Cavan reach top flight for first time as Cork and Galway set to battle for league title
Lidl National Football League round-up
Compiled by John Fallon
CORK and Galway will contest the 2026 Lidl National League Division 1 final on Saturday, April 11.
Both sides were promoted last year and will now aim for top flight silverware.
Cork booked their spot in the decider with a 4-8 to 2-12 home victory over Meath on Saturday, as Galway got the better of relegation-haunted Dublin by 3-13 to 1-13.
Two goals from Katie Quirke and one apiece from Aine Terry O’Sullivan and Aimee Corcoran paved the way for Cork who will hope to get revenge on a Galway side who defeated them in the Division 2 decider last year.
Kate Slevin, Kate Thompson and Leanne Coen found the net for Galway in the opening half to lead by 3-5 to 0-6 at the interval and they held off a Dublin rally after the break in Tuam Stadium.
Armagh eased their relegation concerns with a 1-13 to 2-8 win over Kerry in Silverbridge with Blaithin Mackin getting the goal in the opening half to lead by 1-6 to 1-2 at the break.
Siofra O’Shea scored 2-2 for the reigning Lidl National Football League champions but it wasn’t enough to secure victory.
Áine O’Neill struck a late goal as Waterford fought from behind to claim a share of the spoils with Kildare on a 2-10 to 1-13 scoreline.
Meanwhile, Cavan will contest the Division 2 final, which will also take place on Saturday, April 11, after they secured promotion to the top flight for the first time in history when they defeated Tyrone by 1-10 to 1-6 with Keri McCormack getting their goal.
In Division 3, Louth booked their place in the final on Sunday April 12 with a 1-14 to 1-8 win over Roscommon, while the remaining slot will be taken by Antrim or Down, who meet next Sunday in Round 7. Limerick have been relegated and either Clare or Laois will join them after next week’s games.
And in Division 4, Offaly will meet Carlow next Sunday in the Division 4 semi-final after their 3-18 to 2-12 win over Longford.
Results:
Lidl NFL Division 1
Armagh 1-13 Kerry 2-08
Cork 4-8 Meath 2-12
Galway 3-13 Dublin 1-13
Waterford 2-10 Kildare 1-13
Lidl NFL Division 2
Monaghan 4-14 Wexford 1-9
Cavan 1-10 Tyrone 1-6
Mayo 6-10 Westmeath 1-14
Tipperary 0-7 Donegal 0-6
Lidl NFL Division 3
Antrim 2-8 Laois 0-12
Down 1-11 Limerick 1-5
Fermanagh 2-15 Clare 1-10
Louth 1-14 Roscommon 1-8
Lidl NFL Division 4
Offaly 3-18 Longford 2-12
O’Neill goal secures draw for Waterford
Lidl National Football League
Waterford 2-10
Kildare 1-13
By Daire Walsh
Áine O’Neill struck a late goal at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan as Waterford fought from behind to claim a share of the spoils with Kildare in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League.
Despite Waterford creating early daylight in this contest with points from Hannah McGrath and Kellyann Hogan, Kildare soon replied with fine efforts courtesy of Molly Aspell and Alannah Prizeman.
Hogan did find the target for a second time after an Aoife Rattigan free had briefly put their opponents into the lead, but the Lilywhite outfit flexed their muscles with a powerful second-quarter showing.
Having already joined Mayah Doyle, Aoife Murnane and Rattigan (two) in kicking unanswered points, centre-forward Ciara Wheeler seized upon a short kick-out in the 29th minute and proceeded to chip Waterford netminder Gemma Corcoran for a superbly-taken goal.
Waterford had lost Laura Mulcahy to a yellow card not long before this green flag strike and even though Brid McMaugh responded with a two-point salvo, Kildare brought a healthy 1-8 to 0-5 cushion into the interval.
They reasserted their authority on the resumption with Rattigan’s fourth point of the game, but Waterford came roaring back into life when Hogan used the element of surprise to rattle a close-range free to the net on 35 minutes. This reinvigorated the Deise challenge and Hogan was also on hand to cancel out another Aspell score at the opposite end in advance of Mulcahy returning to the fray.
The Lilies were still four ahead in the 51st minute thanks to a brace of Rattigan points matching the contributions of Hogan and substitute Lia Ní hArta for the Munster side, but Waterford brought the gap down to two when Katie Murray and Hogan split the posts in quick succession.
While a Ciara Wheeler point offered Kildare some much-needed breathing space, O’Neill embarked on a strong run before unleashing a powerful shot to the net at the end of normal time.
