Armagh and Donegal exit All-Ireland at group stage
Armagh reached the All-Ireland semi-finals last year
- Published
Armagh and Donegal have both been eliminated from the Ladies All-Ireland series at the group stage.
The Orchard County, who reached the semi-finals last year, went out after a surprise 1-12 to 1-10 defeat against Kildare, who move into the last eight.
Donegal exited the competition after a 0-11 to 1-6 loss to Tipperary, who go through to the quarter-finals with the victory.
Those two sides join holders Kerry, Meath and Dublin in reaching the last eight.
Ulster champions Armagh and Kildare went in level at 0-6 apiece at half-time after a tight first period at a sunny Athletic Grounds.
It was nip-and-tuck throughout before Kildare moved ahead through Laura Curran and Alannah Prizeman but frees from Caroline O'Hanlon and Niamh Reel got the Orchard County back on level terms.
Armagh - who were without captain Clodagh McCambridge and Aoife McCoy - then managed to scramble the ball off the line when Kildare had a promising goal chance before Ciara Wheeler and O'Hanlon exchanged points late in the half.
It was equally tight at the start of the second half, with Armagh responding every time Kildare pulled ahead.
That was until Laoise Lenehan ghosted in at the back post to score a goal for Kildare, with Aoife Rattigan adding a point soon after to take them six clear.
Armagh replied with a goal six minutes from time to renew hope of a comeback
Lauren McConville fired home from close range, before Aimee Mackin registered a point soon after coming off the bench to bring them back to within a point.
Those hopes of fighting back faded after substitute Miah Ryan kicked a late score to seal the two-point win for Kildare.
Donegal suffered a two-point defeat against Tipperary in Bansha
Donegal trailed 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time after a tough first half in the heat in Bansha.
Kirsty Crotty Ryan got Tipperary off the mark before Anna Rose Kennedy kicked three successive points to give them an early lead.
Susanne White got Donegal's first score with a free on 18 minutes, but Kennedy replied soon after.
White kicked another free before two quick-fire points from Crotty Ryan and Emma Morrissey re-established Tipp's advantage.
Blathnaid McLaughlin and Aishling Moloney exchanged late scores as Tipperary lead by five at the break, a gap that proved just too big for Donegal to bridge.
Moloney added two more frees after the restart before Donegal sparked into life with two points and then a goal.
Jodie McFadden reacted quickest after the ball came off the post to coolly slot home before she added another point to bring them back within one.
Moloney registered her fifth point with a crucial free as Tipperary saw out the win which booked their place in the last eight.