Kerry edge Galway to earn Armagh final date
Armagh will face Kerry in the 2024 Lidl NFL Division 1 final at Croke Park on Sunday week.
Armagh were already safely through before Saturday’s clash with Dublin and will now face off against reigning champions Kerry in the top-flight showpiece.
Kerry booked their place in the final with a 2-11 to 0-12 win over Galway in Killarney.
Leading by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break thanks to a goal from Danielle O’Leary, the holders held off an improved Galway side with Hannah O’Donoghue getting their second goal to seal the win.
Galway will face Waterford in a refixed game which was postponed last week due to poor weather, with the losers making the drop to Division 2. Waterford went down by 2-9 to 2-6 to Mayo in Ballina.
Fionnuala McLaughlin got both goals for Mayo, while Lauren McGregor got 2-2 for Waterford – but it wasn’t enough.
Cork will play in Division 2 next year for the first time since 2003 after suffering their sixth loss of the campaign in a 2-14 to 1-7 defeat to Meath.
Emma Duggan scored 0-7 for the Royals, 0-5 from play, while Marion Farrelly and Shelly Melia got the goals.
On Saturday, Dublin overcame an understrength Armagh side by 7-10 to 1-4 to keep them in contention for a place in the final, but Kerry’s win over Galway put an end to those hopes.
In Division 2, Kildare and Tyrone
were already assured of a final place on Sunday week ahead of the final round of group fixtures.
Both sides finished with victory with Kildare defeating Westmeath by 2-9 to 1-7 while Tyrone overcame Cavan by 1-10 to 1-5.
Donegal were single-point winners over Tipperary with Katy Herron and Niamh McLaughlin finding the net.
Monaghan ensured their Division 2 status as they were big winners against Laois by 3-18 to 0-6.
At the bottom of the table, it will be Cavan who join Laois in Division 3 next season, a five-point defeat to Tyrone confirming their relegation.
And with Clare and Roscommon through to the Division 3 final at St Brendan’s Park in Birr on Saturday week, all eyes were focused on the battle for survival.
After both were defeated yesterday, Antrim and Sligo will be playing in Division 4 next year.
Roscommon defeated Antrim by 4-6 to 1-14 and with the final to come, finished at the top of the table.
Defeat for Antrim also saw them relegated, just a season after promotion. Down ended their league on a high as they defeated finalists Clare.
Meanwhile, Offaly were big winners over Wexford while Louth also came up with a big performance, defeating Sligo by 2-12 to 2-7, ensuring the Wee county’s safety in Division 3 and relegating Sligo.
The Division 4 final in Birr on Saturday week will be contested by Limerick and Carlow.