Reigning All Ireland and Leinster SFC champions Dublin got the defence of their Leinster crown underway as they overcame Kildare in a sun-soaked Parnell Park.
Dublin burst into an early lead, 1-4 up after six minutes of play as they dominated early possession. Hannah Tyrrell opened the scoring from a free while Kate Sullivan, Orlagh Nolan and Carla Rowe all got on the scoreboard. Caoimhe O’Connor hit the net inside three minutes, slicing through the Kildare defence to finish.
Kildare were struggling to win their kickouts and maintain possession and didn't get on the scoreboard until nine minutes when Ellen Dowling converted a free.
Dublin were, at times, hungrier for possession and Tyrrell and Rowe kept the scoreboard ticking over for Dublin. Quick thinking from Tyrrell set up Dublin’s second goal as she found Kate Sullivan who blasted to the net on twenty-one minutes.
Jennifer Dunne added a long range point on twenty-four minutes and while Dowling and Niamh Farrelly added a brace of frees, Dublin were comfortably in front at the break leading 2-10 to 0-3.
Sinéad Goldrick made a welcome return to the Sky Blues jersey at half time only to find herself red carded midway through the second half. Dublin got off to the perfect start adding 1-01 early on, Dublin’s third goal coming from the boot of Carla Rowe on thirty-two minutes.
Kildare kept battling away were rewarded for their efforts as Niamh Farrelly found the net twice in the second half. However, Dublin never lost control and with Jennifer Dunne commanding the centre of the field and Leah Caffrey solid in defence, the result was not in doubt.
Tyrrell, Rowe, Dunne, Nolan and substitute Chloe Darby all added further scores to ensure a winning start to their TG4 Leinster campaign.
Marion Farrelly and Emma Duggan struck a combined tally of 3-6 at Pairc Tailteann as Meath began their campaign with a convincing triumph over Laois.
Meath shook off a difficult opening to the action to ultimately get the better of their O'Moore counterparts. Timahoe sharpshooter Mo Nerney posted six points for Laois over the course of the proceedings, but it wasn’t enough to give her side victory on the day.
Playing their first game under new manager Stephen Duff, Laois raced into an early lead with a point from Emily Lacey after just 15 seconds of the play. Hosts Meath eventually opened their account through Duggan’s fourth-minute effort, only for their opponents to create some daylight with a brace of scores by the ever-elusive Nerney.
Yet Meath subsequently hit the front for the first time on the stroke of 10 minutes, when two-time TG4 All Star Duggan calmly slotted a penalty into the bottom corner of the Laois net. This was the catalyst for a dominant spell from the Royals with Duggan, Farrelly and Ciara Smyth all firing over successive points either side of the first-quarter mark.
This was followed up by quickfire Farrelly goals in the 21st and 23rd minutes and with their defence holding firm in the latter stages of the opening period, Meath brought a commanding 3-4 to 0-3 lead into the break.
While Meath attacker Niamh Gallogly kicked an excellent point on the resumption, a 0-3 salvo from the impressive Nerney provided Laois with considerable solace. Duggan later registered her first point off the second period from a close-range free, before Laois added fresh life to their challenge courtesy of a 42nd minute goal by Lauren Kearney.
The Royals displayed no signs of panic, however, and reinforced their authority with back-to-back scores from Smyth and Farrelly.
Additional contributions from Duggan and the hard-working Megan Thynne moved Meath back into a double digit advantage during the final-quarter and in advance of a late consolation point from Nerney, Smyth kicked her third of the tie to ensure Meath eased themselves over the line.
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