Kildare 1-11 Limerick 1-10
A one point win over Limerick was enough to secure Kildare’s fourth successive win in Division 3 but manager Cian O’Neill was left far from impressed with team’s display in Newbridge on Sunday afternoon.
After a bright opening 20 minutes, Kildare’s performance tailed off badly and in the end, Limerick were left feeling hard done by after not taking anything from the game.
Niall Kelly’s fifth minute goal seemed to set Kildare up for a big display and by the 23rd minute they led 1-4 to 0-2 but Limerick hit the last four points of the half through Ian Ryan’s frees.
Kildare had a major let off in the 58th minute when Killian Ryan rattled the crossbar when a goal would have put Limerick a point ahead, and there was just a point between the sides with five minutes to play.
Two points from the experienced Eamonn Callaghan in the last three minutes helped Kildare into a four point lead in injury time but in almost the last action of the game, Brian Fanning netted for Limerick to leave just a point between the sides. They hadn’t sufficient time to push for an equaliser though.
The result leaves Kildare in a very strong position as they bid for an immediate return to Division 2 and a win next week against Sligo when they visit Newbridge should almost be enough to secure promotion but they will looking for a big improvement on this performance.
Kildare: T Corley; P Kelly, D Hyland, E Powderly; J Byrne 0-1, F Conway, C O'Donoghue; K Feely 0-1, D Flynn; C McNally, E O'Flaherty 0-3 (2fs), M Byrne, N Kelly 1-1 (1f), F Dowling 0-1, A Smith 0-2. Subs: O Lyons for Powderly, 16 BC; K Murnaghan for Conway, h/t; E Callaghan 0-2 for Smith, 45; T Moolick for Flynn, 50; P O'Neill for Dowling, 54; E O'Connor for McNally, 65.
Limerick: D O'Sullivan; J McCarthy, P Browne, S O'Dea, M Donovan, I Corbett, P White; T Lee, D Treacy; D Neville 0-1f, P Ranahan, S Buckley 0-1, P Nash, I Ryan 0-6 (5fs), C Sheehan. Subs: S Cahill for Corbett, 17; S Flanagan for McCarthy, 25; K Ryan for Buckley, 44; S McSweeney 0-2fs for Ryan, 48; B Donovan for Nash, 56; B Fanning 1-0 for Ranahan, 65.
Referee: N. Cullen (Fermanagh).
Clare 1-18 Westmeath 0-10
Colm Collins’ Clare enjoyed the easiest of victories over Westmeath in Div 3 of the Allianz National Football League, at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday. From early on it was obvious to the small crowd that there was only going to be one winner as the hosts hit the ground running.
They raced into an impressive seven points to no score lead by the twenty-third minute, with points by David Tubridy (3), Eoin Cleary (2) and one apiece from Pearse Lillis and Cathal O’Connor. Westmeath’s opening score came in the twenty-seventh through substitute Shane Dempsey.
John Heslin added a further two before Clare finished the half as they began with another two by Cleary and a fisted effort by Sean Collins. At half time the Banner lead by 0-10 to 0-3.
The homeside continued to dominate after the restart. Tubridy right footed over the bar early on to increase their lead and even though Westmeath tagged on a few scores after that they were sucker-punched in the sixty-fourth minute when impressive Clare wing Jamie Malone grabbed the game’s only goal. He accepted a hand-pass from Dean Ryan and using his acceleration rounded two defenders before slamming to the back of the net.
Scorers – Clare: E Cleary (0-6) 3 f's, D Tubridy (0-5), J Malone (1-1), P Lillis, C O'Connor, S Collins, E Coughlan, Gordon Kelly, S Haugh (0-1) each.
Westmeath: J Heslin (0-6) 4 f’s, S Dempsey, J Connellan, K Martin, R Foley (0-1).
Clare: J Hayes, S Malone, K Harnett, M McMahon, C O'Dea, Gordon Kelly, J Malone, G Brennan (Capt.), C O'Connor, S Collins, E Cleary, S McGrath, E Coughlan, D Tubridy, P Lillis. Subs: K Sexton for McGrath (h/t), D Ryan for O'Dea (52), P Burke for Cleary (53), Graham Kelly for S Malone (64),S Haugh for Lillis (64), A O'Neill for Collins (66).
Westmeath: D Quinn, K Daly, F Boyle, K Maguire, J Gonoud, K Martin, A Stone, D Corroon, P Sharry, R Connellan, C McCormack, J Dolan, J Connellan, J Heslin, J Egan. Subs: S Dempsey for Stone (20), P Holloway for R Connellan (22), P Greville for McCormack (44), S Flanagan for Gonoud (47), R Foley for Dempsey (59).
