Year: 2002

This Week….
Achill Vs Kilmeena

This was a challenge game which was held just before the Mayo and Dublin game at Davitt Park, Polranny. The crowd had just watched the Mchale College, Achill team defeat St Brendans, Belmullet in the Mayo Vocational Schools U-16 A Football Championship Final. Congratulations Lads! So the crowd was gathering for the big one which was the County game to be played later in the evening. The Kilmeena team arrived on to the pitch first, followed by the Achill Junior team who had just given the Mchale College team a guard of honour coming off the field.

So after all the the team photos were taken, it was down to business. Achill declared their intentions early on with a number of good scores, although the game lacked any real edge in the first half showing it was just typical Challenge match. The Achill team played a lot of their players out of position to see how they would cope for future knowledge. Players were changing positions at regular intervals. At half time Achill were edging the lead by about 2 points.

It was well known also that Kilmeena were fielding a second team. With an important match in the league the following day, a lot of Kilmeena’s players stayed at home. In the second half, Achill began to take advantage of Kilmeena’s second team and Achill’s fitness also showed. The Achill forward line ran Kilmeena ragged at stages and showed it on the score board with a number of points and goals. The game finished with Achill on top and we ended up winning by at least 6 points. But at the end of the day it was all about the depth of the Achill squad and with a number of key first team players missing, Achill still had the quality to play an outstanding match on such an occasion.

This Week….
Due to Overwhelming Pressure from some concerned Ruddy Report Readers I have decided to change my Report somewhat from National News to Local News I feel that it is a good Idea! If you want National News please visit a National Website Thank you!

My first Local Report will be on Currane’s exploits in the Martin Gallagher Cup which was held St Paddy’s and Easter Weekend! Currane had already shared the spoils with Dookinella on the 18th March and forfeited their game against Dooagh due to an Achill GAA game on the same day!

So Currane had now to defeat Dugort/Dooniver/Valley(The Slippy’s) in order to Qualify for the Semi Finals. Currane Lined out a strong side with Micheal Cattigan in goals, Sean Dever, Donnchadh O Malley, Liam Cawley and Cathal Nolan in Defence. Barry Dever, Frankie Sweeney, Declan O’Malley and John Ruddy in Midfield. And John Joe McNamara and Brian Joyce in the Forwards.

Currane began well and got into the game early on with a lot of possession. John Joe McNamara pulled a muscle and was unable to continue which meant the introduction of Kieran O Malley to the fold. The break through came when Frankie Sweeney latched on to a superb through ball a finished superbly to put Currane in the lead.

The Slippy’s began to panic and started to make changes around the field. However Dooniver/Dugort and The Valley eventually got the equaliser througha controversial offside. Currane finished the Second half strongly with Barry Dever and Brian Joyce creating chances.

The second half saw the team being shuffled about Liam Cawley was unable to continue due to injury which meant Brian Joyce switching to Defence. Currane began the Second half as they did the first but began to fade away. A bit of battle began in Midfield with herendous tackles being commited by the Slippy’s. Brian Joyce, Declan O’Malley and John Ruddy to name a few fell victim to the Slippy’s dirty tackles.

The Slippys got a corner mid way through the second half, the corner was whipped in a met by an advancing D/D/V Player. D/D/V 2- 1 Currane.
Currane piled on the pressure with numerous corners and free kicks in the remaining minutes. Kieran O’Malley was unlucky not score from a header, and John Ruddy just let the ball go too far ahead of him after turning on the corner of the box. However it wasn’t to be Currane’s day and that equaliser never came.

However the Currane Players were very upbeat after the match and have staked their intentions to do a lot better next year. The players have the experience now of playing alongside each other something which was lacking in the earlier games.

