TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship
ARMAGH will play Meath in this weekend’s TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final after they topped their group thanks to a 3-14 to 0-12 win over Mayo on Saturday.
Both sides had already qualified for the knockout stages prior to their final game but the result was important as it determined the final placings.
Aimee Mackin scored a hat-trick and added six points for the Orchard County who dominated against the Westerners at Ballinamore. They led 1-4 to 0-1 after 14 minutes and although Mayo faired better in the second quarter, Armagh were 1-8 to 0-6 in front at the break.
It was game over when Mackin completed her hat-trick in the 42nd minute with Ronan Murphy’s side 3-8 to 0-9 ahead with Mayo adding just another three points as Armagh finished strong with six more, Niamh Reel, Lauren McConville and Kelly Mallon, along with Mackin all adding to the tally.
Waterford came out on top of the winner-takes-all clash with Tyrone in Mullingar coming away with a 3-16 to 0-12 victory. The defeat for Kevin McCrystal’s side means Tyrone now must fight to save their senior status.
Tyrone did lead 0-4 to 0-3 after 12 minutes but 1-6 on the bounce from Waterford, Katie Murray with the goal, gave the Munster side a 1-9 to 0-5 half-time lead and they never looked back. Niamh O’Neill scored all Tyrone’s first half points and indeed finished with 0-10 to her name, however, her haul was not enough. Waterford had the game wrapped up by the 38th minute when Murray and Aileen Wall both hit the back of the net within four minutes of each other and by then Tyrone trailed 3-11 to 0-5. O’Neill and Grainne Rafferty continued to do their best on the Tyrone side of the scoreboard but the much needed goals never looked likely as Waterford continued to keep their side ticking over as well.
Tyrone will face Cavan in a few weeks' time following their 0-14 to 1-13 defeat to Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday, Ciara McAnespie's last-gasp goal saving the Farney girls from a relegation play-off.
TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate and Junior Championships
QUARTER-FINAL pairings in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship have been decided with Down the only Ulster representatives.
They were not in action at the weekend having played and won the first two rounds of their group and they will face Wexford in the last eight. Westmeath, who defeated Wexford on Sunday, will face Clare, whose 5-8 to 3-6 win over Fermanagh was enough to see them qualify and send the Erne County down the relegation play-off route. Laois will face Louth.
Fermanagh’s defeat to Clare means they must battle to save their intermediate championship status against Offaly with Longford doing the same against Roscommon. The two losing teams will play off to avoid dropping down to the junior championship.
In the junior competition, Antrim took another huge step towards a semi-final place with an impressive 5-10 to 2-7 win over Limerick on Saturday. They are top of the table ahead of Wicklow only on scoring difference but still have the Garden County to play in their remaining game. Wicklow defeated Carlow on Sunday 3-15 to 3-7.
