Compiled by John Fallon
ARMAGH got the defence of their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 crown off to a winning start with victory over TG4 All-Ireland senior champions Kerry in Tralee on Saturday.
Also in the top flight on Saturday, Dublin got the better of Mayo at Parnell Park, while there were Division 1 victories on Sunday for Waterford and Meath over Kildare and Tyrone respectively.
In a repeat of last year’s top-flight decider, and a first competitive meeting between the counties since the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland senior Championship semi-final, an outstanding second half from champions Armagh, in which they outscored Kerry by 3-6 to 0-6, saw them claim the spoils.
The introduction of substitutes Blaithín Mackin, who struck for 1-1, and Rebecca Cunningham, with a goal, made all the difference, whilst Anna Carr in the Armagh goal was also in superb form.
Rebecca McDonnell and Chloe Darby grabbed goals in either half at Parnell Park as Dublin began life under the joint management of Paul Casey and Derek Murray with a hard-earned 2-7 to 1-7 win over Mayo.
The sides were deadlocked at 1-4 apiece at the break with Rebecca McDonnell finding the net for Dublin and Sinead Walsh responding for Mayo.
A goal from Chloe Darby proved crucial as Dublin made a winning start to the new campaign.
Meath proved too strong for Tyrone with Kerrie Cole and Megan Collins scoring two goals apiece as they ran out 4-4 to 0-2 winners in Newtownstewart.
Meath, with Cole twice finding the net, led by 2-4 to 0-2 at the break and continued to dominate after the restart.
Meanwhile, Kellyann Hogan kicked five points at a rain-soaked Manguard Park as Waterford began their Lidl National Football League Division 1 campaign with a 1-13 to 2-7 hard-fought victory over the newly-promoted Kildare.
In Division 2, Cork got the better of Westmeath on Saturday with two goals from Libby Coppinger and one from Hannah Looney in the opening half sending them on their way to a 3-12 to 0-5 win over Westmeath.
Donegal captain Róisín Rodgers got a last minute point to draw 0-7 to 1-4 against Clare, Monaghan edged out Roscommon by 0-7 to 0-6 despite not scoring after the restart.
Goals from Kate Slevin and Róisin Leonard helped relegated Galway defeat Tipperary by 2-9 to 0-7.
In Division 3 Wexford, Cavan and Down got their 2025 campaigns off to a winning start, while the Laois v Carlow game fell victim to the weather.
In Division 4 Fermanagh, Antrim and Longford were triumphant in their round 2 fixtures in Division 4, while the Wicklow v Leitrim game was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
