LAST UPDATE | 17 Jun 2023
TG4 All-Ireland Championship
Donegal 2-10 Waterford 1-8
Armagh 3-12 Laois 2-8
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DONEGAL GOT THEIR TG4 All-Ireland Championship championship campaign up and running with a deserved win over Waterford at Pairc MacDiarmada in Lifford.
It was a much changed Donegal side from that which went down to Waterford in the league. Former All Star Niamh Hegarty and Karen Guthrie have returned to the Donegal squad for the championship and they were joined for this opener by another former All Star Geraldine McLaughlin, who came on after the restart.
Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr scored the goals for the newly crowned Ulster champions who led by four points at half-time.
Hegarty scored a goal and two points for Donegal – the goal was from the penalty spot after she herself had been fouled – as they led by 1-6 to 1-2 at the interval.
Susanne White posted two points and Amy Boyle Carr and Katie Dowd got one each for Donegal.
Lauren McGregor scored the Waterford goal after nine minutes while Aine O’Neill and Kelly Ann Hogan scored the points for the visitors.
Susanne White and McGregor traded early points on the resumption before Amy Boyle Carr broke through for a well taken goal.
That put Donegal ahead by 2-7 to 1-3 five minutes after the restart with Waterford failing to convert several scoring chances.
Katie McGrath landed Waterford’s second point of the half but they struggled to close the gap on the home side, with Ciara McGarvey landing two frees for Donegal after being introduced.
Player of the match Hegarty brought her tally to 1-3 in the closing exchanges while McGregor and Kelly Anne Hogan struck points for Waterford but they couldn’t get the goal they needed to get back in contention.
Scorers – Donegal: Niamh Hegarty 1-3, (1-0 pen), Amy Boyle Carr 1-1, Susanne White 0-3 (2f), Ciara McGarvey 0-2f, Katie Dowd 0-1.
Waterford: Lauren McGregor 1-4 (0-3f), Kelly Anne Hogan 0-2, Aine O’Neill, Katie McGrath 0-1 each.
DONEGAL: C Friel; N Carr, A Asokhu, N McLaughlin; A Boyle Carr, L Ryan, T Hegarty; E Gallagher, N McLaughlin; R Rodgers, K Long, K Dowds; N Hegarty, K Herron, C McGarvey. Subs: S McGroddy for L Ryan (h/t); C McGarvey for S White (41), G McLaughlin for N McLaughlin (54), S McFeely for K Dowd (60).
WATERFORD: C Murray; K McGrath, A Murray; A Wairing, K McGrath, E Murray; K Murray, A O’Neill; K A Hogan, A Fitzgerald, C McCarthy; S McGuickian, C Hynes, L McGregor. Subs: Katie Murray for C Hynes (h/t); Abby Murphy for Fitzgerald(41).
Referee: S Curley (Galway).
Andrew Egan reports from Laois Hire O’Moore Park
ARMAGH HAVE HAD Laois’ number in league and championship lately, and they continued their dominance over the O’Moore County again in this TG4 All-Ireland senior championship opener.
The Orchard County defeated Laois in an entertaining match to claim the Lidl NFL Division 2 trophy back in April. They were arguably more impressive here though, as Armagh had seven points to spare Laois on this occasion.
Armagh’s Kelly Mallon and Laois’ Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald traded points early on before the Ulster county pulled away at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
Niamh Reel, Blaithin Mackin, Lauren McConville and Eve Lavery all raised white flags for the away side before they struck for the first of their two goals in the opening half.
Centre-forward Aoife McCoy found Niamh Reel inside and Reel coolly slid to the left of Eimear Barry in the Laois net.
Mo Nerney replied for Laois to stop the rot. However, a second pointed free from Mallon was followed with a second Armagh goal.
Armagh intercepted a Laois kickout and quickly went for the jugular. Caitriona O’Hagan played it across to Aoife McCoy inside, and she managed to get enough of a palm to it to trickle the ball home.
Laois finished the half well with points from Nerney (free), Orla Hennessy and Fitzgerald (free), but the home side still trailed by eight at half-time.
Laois’ Katie Donoghue and Armagh’s Caitriona O’Hagan traded points at the start of the second half before the home team grabbed a goal back.
Laura Marie-Maher saw her shot blocked down by Armagh but Donoghue was there to drive home the rebound.
Armagh responded positively to that goal though with points from O’Hagan, Lavery and McCoy to regain control.
Nerney replied for Laois with a free before they struck for a second goal when Donoghue again supplied the finishing touch.
However, Armagh held their nerve well after that. While Fitzgerald curled over a point for Laois to leave three between the teams, a Lavery point for Armagh was followed by the clinching goal.
McCoy rounded Laois keeper Eimear Barry and finished to the net to make sure Armagh made a winning start to their campaign.
Scorers for Armagh: A McCoy 2-1, N Reel 1-1, E Lavery 0-3, K Mallon 0-2 (2f), B Mackin 0-2, C O’Hagan 0-2, L McConville 0-1.
Scorers for Laois: K Donoghue 2-1, M Nerney 0-3 (3f), S.A. Fitzgerald 0-3 (1f), O Hennessy 0-1.
ARMAGH: A Carr; S Grey, C McCambridge, L Kenny; G Ferguson, L McConville, C Towe; N Coleman, E Lavery; B Mackin, A McCoy, E Druse; N Reel, K Mallon (capt.), C Hagan. Subs: M Ferguson for Grey, A Mackin for O’Hagan (both 44), N Marley for Towe (51), B Hendron for Mallon (60).
LAOIS: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne, A Kelly; S Havill, E Healy (capt.), L Nerney; A Healy, O Hennessy; A Kirrane, L.M. Maher, G Moran, S.A. Fitzgerald, M Nerney, K Donoghue. Subs: T Byrne for Moran (54), Ellie O’Connell for Nerney (60).
Referee: P Smith (Waterford).
Reports written by Tom Comack and Andrew Egan
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