterford and Fermanagh tasted victory in Division 3 and in Division 4, Louth drew with Wicklow while Antrim and Limerick enjoyed wins.

Tesco Ladies National Football League Division 1 results:

Monaghan 3-12 Mayo 1-8
Laois 0-3 Dublin 5-22
Cork 3-12 Tyrone 0-7
Galway 3-12 Kerry 2-9

Tesco Ladies National Football League Division 2 results:

Donegal 6-17 Meath 2-6
Westmeath 0-13 Kildare 2-3
Cavan 1-15 Armagh 3-7

Tesco Ladies National Football League Division 3 results:

Tipperary 2-7 Wexford 1-9
Leitrim 0-7 Sligo 1-11
Waterford 5-6 Roscommon 2-9
Fermanagh 3-22 Longford 3-1

Tesco Ladies National Football League Division 4 results:

Wicklow 3-5 Louth 1-11
Offaly 0-8 Antrim 3-7
Limerick 1-18 Derry 3-5

– First published 20.11, 15 March

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