Aherne on fire as Dubs secure first League title

CAPTAIN fantastic Sinéad Aherne finished with 1-9 as 2017 TG4 All-Ireland senior champions Dublin added a first-ever Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 title to their cabinet with a 3-15 to 1-0 win over Mayo at Parnell Park. There were 11 points in the difference when the final whistle sounded as Mick Bohan’s charges ended Cork’s five-year reign as holders. Goals from Aherne (below), Laura McGinley and 2017 Player of the Year Noelle Healy, along with a dominant display from start to finish, meant that Mayo hearts were broken once again in a national showpiece. It was, of course, a repeat of the 2017 TG4 All-Ireland senior decider, in which the Sky Blues triumphed by 12 points at Croke Park after a flurry of late goals. But again, Mayo’s fight could not be faulted, while Sarah Rowe hit 1-5 in a standout performance. From the get-go, Aherne was too much for the Mayo defence to handle. With 10 minutes on the clock, the St Sylvester’s sharpshooter had 1-3 to her name before the westerners had even opened their account. The goal came through a seventhminute penalty, after Nicole Owens was fouled in the area, and Aherne coolly slotted home. After turning around 2-10 to 1-5 up, after the restart, it was business as usual for Dublin, Healy producing a lung-bursting run and blistering finish as she slotted home Dublin’s third goal. Meanwhile, Tipperary won the Division 2 final with a point to spare in a 0-21 to 3-11 defeat of Cavan. Aisling McCarthy and Aishling Moloney combined for 0-15 of the Tipperary total. „The Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Lidl Ireland have announced an extension, for a further three years (2019-2021), of the agreement between the parties which will see Lidl Ireland remain as the LGFA’s official retail partner and title sponsors of the National Leagues.