Report by John Fallon
There were wins for Donegal, Armagh, Galway and Kerry as the 2023 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championships began with a bang on Saturday.
The Senior series got underway with three of the four provincial champions – Dublin, Cork and Armagh – in action, but two of them tasted defeat on the opening weekend.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored 1-6 at Parnell Park as Kerry withstood a late surge from Dublin to seal victory in a gripping encounter.
Kerry led by 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time after Ní Mhuircheartaigh gave them a great start with an early goal before Dublin hit back and Orlagh Nolan found the net.
Kerry goalkeeper Ciara Butler saved a penalty from Carla Rowe in the second half before they pulled further ahead from when team captain Siofra O’Shea palmed home a goal and they held for victory.
Ailbhe Davoren scored two goals and Kate Slevin also found the net in the closing stages as Galway defeated Cork by 3-11 to 1-11 at Pearse Stadium.
Galway led by 1-7 to 1-6 at the interval with Ciara O’Sullivan getting the Cork goal in a good contest in Salthill.
Davoren’s second goal put Galway in the driving seat in the third quarter and they wrapped up the win when substitute Slevin brought her haul to 1-3 in the closing stages.
Donegal were boosted by the return of several stars for championship action and Niamh Hegarty led the way as they defeated Waterford by 2-10 to 1-8 in Lifford.
A goal from a penalty from Hegarty helped Donegal lead by 1-6 to 1-2 at the break, with Lauren McGregor finding the net for Waterford after nine minutes.
Amy Boyle Carr’s goal for Donegal put them in the driving seat in the second half on a day when former All Star Geraldine McLaughlin returned from the bench as they made a winning start.
Armagh got their campaign off to a flying start when two goals from Aoife McCoy and one from Niamh Reel helped them to a 3-12 to 2-8 win over Laois in Portlaoise.
Armagh led by 2-7 to 0-5 at the break and while Laois rallied and Katie Donoghue got in for two goals, McCoy’s second goal of the contest ensured victory for the visitors.
In the Intermediate grade, Clare, Tyrone and Wexford are safely through to the quarter-finals after their respective victories over Wicklow, Offaly and Monaghan. Elsewhere, Leitrim and Westmeath got back to winning ways overcoming Louth and Longford.
And at Junior level, London, Down, Limerick and Fermanagh began their campaigns with victories over the weekend. They were victorious over Derry, Sligo, Kilkenny and Carlow respectively.
Results
Sunday June 18
TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship - Round 2
Group 1
Leitrim 2-8 Louth 1-9
Group 2
Clare 4-22 Wicklow 0-5
Tyrone 4-16 Offaly 1-7
Group 3
Wexford 3-8 Monaghan 1-9
Group 4
Westmeath 3-14 Longford 0-6
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship – Round 1
Group A
Down 1-13 Sligo 2-5
Limerick 7-21 Kilkenny 1-5
Group B
Fermanagh 1-13 Carlow 0-9
Results
Saturday June 17
TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship – Round 1
Group 1
Armagh 3-12 Laois 2-8
Group 2
Donegal 2-10 Waterford 1-8
Group 3
Kerry 2-8 Dublin 1-9
Group 4
Galway 3-11 Cork 1-11
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship – Round 1
Group B
London 2-12 Derry 1-4
