Women's Football National League: A phenomenal first-half performance secured an impressive 3-13 to 0-14 success for Kerry over Laois in yesterday's Division One A game at Stradbally.
The hosts opened the scoring with a point from Tracy Lawlor, but subsequently conceded 1-7 without reply and trailed by a whopping 12 points at the interval, 2-10 to 0-4 - Katie Kenneally and Mags O'Donoghue finding the net for the visitors.
The excellent Kacey O'Driscoll heaped on the agony with another goal midway through the second half. However, Laois, and in particular Tracy Lawlor (who scored seven points), deserve credit for the manner in which they kept plugging away.
Kerry have made the ideal start in their bid to book a place in the quarter-finals and they could well be joined there by Galway - who beat Monaghan by 10 points.
The Tribeswomen led by five at the interval and second-half goals from Niamh Fahy and Sarah Cosgrove ensured Orla Callan's late strike was inconsequential.
The titleholders, Cork, and last year's beaten finalists, Meath, also maintained their 100 per cent records with wins over Donegal and Kildare.
Cork signalled their intent to claim the first leg of an unprecedented triple-double by recording a facile victory over a very disappointing Donegal.
Two early goals from dual star Mary O'Connor set the tone for the day, and with recent recruit Linda Barrett commanding in defence, the All-Ireland champions strolled home with 22 points to spare.
Division One A- Kerry 3-13 Laois 0-14; Tyrone 2-11 Waterford 0-12. Division One B - Galway 2-11 Monaghan 1-4; Cork 3-22 Donegal 1-6; Meath 1-12 Kildare 0-6. Division Two A - Sligo 4-8 Leitrim 1-8.
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