Despite coming away with something to show from this encounter, third-place Waterford will miss out on a final spot in Division 1 due to victories elsewhere for Cork and Galway ensuring their places in the upcoming showpiece decider.
The point garnered from this game could yet prove to be vital for Kildare, but Pat Sullivan’s charges have now slipped back into the relegation spots ahead of their home showdown with Kerry tomorrow week.
Scorers – Waterford: K Hogan 1-5 (1-3f), Á O’Neill 1-0, B McMaugh 0-2, K Murray, L Ní hArta, H McGrath.
Kildare: A Rattigan 0-6 (4f), C Wheeler 1-2, M Aspell 0-2, M Doyle, A Prizeman, A Murnane 0-1 each.
WATERFORD: G Corcoran; R Browne, L Mulcahy, R Casey; Á O’Neill, K McGrath, C Murray; E Power, E Murray; K Murray, K Hogan, B McMaugh; A McGrath, C Walsh, H McGrath. Subs: M Daly for Walsh, K Gardiner for Corcoran (both h-t), L Ní hArta for H McGrath (42), C Fennell for Daly (49), L Cusack for A McGrath, T Ní Chrotaigh for McMaugh (both 58).
KILDARE: R Fennin; A Mernagh, M Doherty, H McLoughlin; L Shaw, R Sargent, L Lenehan; N Murphy, G Wheeler; A Murnane, C Wheeler, M Aspell; A Rattigan, M Doyle, A Prizeman. Subs: M Cooney for Prizeman (46), A Mahon for Shaw, M McDonagh for Murphy (both 49).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).
Armagh do enough to get invaluable victory
Lidl National Football League
Armagh 1-13
Kerry 2-8
By Elaine Ingram
Armagh desperately needed a win to move out of the Lidl National Football League Division 1 relegation zone and they managed to get it in a tight tussle against Kerry with a two-point victory.
While there was no breeze in Silverbridge, Kerry were playing into the sun as it dipped low in the sky after the 5pm thow-in.Armagh avoided the blinding light as it had sunk below the treeline for the second half.
The Orchard County led 1-6 to 1-2 at the break, thanks to a free from Aimee Mackin, who was a welcome returnee to the field from injury, and a brace from the dead ball converted by Kelly Mallon.
Before that the sides there was just one score in it with the home side leading 1-3 to 1-2 as after Kerry battled back from a five-point deficit.
The Kingdom almost had the ball in the net twice in the first quarter, but it was the Orchard County who rattled it first with a goal from Blaithin Mackin, well set up by Lauren McConville in the tenth minute. A couple of points followed and the home side led 1-3 to 0-1 but Leah Boyle socre the next point and on 20 minutes Siofra O’Shea drilled the ball to the roof of the net for the Kingdom. The aforementioned Armagh frees concluded the half in a close contest between these two familiar foes. Kerry were reduced to 14 players when Aoife Dillane was sinbinned before the break and that certainly helped Armagh’s cause as they came out strong in the second half.
They went nine points clear after Mallon put two over the bar and Aimee Mackin, McCoy and Marley made it 1-11 to 1-2.
Kerry were struggling to find the target, while Aimmee Mackin sent another beauty between the sticks before Niamh Ni Chonchuir and sub Maeve Mulvihill responded.
Kerry continued to chip into Armagh’s lead and a second goal from O’Shea made it a two-point game 1-13 to 2-8 with minutes remaining. Armagh gained possession and tried to keep it as the clock wound down and they managed to do just that to win 1-13 to 2-8 .
Scorers: Armagh: B Mackin 1-0, K Mallon 0-5 (2f), A Mackin 0-4 (1f) A McCoy 0-2, C Marley 0-2.
Kerry: S O’Shea 2-2, (0-1)f, K Enright, N Carmody, L Boyle, N Ni Chonchuir, M Mulvihill, N Carmody 0-1 each.
ARMAGH: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; A Donnelly, L McConville, G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O’Reilly; C McNally, A McCoy, E Druse; A Mackin, C O’Hanlon, K Mallon. Subs: M Lennon for Mcnally (40,) E Reid for Marley (42), E Druse for McCoy (55), E McConaghy for Mallon (55).
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; E Ní Laighin, A Dillane, L Boyle; N Carmody, A Galvin; K Enright, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; S O’Shea, D O’Leary, R Dwyer. Subs: M Mulvihille for Evans ht, L McMahon for Dwyer h-t, J Lucey for O’Leary (36), N Quinn for Enright (42), K Ryan for Boyle (49).
Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan)
Cork set up final date with Galway
Lidl National Football League
Cork 4-8
Meath 2-12
By Ger McCarthy
Cork are through to the 2026 Lidl National Football League Division 1 final with a game to spare following this victory over Meath at MTU Cork.
Katie Quirke (two), Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Aimee Corocran goals sent the Rebels into the National League decider in their first season back after gaining promotion from Division 2.
Meath played their part in an entertaining game but remain in relegation danger heading into next weekend’s final round of fixtures.
The hosts got off to a powerful start courtesy of four unanswered scores.
Áine Terry O’Sullivan twice went close to netting an early goal and Meath struggled to contain the lively Beara forward. Three O’Sullivan points and a fine Aoife Healy score handed the Rebels an early four-point advantage.
Emma Duggan (free) responded but Meath’s defence were guilty of switching off as Katie Quirke cut in along the end-line and fired into the net after 14 minutes.
That was Meath’s cue to up the tempo as the visitors dominated the remainder of the half.
Marian Farrelly, Megan Thynne and Rachel Casserly scores made it 1-4 to 0-4 before Aoife Healy floated over her second score.
Dominating Cork’s kick-outs, Meath added three further points via Emma Duggan (two frees) and Casserly to trail 1-5 to 0-7 at the short whistle.
Duggan landed another free on the resumption but Cork struck back instantly. Aimee Corcoran raced through her opposing defence and found the bottom corner to make it 2-6 to 0-8.
A flurry of third quarter scores preceded a jersey-pull foul in front of Cork’s goal which Emma Duggan dispatched into the net from a resulting close-range free.
The game back in the melting pot, Áine Terry O’Sullivan’s palmed into an empty net to make it 3-8 to 1-9 with 5 minutes remaining.
An Emma Duggan free made it a four-point game before O’Sullivan turned provider and fed Katie Quirke to smash home Cork’s fourth goal.
A late Marion Farrelly goal came too late for Meath and it is Cork who deservedly march on to a Division 1 final.
Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 2-2 (0-2 f), Á T O’Sullivan 1-3, A Corocran 1-0, A Healy 0-2, L Hallahan 0-1.
Meath: E Duggan 1-5 (0-5 f), M Farrelly 1-1, M Thynne, R Casserly 0-2 each, C Smyth, Nallogly 0-1 each.
CORK: C Redmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; A Corcoran, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, G Murphy, E Cleary (captain); Á T O’Sullivan, K Quirke, L Hallihan. Subs: C Hughes for D Kiniry (33), R O’Regan for L Hallahan (52), K Redmond for G Ní Mhurchú (52), S Callanan for R Corkery (57), A Ring for Á T O’Sullivan (57), E Hurley for for R Leahy (60), C McCarthy for K Quirke (62).
MEATH: R Murray; K Kealy, Á Sheridan, A Farrell; C Lawlor, O Gore, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, M Thynne; M Farrelly, C Smyth, N Gallogly (captain); E Duggan, L Woods, R Casserly.
Subs: M Byrne for L Woods (41), S Murphy for R Casserly (41), M K Lynch for O Gore (42), C Millington for C Lawlor (47), O Finnegan for O Sheehy (47), Ó Smith for A Farrell (51).
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).
Tipp grind out hard earned win over Donegal
LADIES FOOTBALL: Lidl National League Division 2 Round 6
Tipperary 0-7
Donegal 0-6
Report: Michael Heverin at Clonmel Sportsfield
Player of the Match: Anna-Rose Kennedy (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Anna-Rose Kennedy 0-3, Emma Morrissey 0-2 (1 free), Sarah English, Heather Spillane 0-1 each
Donegal: Katie Dowds 0-2; Susanna White, Eva Gallagher, Ciara McGarvey, Mia Bennett 0-1 each
Control proved to be the key attribute for Tipperary as they edged past Donegal on Sunday for their first home win of the campaign – a result that keeps them with a slim chance of promotion.
It’s an outside chance but first they need to beat Tyrone in Clonmel next Sunday and hope that Donegal and Mayo fall to unlikely defeats.
It wasn’t the side’s best performance to date but it was their most composed. Their build-up in attack was patient – almost pedestrian at times – but that was to deny Donegal any turnovers that could prove costly. And there were no speculative long-range shots that might fall short and cough up possession.
At the other end, the defence was solid and disciplined, not conceding frees within scoring range and smothering Donegal attacks with tenacious tackling.
Tipp led 0-4 to 0-3 at half time and a terrific first ten minutes of the second half saw them extend the lead to four, 0-7 to 0-3. Team captain Anna-Rose Kennedy was outstanding, kicking her third point, with Heather Spillane splitting the posts after sustained pressure, and Emma Morrissey pointing a free following a foul on Sarah English – Tipp’s only score not from open play.