This Week….
Allianz NFL DIV 1A Galway 1-13 Offaly 0-15; Dublin 0-16 Roscommon 2-12;
Tyrone 2-15 Westmeath 2-8; Donegal 1-12 Cork 0-9;

Allianz NFL DIV 1B Mayo 0-16 Derry 2-8; Fermanagh 2-9 Sligo 0-11; Down 1-10
Kildare 1-17;

Allianz NFL DIV 2A Leitrim 1-16 London 0-8; Antrim 0-13 Wicklow 1-8; Kerry
2-10 Armagh 2-9;

Allianz NFL DIV 2B Longford 1-11 Tipperary 1-12; Carlow 0-12 Waterford 0-11;
Wexford 1-9 Meath 2-7; Monaghan 1-11 Laois 2-16.

Allianz NHL DIV 1A Meath 0-9 Dublin 1-15; Clare 1-12 Kilkenny 3-14;
Waterford 1-16 Galway 0-16;

Allianz NHL DIV 1B Limerick 2-16 Wexford 1-12; Cork 4-17 Offaly 1-10;
Tipperary 5-23 Derry 0-3;

Allianz NHL DIV 2A Roscommon 2-9 Kildare 0-17;

Allianz NHL DIV 2B Laois 0-22 London 1-9; Wicklow 1-8 Kerry 1-13.

ALLIANZ NFL REPORTS

Division 1A

Dublin 0-16 Roscommon 2-12

After a white-knuckle ride at Parnell Park, Tommy Lyons charges came out on
the wrong side of a two point deficit when they deserved, and felt they had
secured, at least a draw. However, just after Darren Magee sent over a long
range equaliser for gutsy Dublin, with the game moving to injury time,
Stephen Lohan capitalised on a flowing attack and goalmouth scramble to punt
to the net and snatch the points for the visitors. There was yet more late
drama when Dublin’s Shane Keogh, lucky to be on the field after a wild lunge
at Fergal O’Donnell, pulled a great save out of Derek Thompson after scoring
a point in the previous play. However, Roscommon held out and are now on the
verge of the semi-finals for the second successive year. That Dublin pushed
their opponents so close deserves great credit. They lead 0-3 to 0-2 early
in the first half, but could then only watch as Roscommon reeled off an
unanswered 0-7, with great scores from Jonathan Dunning, Lohan and Nigel
Dineen. The Dubs closed the gap to five before the break, and then a string
of six points upon the resumption, 0-2 from Alan Brogan and 0-3 from Ray
Cosgrove, tied the scores. Just when it looked like the Dubs were about to
get on top, though, Dunning got in for a goal against the run of play to put
three between them. Brave Dublin weren’t cowed and chipped away at Roscommon
until the scores were level once again, but the last say went to the
impressive Stephen Lohan and Roscommon take the points.

Galway 1-13 Offaly 0-15

Relegation-haunted Offaly showed their battling qualities once again against
Galway, but it didn’t prevent a one-point defeat and they edge nearer to the
trap door. For Galway, the win assures top flight status but results
elsewhere mean they cannot make the playoffs. At one stage in the first half
it was 0-6 to 0-2 to the Sam Maguire holders, but a typical Offaly rally
culminated in a Ciaran McManus equaliser before Alan McNamee shot over for
the lead with half time approaching. However, Padraig Joyce nipped in for a
goal to add to his earlier free to leave it 1-7 to 0-7 at the turn. Spirited
Offaly kept it close in the second half, but two missed goal chances, by
Donie Ryan and Karl Slattery, suggested it wouldn’t be their day. Colm Quinn
dropped a late long range free well short also.

Donegal 1-12 Offaly 0-9

Donegal are now in the playoff reckoning after accounting for Cork at
Ballyshannon, running out six-point winners. Ahead 1-5 to 0-6 at the break,
the home side maintained a gap of three to four points for most of the game
and were seldom troubled. A goal from U-21 star Kevin Rafferty five minutes
before the break, followed quickly by points from Kevin Cassidy and Christy
Toye, set Donegal on their way. Cork shot eight wides after the break, and
were having major problems at the other end as well where Adrian Sweeney and
Brendan Devenney were prominent. Both finished with 0-3 to their credit,
whereas only Fionan Murray, who scored 0-5 for Cork, was on form for the
rebels. The last scores of the afternoon came from Michael Hegarty before
Sweeney capped a fine display with a pointed free.

