DARNELL PARKINSON reckons ARMAGH are being driven on by an intense competition for places.
The Orchard’s joint-manager has been impressed by his side as they maintained their winning start to their Lidl NFL Division 1 campaign on Saturday.
And Armagh did so by easing past the challenge of MAYO with a comprehensive 2-14 to 1-10 victory.
Parkinson said: “Everyone is playing for their jersey and when our in-house games are competitive, that is showing the depth in the squad.”
Niamh Henderson got a goal before the break to guide her team to a 1-11 to 0-4 lead.
She added a second after Mayo’s Saoirse Lally netted on the restart.
The champions pushed on from there to maintain their impressive defence of their title.
TG4 All-Ireland senior champions KERRY made it three wins on the spin when they beat TYRONE by 4-5 to 1-7 in Garvaghey.
Kerry led by 2-4 to 0-4 with Danielle O’Leary getting both goals before Anna Galvin and Rachel Dwyer found the net.
But Kingdom chief Mark Bourke admitted: “The goals were important but the wind was deceiving.”
Elsewhere, MEATH’S winning start to the league was ended by KILDARE by 2-7 to 1-5.
Royals chief Shane McCormack said: “I am disappointed with our display but I am taking nothing from Kildare.”
Meanwhile, WATERFORD and DUBLIN finished all square in Parnell Park.
A goal from sub Caoimhe O’Connor brought Dublin back into contention at 0-7 to 1-2 at the break. Waterford held the lead for most of the third quarter before Niamh Hetherton got Dublin’s second goal to get within a point of the visitors.
Kellyann Hogan edged Waterford in front with a free in the closing stages.
But Kate Sullivan rescued a draw for Dublin with a free on a score of 2-7 to 0-13.
In the big promotion clash in Division 2, CORK made their trip to MONAGHAN a winning one as Katie Quirke shot seven points in a 1-9 to 1-3 win. GALWAY also kept up their promotion drive when a goal from Roisín Leonard helped them ease to a 1-14 to 0-3 win over WESTMEATH.
Two goals from Kirsty Crotty helped TIPPERARY to a 2-6 to 0-7 win over Munster rivals CLARE.
Jodie McFadden converted a late penalty to rescue a 0-10 to 1-7 draw for DONEGAL against ROSCOMMON.
In Division 3, there were wins for LAOIS, DOWN and WEXFORD.
ANTRIM, SLIGO and WICKLOW were victorious in their Division 4 ties.
