Gaelic Games

Monaghan and Galway cruise into the last four of Ladies Senior Football Championship

Provincial champions much too strong for Laois and Tyrone at Breffni Park

Monaghan are the fancy of many to lift the Brendan Martin Cup (above) in September
Monaghan are the fancy of many to lift the Brendan Martin Cup (above) in September
Mon Aug 19 2013 - 08:01

Provincial champions Galway and Monaghan enjoyed comprehensive victories in Saturday’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-finals.

Galway demolished Tyrone by 2-20 to 1-5 and Ulster standard-bearers Monaghan enjoyed a massive 4-21 to 0-4 win over Laois at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Any fears that five-week layoffs for Galway and Monaghan since their respective provincial finals were allayed as last year's beaten TG4 All-Ireland semi-finalists cruised into the last four once again.

Early goal
In the first of a double-header at the Cavan venue, Galway picked up where they left off against Mayo in the Connacht decider with an impressive performance against outclassed Tyrone.

Ger Conneally’s early goal set the Tribeswomen on the way to an 18-point win against a depleted Tyrone outfit who were missing several players due to a recent spate of cruciate knee ligament injuries.

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Galway were 1-10 to 0-1 in front after 25 minutes and at half-time, the Westerners were in total control as they held a 1-11 to 0-2 advantage.

Galway could even afford the luxury of eight first half wides and while Tyrone did manage a second half goal from Niamh O’Neill, Lorna Joyce responded in kind for dominant Galway.

After losing two finals in recent years (2011 and 2008), Monaghan are the fancy of many to lift the Brendan Martin Cup in September.

And the Farney girls signalled their championship intent with a rampant display against a Laois side that had beaten Meath seven days previously.

By the time Laois had registered a score, Monaghan were 15 points clear and by half-time, Gregory McGonigle’s side led by 2-10 to 0-1.

Two first half goals from Caoimhe Mohan finished Laois and the brilliant Monaghan forward would finish with a personal haul of 2-6.

Laois were also rocked by sin-binnings for captain Maggie Murphy and Clodagh Dunne during the game and Monaghan piled on the misery with second half goals from Cora Courtney and Yvonne Connell. Monaghan ran out winners by 29 points and while this was form that impressed all onlookers, Cork remain All-Ireland favourites with the bookmakers.