Tyrone 2-15 Westmeath 2-8

Rampant Tyrone left Westmeath facing the prospect of a hasty return to
Division 2 after an easy win at Pomeroy. A last quarter Westmeath rally left
the scoreboard looking slightly better from their perspective, but the
half-time score of 1-8 to 0-0 tells the real story. There was more of the
same after the break, including vintage scores from Peter Canavan (0-6
scored in total) and a great goal from Kevin Hughes after a slick move
involving Canavan himself. Alan Mangan slipped in for a goal five minutes
later, and it did launch a comeback of sorts from the visitors. JP Casey and
Rory O’Connell added points, before a Martin Flanagan goal and more points
from Casey and David O’Shaughnessy lent respectability to the scoreline.
However, Tyrone had made numerous substitutions at that stage.

Division 1B

Mayo 0-16 Derry 2-8

It was a case of close, but not close enough for Derry after their two point
loss away to table-topping Mayo. The Oak Leafers are now all but relegated
after taking just a single point from their games to date, and although they
competed well in this game, can have no complaints about the outcome. Mayo
were well in control and were maintaining a four point cushion when Gary
Coleman set up Dermot Dougan for a pile-driver goal after the break. This
left just a point in it but Mayo showed their champions mettle to open the
gap once again. Then, a bizarre second Derry goal, after a throw-up and
goalmouth scramble, put the issue back in the melting pot once again.
However Mayo pulled clear as before and deserved the win. Anthony Tohill
returned for the Ulster men, while Conor Mortimer was once again an
impressive performer for Mayo.

Fermanagh 2-9 Sligo 0-11

Sligo slipped up in their playoff bid when going down to a
Gallagher-inspired Fermanagh, and opened the door for Cavan in the process.
A tense meeting between the Breffnimen and Sligo was set up by a brilliant
Fermanagh display in the first half, rounded off when Raymond Gallagher set
up cousin Rory for a goal. Dessie Sloyane pointed twice in reply before Colm
Bradley, Ray Johnston and Ray Gallagher sent the home side in leading 1-6 to
0-5 at the break. Early in the second half, Johnston goaled again after an
unselfish setup from Rory Gallagher before Sligo, now without the injured
Sloyane, battled back to close the gap to three points. However, it was Tom
Brewster and Rory Gallagher who completed the scoring to leave Fermanagh
themselves in with an outside chance of the playoffs.

Down 1-10 Kildare 1-17

Slick Kildare will wish they had played like this in some of their other
games this year after a fine performance eased them to a seven-point win
over Down. The first half was where the ground work was laid for victory.
After the Mournemen’s Brian Burns went off injured, Mickos lads took over at
midfield and when a Martin Lynch goal shot rebounded to John Doyle to set up
a goal, the game swung decisively in Kildare’s way. Tadhg Fennin, Lynch and
Karl O’Dwyer tacked on a quick 0-5 to leave it 1-9 to 0-4 at the interval.
An improved Down amassed 1-6 in the second half, with Aidan O’Prey goaling
10 minutes from time to reduce the gap to six points. However, it wasn’t
enough against a Kildare side that were highly impressive on the day, with
Tadhg Fennin finishing with 0-6 to his credit.

Division 2A

Kerry 2-10 Armagh 2-9

Kerry can now look forward to the playoffs after this win over unbeaten
Armagh, with the Kingdom capitalising on Limerick’s slip against Louth to
sneak home by a point. Armagh made a whirlwind start, though, when Steven
McDonnell sent Patrick McKeever in for a tap-in goal. McDonnell then goaled
himself from distance before Kerry steadied with a Noel Kennelly point. They
were still some way behind approaching the break, but then two goals inside
a minute, from Kennelly and Eoin Brosnan after a 50 yard dribble, left them
leading by two. It was nip and tuck thereafter but the dismissal of Armagh’s
Eoin McNulty swung things Kerry’s way and Dara O’Cinneide and Kennelly then
pointed for some breathing space. Armagh piled on the pressure but a
Diarmaid Marsden free was all they could muster.

