Lidl National Ladies Football League Division Two
TYRONE captain Neamh Woods admits there was perhaps some pressure on the Red Hands ladies to get a result against Armagh on Sunday.
It was the first time in 24 years that Tyrone recorded a league victory over neighbours Armagh and they were fully deserved of their two points, 1-14 to 1-12 victory in Silverbridge.
The win was received with even more delight as they showed they could bounce back from their opening round defeat to Meath.
It also makes for an interesting Division Two league table already after only two games. Monaghan and Kerry are out in front with six points after two wins from two, while Tyrone and Cavan now join Armagh and Meath on three points following their victories and Clare and Wexford are at the bottom of the table as yet without any points.
“We are delighted to get the win. Last week we felt we under performed and we needed the performance this week especially with Armagh having started with a win too. If we want to challenge for the top two in the league we needed to get a win,” said Woods.
“There was maybe an element of pressure coming into the game to get a result. Pre-season training and challenge games had went well and I think against Meath we expected a performance and it just didn't happen and we were frustrated with ourselves.”
Tyrone played with the wind at their backs in the first half and it helped them to a four point lead, 0-9 to 1-2, at half-time and it could have been more only for Corinna Doyle’s late goal.
As expected with the wind now in their advantage, Armagh were on level terms by the 36th minute, but Tyrone dealt with that and their dominance continued as they tagged on 1-3 without reply to open up a six point gap and despite Armagh’s best attempts they were able to keep them at arm’s length and see out the win.
“Our work-rate this week, our tenacity, tackling, turnovers - the difference was like night and day compared to last week. It doesn't take much to lift yourself for a game when you play an Ulster team but in the back of our minds I think we did feel some pressure today,” she said.
“We hope that we can bring that to every game and in this league, which is so, so competitive we need to do that. The results proved this week that any team can win on the day and things can change very quickly.”
Gerry Moane’s side turn their attentions to Clare this weekend for their first home game of the season, on Saturday, in Drumragh and they will be keen to pick up another three points and keep their charge going.
Division One: Waterford 1-11 Donegal 2-10
FULL-forward Emma McCroary scored a winning injury time goal for Donegal as they edged out Waterford in a nip and tuck game at Dungarvan on Saturday.
The home team led by two going into injury time Katie Murray with a goal two minutes from time to put them 1-11 1-9 ahead and it looked like last year’s Division Two winners were going to pull off another huge result after their win over Galway last weekend.
However, Donegal captain Geraldine McLaughlin sent over her eighth point of the afternoon to leave one between them before McCroary struck for the winner six minutes into added time for Maxi Curran’s side.
Donegal led 0-3 to no score early on but Waterford, when they settled reeled off four in-a-row to move one ahead, but McLaughlin had the final say of the half with two points to edge Donegal into a slender one point lead at the break, 0-5 to 0-4.
McLaughlin moved Donegal two clear but Waterford levelled and then took the lead. Once again, Donegal responded through McLaughlin (2) but Fennell replied to tie the game for a fifth time with a quarter of the game remaining.
Caroline Sharkey grabbed a 48th minute goal for Donegal to move them three ahead but Waterford clawed their way back into it and Murray’s goal two minutes from time looked to have sealed the win. That was before Donegal had other ideas and they snatched the late victory.
Division Two: Cavan 3-10 Meath 2-5
Division Two: Monaghan 2-15 Clare 1-10
Division Three: Down 3-10 Fermanagh 1-10
Division Four: Antrim 0-6 Louth 3-11; Limerick 5-13 Derry 0-3
** See further Ladies Football coverage in tomorrow's Irish News
