Rampant Royals top of standings

MEATH moved to the summit of Division 3 in the Lidl Ladies National Football League on Saturday after a comfortable victory over Sligo. The Royals, who were beaten Division 3 finalists in 2018, have their sights firmly set on promotion and they enjoyed a 1-13 to 1-3 win. Meath got off to a cracking start and were 0-4 to 0-1 clear before a Katie Walsh goal for Sligo brought the hosts back into contention. But Meath were back in control approaching half-time and a Kelsey Nesbitt goal helped the visitors to lead by 1-8 to 1-2 at the break. With Stacey Grimes prominent, Meath kept their opponents comfortably at arm’s length during the second half, as Sligo managed just a single point after half-time. At The Dub on Saturday, Antrim recovered from their loss to Fermanagh to record a 5-10 to 4-6 victory over Leitrim. Antrim were 3-6 to 0-5 clear at the break, with Maeve McCurdy, captain Saoirse Tennyson and Sarah Louise McLaughlin netting goals. Leitrim responded early in the second half with goals from Dearbhaile Beirne and Vivienne Egan. Leitrim skipper Michelle Heslin added another goal for the visitors, who were back to within four points, before Orla Corr’s goal settled Antrim nerves. Anna McCann did brilliant to keep out a penalty from Leitrim’s Beirne late on but Egan struck her second goal shortly after to keep Leitrim in the hunt. Cathy Carey’s goal in the dying seconds sealed the victory for Antrim. Also in Division 4 yesterday, Fermanagh made it two wins from two outings with a 2-13 to 1-5 success against Derry.