Ladies National Football League: Armagh secure two-point win against Cork

Mackin scored an early penalty to help Armagh to their second successive Division One win

Armagh made it two wins from two in Division One as they defeated Cork 1-8 to 1-6 at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday.

They lead for the entirety of the contest and held a 1-4 to 1-3 lead at the break after Aimee Mackin's early penalty.

It continued to be a nip-and-tuck encounter in the second period as Cork wasted a number of goal chances.

Armagh held on for their second successive win after they beat Waterford last weekend.

The Orchard County made a bright start to the game and went ahead after just three minutes with Mackin, who also scored in the victory last week, firing home a penalty.

It came after Libby Coppinger was penalised for a foul on Louise Kenny.

Cork replied quickly with a goal of their own as Hannah Looney played in Daire Kiely to rattle home.

Mackin put the visitors back in front with a well-taken free and she then increased their lead with Armagh's first score from play soon after.

Katie Quirke put one between the sides, but Mackin hit another fine score from distance to re-establish Armagh's two-point advantage.

Sadhbh O'Leary got Cork's second point to put one between them again, before Quirke had the sides level after 20 minutes.

Caroline O'Hanlon got the last score of the half to send Armagh in ahead at the interval.

Emily Druse then increased Armagh's lead three minutes into the second half, as Cork wasted several chances to get back on level terms, hitting three wides in the first five minutes after the restart.

Quirke eventually recorded their first score of the game to again reduce the deficit, but Lauren McConville made it a two-point game again.

Quirke pointed from a free for the home side with 10 minutes to go, but Armagh worked the ball straight down the pitch to increase their advantage as Niamh Murray split the posts.

They were denied another goal when Sarah Murphy pulled off a great save to deny Kelly Mallon before Aoife McCoy rounded off the scoring for the away side.

"We had to dig in, but defensively I thought we played very well. It's never easy to get the three points here and we had to earn them," said Armagh boss Gregory McGonigle.

Also in Division One, defending league champions Kerry came from behind to beat Waterford 2-11 to 2-5 at Fitzgerald Stadium thanks to goals from Jadyn Lucey and substitute Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

First-half goals from Meadhbh Byrne and Marion Farrelly helped Meath to defeat All-Ireland kingpins Dublin 2-5 to 0-7 at Pairc Tailteann in Navan as Mayo beat Connacht rivals Galway 2-5 to 0-10.

There were wins for Tyrone and Cavan in Division Two. The Red Hands made it back-to-back victories as they beat Tipperary whilst Cavan edged Laois.

Donegal suffered their first defeat as they lost by four points against Kildare. Monaghan were well beaten 4-10 to 2-13 by Westmeath.

Antrim and Down, who suffered opening day defeats, were beaten again in Division Three. The Mourne County endured a 1-5 to 0-5 loss against Wexford, whilst the Saffrons, who are playing in Division Three for the first time, were defeated 5-4 to 2-8 by Offaly.

Fermanagh remain unbeaten in Division Four after a 2-15 to 2-7 home win against Wicklow. Derry are still looking for their first win as they lost their third game in a row, suffering a heavy 8-9 to 0-8 defeat by Leitrim.

LIDL LADIES NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Division One

Kerry 2-11 Waterford 2-5

Galway 0-10 Mayo 2-5

Meath 2-5 Dublin 0-7

Armagh 1-8 Cork 1-6

Division Two

Kildare 1-8 Donegal 1-4

Tyrone 1-7 Tipperary 0-9

Westmeath 4-10 Monaghan 2-13

Cavan 0-9 Laois 0-6

Division Three

Clare 4-11 Sligo 2-6

Wexford 1-5 Down 0-5

Roscommon 1-14 Louth 0-6

Offaly 5-4 Antrim 2-8

Division Four

Leitrim 8-9 Derry 0-8

Fermanagh 2-15 Wicklow 2-7

Limerick 1-9 Kilkenny 0-1

Carlow 1-8 Longford 1-8