Ladies Gaelic football round-up: Cork make statement

There were wins for Cork, Donegal, Galway and Dublin in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship on Saturday.

Cork made a massive statement as they scored seven goals to book their place in the quarter-finals of the TG4 Ladies All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with a 7-7 to 1-9 win over Monaghan in Birr.

It was a day when all four provincial champions progressed to the knockout stages of the competition where they join Kerry, Westmeath and Mayo.

But Ephie Fitzgerald's side did it with ease after they only held a 2-4 to 0-6 lead at half-time at St Brendan's Park.

Maire O'Callaghan and Aine O'Sullivan were on target for the 11-time champions in the first half. And Ciara O'Sullivan scored two goals on the resumption, while Saoirse Noonan did likewise.

Doireann O'Sullivan completed the job with Linda Martin scoring the consolation for Monaghan in Group 2.

Seven of the eight quarter-final spots have already been decided now and reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin marched on with a comfortable 5-17 to 2-13 win over Cavan at Dunleer in County Louth.

This was Dublin's first taste of Group 4 in the round robin, after they backed up Lidl National Football League success with a thumping victory over Westmeath in the Leinster final.

Noelle Healy was the star, she scored 2-5 and Dublin capitalised on a huge 4-8 to 1-7 interval lead here. Laura McGinley struck the other two goals for Mick Bohan's troops. Aishling Sheridan and Catherine Dolan found the net for Cavan who face potential relegation now.

Galway were another provincial champion who laid down a marker, and they secured a quarter-final spot with a big 3-12 to 0-5 defeat of Waterford at Birr.

Galway only had two points to spare against Mayo in the Connacht final but they were far too good for their Munster rivals in Offaly.

Tracey Leonard scored five points and Galway were already 3-6 to 0-4 clear at half-time. Leanne Coen, Roisin Leonard and Ailbhe Davoren were the goal-scorers.

Waterford have now lost both of their games and could be relegated, while Galway and Westmeath will battle it out for top spot in Group 3 next weekend.

Geraldine McLaughin was once again the hero for Donegal as the Ulster champions made a winning start to Group 1 in a 0-17 to 0-14 victory over Tipperary at O'Rourke Park in Castlerea.

Aishling Moloney starred for Tipperary but despite her nine-point haul they fell to their second defeat of the campaign.

Donegal are already through to the last eight but Tipperary join Cavan and Waterford in the relegation battle.