Donegal replied with three points of their own during their best spell of the day as they ramped up pressure on the home side. But despite being down to fourteen players for ten minutes following a yellow card for centre-half back Nora Martin for a high tackle, Tipp excelled in their game management to deny the Ulster side an equaliser.
“Donegal are a good team and live off your mistakes so we had to be very patient. They got one great score from a counter-attack because we were sloppy on the ball and we will get punished for that”, said manager David Power after the game.
“But we controlled it well, even when down to fourteen players. The girls worked so hard. I thought we were the better team and should have been more ahead before they came back at us. But overall, it was very positive. We are improving each week and this is a massive step forward and confidence boost for us. We ticked a lot of boxes and to beat Donegal is a big statement win. It was a super win and we are still in with a slight chance of promotion”.
Donegal’s threat on the counter was evident in their first score after three minutes. They soaked up nearly two minutes of Tipp pressure before forcing a turnover that saw a quick break through the centre resulting in a Katie Dowds point.
Tipp were more careful after that and another patient build-up saw Sarah English kick a superb leveller. Donegal regained the lead when Susanne White pointed when on an advantage, but Tipperary hit back immediately when Anna-Rose Kennedy found herself unmarked to the left of goal and floated over a lovely point.
Another well-constructed Tipperary attack, with Lauren Cunningham, Angela McGuigan and Emma Buckley prominent, saw Emma Morrissey kick them into a lead midway through the half that they were never to relinquish.
Playing now with confidence, Tipp continued to press for openings and with Emma Buckley orchestrating much of the play in her first league start, the final pass of another slick move found Kennedy in space again, and the Aherlow player extended the lead to two. It was back to a single point game before the break when Ciara McGarvey finished off a quick Donegal break through the centre.
With the wind in their favour, Tipperary started the second half in blistering fashion with an Anna-Rose Kennedy shot saved by goalkeeper Clare Friel after just forty seconds, Clara English just wide with a shot, and Emma Morrissey forcing another save from Friel, before Kennedy extended the lead with a huge point from play five minutes into the half.
A minute later, the home pressure was rewarded again with Heather Spillane pushing the lead out to two, and then after Sarah English was fouled on the roadside, Emma Morrissey pointed the free in the 39th minute.
Tipperary weren’t to score again for the game’s remaining 21-plus minutes but they managed to weather the Donegal storm. The Ulster side started to show the form that had seen them win four of their first five games, with Katie Dowds pointing her second score of the game, followed by one of the scores of the match from Mia Bennett to make 0-7 to 0-5 with 42 minutes gone.
It was a narrow lead to defend, and a hand injury to team captain Kennedy that forced her substitution might have proven costly in the final stretch, but she returned within ten minutes when her calm presence was again vital. Seven minutes from the end, Donegal narrowed the gap to a single point through substitute Eva Gallagher during Nora Martin’s sin-binning.
Composure and control were then required for Tipperary to see the game out, and record their third win of the campaign, and that’s what they produced to the delight of the home support.
TEAMS – Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry 7); Tara Hoare (Templemore 7), Maria Curley (Templemore 8), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers 7); Emma Buckley (Cahir 8), Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan 7), Sarah English (Ardfinnan 7); Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus 7), Clara English (Ardfinnan 7); Angela McGuigan (St. Sylvester’s, Dublin 8), Anna-Rose Kennedy (Aherlow 9), Heather Spillane (Fethard 7); Lauren Cunningham (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Anna Carey (Clonmel Commercials 7), Emma Morrissey (Aherlow 7).
Subs: Nicole Shelly (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 7) for Kennedy (42), Anna-Rose Kennedy for Laura Morrissey (50), Kirsty Crotty Ryan (Moyle Rovers 7) for Carey (50).
Donegal: Clare Friel (8); Niamh Carr (7), Evelyn McGinley (7), Sophie McFeely (8); Tara Hegarty (7), Shauna McFadden (8), Ava Caulfield (7); Jodie McFadden (7), Roisin Rodgers (7); Bláthnáid McLaughlin (7), Katie Dowds (8), Niamh Boyle (7); Susanne White (7), Mia Bennett (7), Clara McGarvey (7).
Subs: Clodagh Brennan (7) for Caulfield (38), Eva Gallagher (8) for Shauna McFadden (42), Ulitah Boyle (7) for Jodie McFadden (42), Ava Walsh (7) for Bennett (51), Cait Gillespie (7) for McLaughlin (53), Nicole Gordon (NR) for McGarvey (58).
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