ALLIANZ NHL REPORTS

Division 1A

Waterford 1-16 Galway 0-16

Shock of the day in the NHL came from the Desies, who beat Galway having
lost to lowly Dublin in their previous game. At the break, Waterford were
miles in front, leading 1-11 to 0-4 with little resembling a challenge
coming from the westerners. Paul Flynn scored the goal, adding to a 0-3 haul
from the impressive Ken McGrath, and the home side could even afford the
luxury of 8 scoreable wides also. Faced with the huge gap, however, Galway
refused to wilt in the second half and came roaring back. The points began
to flow over, and then with eight minutes to go Declan O’Brien’s score
reduced the arrears to just three points. Then Dave Bennett and Joe Rabbitte
swapped scores, but despite some heavy Galway pressure the home side held
out in a game they should long have had wrapped up.

Division 1B

Limerick 2-16 Wexford 1-12

Limerick and Wexford served up a rip-roaring encounter at the Gaelic Grounds
on Sunday afternoon, but it was the home side who emerged victorious at the
finish after a championship-like encounter. Limerick lead 1-8 to 0-4 at the
break, with all of their scores coming from open play. However, a
rejuvenated Wexford battled back upon the restart and a flurry of points
from Mitch Jordan, Eddie Doyle, Adrian Fenlon and Larry O’Gorman soon closed
the arrears to just a goal. Then O’Gorman replied to a further Limerick
point by blasting to the net, and from there on there was little between the
sides. However, with minutes remaining, Paul O’Grady sent over two points
for the home side, before a goal at the death from Conor Fitzgerald put real
daylight between the protagonists and sealed the win.

Cork 4-17 Offaly 1-10

Eamon Collins was the star in Cork’s cruise to a fourth successive NHL win
at home to Offaly. The 20-year-old poached 3-1, his first two goals coming
in the 17th and 24th minutes of the first half, helping the home side to a
2-9 to 0-7 interval lead. Veteran Johnny Dooley notched 0-5 of the Offaly
total, 0-3 from play. Poor shooting was stopping Cork from extending their
lead further, but when Collins collected a pass from Ben O’Connor to rifle
to the net for his third after 13 minutes of the second half, the game was
as good as over. He added a point soon after, before Rory Hanniffy added a
consolation goal for the Faithful. Last say went to dual star, Diarmaid
O’Sullivan, however, who shot a late penalty on the day Sean Og O’hAilpin
made a long awaited appearance on his home ground.

This Week….
Mondays Football Results
ALLIANZ NFL DIV 1A Cork 1-11 Offaly 2-11 Roscommon 0-16 Westmeath 0-12

Cork 1-11 Offaly 2-11
Offaly finally got their first win of their NFL campaign after a surprise defeat of Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Monday. However, Offaly didn’t lead
until five minutes into the second half when Pascal Kelleghan pointed. Cork started strongly with Brendan Ger O&Mac226;Sullivan firing home a goal in the third minute, putting them ahead 1-1 to 0-1. Offaly responded with two points, but scores from Clifford, Colin Crowley, Fionan Murray and defender Paudie Kissane pushed Cork further in front and by the break they led 1-5 to 0-6.
The second half saw Offaly surge forward on a scoring spree and when Alan McNamee got a second goal in the final quarter it ended the game as a contest. Cork were relying on frees to stay in touch and couldn’t break the Offaly defence down to get the goal they needed to turn the game in their favour.
The match was not without its controversies. Both sides ended the game with 14 players. Twelve minutes from the end, Offaly midfielder James Grennan got a second yellow card, while Philip Clifford, who reacted aggressively to Grennan’s second offence, was given a straight red card for retaliation.

Roscommon 0-16 Westmeath 0-12
Roscommon completed a valuable weekend double by adding a victory over Westmeath on Monday to their draw with Galway two days earlier. The three points gathered this weekend moves Roscommon to second in the Division 1A table, and puts their inclusion in the semi-finals of the league well within their grasp.
However, Roscommon were made to earn their win and in the first half only edged ahead late on with points from Stephen Lohan, Paul Noone and Nigel Dineen. Only two points separated the sides, 0-8 to 0-6.
It was the accuracy of Dineen and Lohan that ensured the team ran out winners as Westmeath’s attacking form receded – though Vinny Gavin and David O’Shaughnessy did register some points before the full-time whistle. Westmeath are now bottom of the table, facing a relegation battle.