Referee: J Henry (Mayo).
Tipperary 2-11 Offaly 0-12
Liam Kearns is now targeting promotion after his Tipperary side moved to within two points of leaders Kildare in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League.
Tipp remain unbeaten and are joint second in the standings ahead of next Sunday’s crucial visit to Longford, following a comfortable victory over Offaly at Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary town.
First half goals from Michael Quinlivan and Martin Dunne paved the way for victory while Brian Fox also saw an effort hit the outside of the post and away to safety.
Tipp led by 2-8 to 0-5 at half-time and dropped Fox into a deeper role for the second half to help preserve their lead.
A disappointing Offaly side failed to mount a serious challenge although Niall McNamee and Sean Doyle had some good moments in attack.
In what was a free-ridden encounter played on a heavy pitch, Tipp claimed their second victory from four League outing to put themsleves in a decent position with three games remaining.
With Division 3 status for next season secured, Tipp can now start looking up rather than over their shoulders and it was a profitable afternoon for inside forwards Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney, who collected 1-10 between them.
Tipperary: E Comerford; K Fahey, A Campbell, C McDonald; J Feehan, R Kiely, S Leahy; A Moloney, M Dunne (1-0); J Lonergan, P Acheson, B Fox; C Sweeney (0-6, 3f), M Quinlivan (1-4, 0-1f, 0-1 45), P Austin (0-1). Subs: D Leahy for Feehan (50), D Butler for S Leahy (58), B Hewitt for Austin (62), M Hanley for Fahey (65), J O'Callaghan for Lonergan (70+2).
Offaly: A Mulhall; D Brady, E Rigney, S Pender (0-1); J Moloney, B Darby, J O'Connor; G Guilfoyle, C McNamee; A Sullivan, M Brazil, R Allen; N Dunne (0-4, 3f), S Doyle (0-3, 2f), N McNamee (0-3). Subs: N Darby for Brady (h.t.), P Cunningham for Allen (h.t.), C Donoghue for Rigney (44), E Carroll for Brazil (53), B Allen (0-1f) for Doyle (61), J Gethings for C McNamee (61).
Referee: J Molloy (Galway).
Longford 1-17 Sligo 2-9
Sligo’s hopes of survival in division three suffered a setback in this high scoring game at Markievicz Park on Sunday.
The Yeatsmen got off to the best possible start with two first half goals but they faded in the early stages of the second half as Longford stepped up a couple of gears, dominating the exchanges as the half progressed.
The visitors finished the game with thirteen players after Brian Kavanagh and substitute Brian Farrell were red carded on second yellows in the 65th minute.
Sligo opened the first half scoring with a Niall Murphy point and a Brian Egan goal, following a defence splitting move involving Mark Breheny and Pat Hughes put the Yeatsmen 1-1 to 0-2 ahead after five minutes.
James McGivney kept Longford in touch with some well taken scores but a second goal by left corner forward Egan put the home side three points in front.
Longford finished the half strongly however and a well taken goal by substitute Darren Gallagher in the 24th minute set the Leinstermen up for a 1-10 to 2-4 interval lead.
Longford stretched their lead to eight points in the early stages of the second half as Sligo faded out of the game but a late fightback by Niall Carew’s side put a more respectable appearance on the scoreboard.
“We didn’t perform is the bottom line. We were very flat in the opening opening ten minutes of the second half lacking a cutting edge and not getting enough of the ball to the forwards,” said Carew.
Longford: P Collum, D Brady, B Gilleran, P McGee, D McElligott, M Quinn(0-1), D Reynolds, M Brady, D Masterson, J McGivney (0-2), B Kavanagh (0-4), B McKeon (0-2), R Smyth (0-4), L Connerton, M Hughes (0-1). Subs: CP Smyth for McGee 8mins, D Gallagher (1-3) for Brady 16mins, B Farrell for Connerton 43mins, F McGere for McKeon 52 mins, R Connor for D Reynolds 61mins, P McKeon for M Hughes 69mins. Red cards: B Kavanagh and B Farrell.
Sligo: A Devaney, J Kelly, K McDonnell, E Flanagan, K Cawley, B Egan, G O Kelly, Lynch, E McHugh, N Murphy (0-4)N Ewing, M Breheny (0-2), N Gaughan, C Breheny, P Hughes (0-2) B Egan(2-0). Subs: C Harrison for E Flanagan 14mins, C Davey for K Cawley 34mins, A McIntyre for E McHugh 42mins, D Rooney (0-1) for G O Kelly 52mins,K Cawley for K McDonnell 69mins.
Referee: M McNally, Monaghan.
