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.
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