Mondays Hurling Results
ALLIANZ NHL DIV 1A Galway 1-17 Clare 1-16 Dublin 1-19 Waterford 1-14 Kilkenny 2-22 Meath 0-9

ALLIANZ NHL DIV 1B Wexford 3-13 Tipperary 1-10 Offaly 2-10 Limerick 1-18

ALLIANZ NHL DIV 2A Westmeath 1-14 Roscommon 1-10

ALLIANZ NHL DIV 2B Kerry 0-13 Laois 0-14

Galway 1-17 Clare 1-16
Galway held on to a slim one-point advantage for the last minutes of their NHL Div 1A clash with Clare at Ballinasloe on Monday. The home side looked to be on their way to defeat when Ollie Fahy struck for a goal with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
That score gave Galway a 1-17 to 1-16 lead and with the clock ticking Clare pushed forward for an equaliser. Their best chance came with the last puck of the game, when some staunch defending from the Galway full back line resulted in a 65. Seanie McMahon took the free shot, but the sliothar sailed just wide of the upright. Galway had started the game the stronger and it was only a Tony Carmody goal in the 16th minute that gave Clare the boost they needed and a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.
From then on Galway were chasing the Banner, but a string of scores from Eugene Cloonan (3 frees), Fahy and Richie Murray helped them back into the game after points from Ollie Baker, Jamesie O’Connor and David Forde stretched Clare’s lead. At the break, the sides were level 0-9 to 1-6. Galway re-took the lead in the second half with points from Cloonan (3), David Tierney and Rory Gantley and by the 48th minute had a 0-14 to 1-8 advantage.
Clare came back with points from O’Connor, Carmody (2) and Niall Gilligan, and with two minutes left had built a two-point lead. But Fahy’s goal snatched victory for the Tribesmen, who move to second in the Division 1A table, below Clare with a smaller scoring average.

Wexford 3-13 Tipperary 1-10
Defending NHL champions Tipperary fell to Wexford after an inspired performance from the home side at Wexford Park. The Model County’s 3-13 to 1-10 victory was thoroughly deserved, with Larry O’Gorman leading by example in the unfamiliar role of full forward. He scored 1-4 in all as his marker Phil Maher struggled.
O’Gorman and David O’Brien helped Wexford into an early 0-2 to no score lead, before Eoin Kelly pointed a free to open Tipperary’s account in the fifth minute. Wexford’s first goal came when O’Brien’s sideline cut deceived Tipp ‘keeper Darragh Rabbitte and went into the corner of the net. On 18 minutes, O’Gorman scored Wexford’s second goal and the home side led 2-3 to 0-1. At the break, they led 2-7 to 0-4, with Tipp having already hit 14 wides.
David O’Connor, Daragh Ryan and newcomer Malachy Travers comprised Wexford’s inspired full back line as Tipperary’s efforts to find the net and close the gap were frustrated again and again. They did find it though, in the 45th minute, through John O’Brien, but Wexford finished strongly with Mitch Jordan accounting for the third goal in injury time.

Dublin 1-19 Waterford 1-14
Dublin surprised the pundits by disposing of Waterford with an impressive display at Parnell Park on Monday. Their five-point victory was their first win of the campaign after they were beaten by the same margin by Clare last time out.
Kevin Fennelly’s boys accomplished the result with style. In the 29th minute, Kevin Ryan diverted Paul Flynn’s penalty onto the post and away, lifting the home side. Shane Ryan was in top form, scoring three points from play in the opening half while David Curtin and Conal Keaney scored two more points each to leave Dublin 0-7 to 0-5 in front at the break. Waterford struggled to find the target, hitting 10 wides in the first half and adding seven more by the final whistle.
In the meantime, Dublin took their chances with Shane Martin scoring five more points from play. Ger Ennis killed off Waterford’s chances with 1-1 in a two-minute period in the second half. Waterford’s Ken McGrath registered a personal tally of 1-5, with the goal only coming in full-time.

