By John Fallon
FOUR teams from Munster, three from Leinster and one from Connacht remain in the hunt to lift the Brendan Martin Cup for 2025 with reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions Kerry meeting Kildare in the quarter-finals.
The winners of that clash will face either Meath or Tipperary in the semi-finals, while on the other side of the draw last year’s runners-up Galway will face Waterford, with the victors meeting either Dublin or Cork in the other semi-final.
Three of the four games will be played on Saturday, July 5, with the fourth quarter-final down for decision on Sunday July 6. Full details of all quarter-final fixtures will be confirmed shortly by the LGFA.
In the relegation battle, Mayo will take on Leitrim and Donegal will meet Armagh. The winners of those two games will remain senior for 2026 but the two defeated sides will meet with the losers of that game playing intermediate next year.
Kildare booked their place in the last eight thanks to a superb 1-12 to 1-10 away to Armagh. The sides were deadlocked at 0-6 apiece at the end of the opening half. Kildare captain Laoise Lenehan edged them in front after the restart and then after an exchange of points struck a major blow when she finished to the net after being set up by Roisin Byrne.
Armagh responded well after Kildare extended the lead to five and captain Lauren McConville fired home a goal after being set up by Niamh Henderson, before Aimee Mackin cut the gap to the minimum but Mia Ryan’s second point wrapped up the win for the Lilywhites.
Tipperary never trailed as they beat Donegal by 0-11 to 1-6 in Bansha to set up a quarter-final against Meath after their best performance of the year.
A superb display from Anna Rose Kennedy helped Tipperary to 0-8 to 0-3 lead at the interval before extending it with a couple of points from Aisling Moloney after the restart.
Donegal rallied and a goal from Jodie McFadden gave them hope but while they got the gap down to the minimum at one stage, they were unable to deny Tipperary.
Goals in each half from Katie Quirke sent Cork into the All-Ireland quarter-finals as they held off a late Mayo fightback in Castlebar to advance by 3-8 to 1-10.
Cork led by 2-3 to 0-6 at the break with Máire O’Callaghan shooting to the net in the opening seconds of the contest. Mayo fought back in the second half and points from Sinead Walsh and a goal from Annie Gough reduced the gap but Cork held on to set up a quarter-final against Dublin.
Waterford had six different goalscorers as they ousted Leitrim by 6-16 to 3-4 in Carrick-on-Shannon to book a quarter-final date with Galway.
Lauren McGregor and Karen McGrath found the net in the opening half to lead by 2-7 to 1-1 at the break, with Laura O’Dowd getting the Leitrim goal.
Waterford pushed on for victory with further goals from Brid McMaugh, Katie Murray, Clare Walsh and Megan Dunford sealing the win, with Leitrim pushing them all the way with goals from Rachel McIntyre and Aisling Quinn.
Meanwhile, Kate Byrne hit 1-6 as Louth registered their third successive win in their TG4 All-Ireland junior championship, defeating Derry by 2-19 to 0-3. Rebecca Delee and Tara Brehony both found the net as Sligo also earned their third win in the campaign, defeating Limerick by 2-13 to 1-4, while in London, Longford defeated the home side by 4-18 to 0-3.
Results:
TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship
Group 1: Tipperary 0-11 Donegal 1-6
Group 2: Cork 3-8 Mayo 1-10
Group 3: Kildare 1-12 Armagh 1-10
Group 4: Waterford 6-16 Leitrim 3-4
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship
Group A: Sligo 2-13 Limerick 1-4
Group A: Louth 2-19 Derry 0-3
Group B: Longford 4-18 London 0-3
