Armagh retain Ulster title in style

Women's football: Armagh retained their Ulster SFC title in style yesterday in Clones after sweeping past a plucky Tyrone challenge.

Armagh led 1-7 to 1-3 at half-time, courtesy of some clinical finishing and a penalty from star midfielder Alma O'Donnell that cancelled out an earlier goal by Tyrone's Gemma Begley.

The sides were level six minutes into the second half thanks to a Tyrone goal by Joline Donnelly but a superb second goal by O'Donnell pushed Armagh ahead and they never looked back after Maeve Moriarty scored a third for the Orchard county, who will be looking to get back to Croke Park and go one better this year.

Armagh ran out impressive 3-14 to 2-9 winners.

Elsewhere, Cork retained their Munster title when the defeated Waterford 3-7 to 1-6 in a far from impressive display by the All-Ireland champions who are this year going for three in a row.

The key period of the game arrived just after the interval when Waterford's most dangerous forward, Mary O'Rourke, unleashed a powerful shot that was brilliantly saved by Elaine Harte.

Within a minute, Cork had a goal at the other end, Laura McMahon scoring and instead of it being a one-point game, there were seven between the sides.

Laois annihilated Kildare 4-11 to 0-12 in Carlow while out west, Mayo just shaded a classic Connacht final in Tuam, winning 3-16 to 3-15 after extra -time.

This means that Cork, Mayo, Laois and Armagh are the seeded teams for the TG4 Championship group stages which sees four groups of four. The draw takes place today in Croke Park and will be broadcast live on TG4.