Saturday Hurling Results
ALLIANZ NHL Div 1B Derry 1-12 Cork 1-24

ALLIANZ NHL Div 2A Kildare 1-15 Down 2-13

ALLIANZ NHL Div 2B London 2-3 Carlow 3-11

ALLIANZ NHL Div 3 Armagh 2-10 Sligo 2-4 Longford 1-12 Donegal 0-10 Louth 3-14 Fermanagh 0-8

ALLIANZ NHL Div 4 Mayo 1-16 Leitrim 0-3 Cavan 1-7 Monaghan 2-10

As expected, Cork accounted for Derry with relative ease in Saturday’s Allianz NHL clash against the Oakleafers in Swatragh. Their 1-24 to 1-12 victory, however, is slightly flattering as the home side were still in touch of the Munster giants until Joe Deane took advantage of a rare error from his marker, Emmett McKeever, to rifle a shot into the net in the 47th minute.
That score gave Cork a 1-16 to 1-9 lead and proved to be enough to beat off Derry’s challenge, despite the arrival of Geoffrey McGonigle. Derry had offered a stern test until then, with Dermot Doherty’s 34th minute goal and Ollie Collins’ five points ensuring they were just three points behind the Munster side at half time, 1-7 to 0-13. The victory strengthens Cork’s position at the top of the Div 1B table.

Saturday Football Results
ALLIANZ NFL Div 1A Roscommon 3-11 Galway 3-11

LEINSTER U21 FC Dublin 0-13 Longford 0-6 Meath 0-6 Kildare 0-12 Westmeath 1-5 Wicklow 1-8

MUNSTER MFC Tipperary 0-13 Cork 0-13 Waterford 1-6 Clare 0-9 Kerry 2-13 Limerick 1-14

Roscommon came from behind in the dying minutes of their Allianz NFL match with Galway to earn a share of the spoils, but it could easily have been a victory. The Connacht champions provided the All-Ireland champions with their sternest test since the provincial final last year and it wasn’t until midway through the second half have the Tribesmen managed to build any real lead.
Sean Hanley rattled the Galway net in the first half to thrust Roscommon into a 1-5 to 0-5 lead, but a goal soon afterwards from Derek Savage levelled the sides at the break. Not long after the restart, Jonathan Dunning scored a second goal to give the home side a five-point lead, only to see Savage once again respond within a few minutes to close the gap to two points, 2-9 to 2-7.
Padraig Joyce arrived as a sub to help Galway into a 2-10 to 2-9 lead within 10 minutes of the final whistle, while his goal thrust them into a four-point lead. But Dunning found the Galway net once more and at the game’s death Gary Cox scored an equalising point.

This Week….

Limerick defeated Tipperary and Galway had a good win over Kilkenny in the Allianz National Hurling League while, in football, Cork and Tyrone had good victories.

NHL Division 1B:
Tipperary 1-12 Limerick 2-13
Tipperary’s long unbeaten record is gone as Limerick took a well deserved 2-13 to 1-12 victory over the All-Ireland and League Champions at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Limerick were sharper in every area of the field and deservedly drew first blood when Mark Keane scored the opening goal after 25 minutes to give the Shannonsiders a 1-6 to 0-6 lead. The goal woke Tipperary up and Owen O’Kelly scored two quick points to narrow the gap to one point before Tipperary scoredtheir opening goal. It was a catastrophe for Limerick as a mix-up between Joe Quaid and his defenders allowed Eugene O’Neill in to exert maximum punishment. Another couple of points before half-time meant that Tipp went into the break leading 1-10 to 1-6. Playing with a strong wind in the second half, Limerick constantly tried their luck from long range, and more often than not, this resulted in no scores. Keane grabbed another couple of points to level the match at1-10 apiece in the 48th minute. The game became scrappy as both sides fought doggedly for control of the match before Keane got his second goal of the match after 62 minutes. Both sides continued to attack each other and in the dying minutes, two points from Keane and another score from Stephen Lucey gave Eamonn Cregan’s men the victory.

NHL Division 1A:
Galway 0-15 Kilkenny 0-9
Galway beat Kilkenny 0-15 to 0-9 in Ballinasloe thanks to a gritty second-half performance. The Tribesmen played with a strong wind at their back in the first half, yet could only manage a 0-6 to 0-5 lead at the break. It was expected, Kilkenny would control the second half, but the Cats were never on their game. They only scored two points from open play during the match, a hugely disappointing statistic for Brian Cody. John Hoyne was sent-off early in the second half and from that moment onwards the result was never in doubt.

NFL Division 1A:
Cork 1-13 Dublin 0-10 A superb performance by Cork saw them beat Dublin by 1-13 to 0-10 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Larry Tompkins men made light work of the difficult windy conditions with Phillip Clifford (with four points) and Diarmuid O’Sullivan in outstanding form. The Rebels were 0-8 to 0-4 ahead at half-time with Clifford and O’Sullivan always threatening. Ciaran Whelan bagged a couple of points for Dublin, to keep the gap small, but in the second a half, two early points by Clifford put the Rebels out of reach. The goal came after 63 minutes when a high ball into the square was caught by Diarmuid O’Sullivan. He quickly passed it to Brendan Ger O’Sullivan to hammer into the roof of the net.

Offaly 1-4 Tyrone 1-11
Tyrone ran out 1-11 to 1-4 winners over Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday. The Ulster champions were the better side throughout, with Peter Canavan in outstanding form. The game was evenly balanced in the first half. Vinny Claffey scored a goal for Offaly but four points from Canavan, two from frees, meant that at half-time the score was 0-8 to 1-2 in Tyrone’s favour. Almost straight after the restart, Tyrone were awarded a penalty, but Canavan missed. Minutes later, Claffey was sent-off for kicking an opponent on the ground, before Canavan eventually got a goal to secure the result.

Division 1B:
Sligo 3-7 Clare 1-9
A superb second performance by Sligo helped them to a3-7 to 1-9 victory over Clare on Sunday afternoon. At half-time the scores were level: 0-7 to 1-4. Clare were the better side, and in the 35 minutes were never behind. Paul O’Hehir scored the Clare goal, but Sligo never gave up and by half-time it was all-square. However, the second half was completely different. Playing with a strong wind at their backs, Sligo took control, Dessie Sloyan scoring two goals during the second half to wrap up a convincing victory.

Derry 0-9 Fermanagh 0-9
The wind was the only victor at Celtic Park as Derry and Fermanagh played out a draw. In the first half, Derry were dominant as they played with the wind at their back. After the opening exchanges when Fermanagh twice drew level, Derry notched up seven scores in quick succession to lead 0-9 to 0-2 at half-time. However, the second half was completely different, as Fermanagh took control. Anthony Tohill made a substitutes appearance for Derry, but he was unable to get a grip on the game as Rory Gallagher hit three points while Tom Brewster scored two points to level the scores.

Sunday’s results in full
NFL Division 1A
Cork 1-13 Dublin 0-10
Roscommon P-P Galway
Offaly 1-4 Tyrone 1-11
Westmeath 0-7 Donegal 1-6

Division 1B
Kildare 0-7 Mayo 4-5
Sligo 3-7 Clare 1-9
Cavan 0-14 Down 1-8
Derry 0-9 Fermanagh 0-9

Division 2A
Armagh 2-16 Limerick 2-5
London 0-4 Kerry 4-13
Louth 1-9 Antrim 1-10
Wicklow 0-9 Leitrim 2-5

Division 2B
Tipperary 0-3 Wexford 3-10
Meath 2-14 Carlow 0-6
Laois 1-14 Longford 1-11
Waterford 0-8 Monaghan 0-8

NHL Division 1A
Clare 0-18 Dublin 2-5
Galway 0-15 Kilkenny 0-9

Division 1B
Tipperary 1-12 Limerick 2-13

Division 2A
Down 2-18 Westmeath 1-7

Division 2B Carlow 2-11 Kerry 2-8