Wexford grab first win over the elite

Gaelic Games: Matty Forde, who missed last week's creditably competitive defeat by Armagh, opened the scoring with a three-point…

Gaelic Games: Matty Forde, who missed last week's creditably competitive defeat by Armagh, opened the scoring with a three-point blitz, and although the sides were level at half-time, the home team finished the match more strongly.

It was another battling performance, because Wexford had to survive a goal from Meath's in-form Joe Sheridan. The visitors' cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of centre forward Shane McKeigue as they went down 1-5 to 0-10.

Opening-weekend headline grabbers Longford now share top spot in Division One A with neighbours Mayo.

Having flummoxed Jack O'Connor in Pearse Park seven days previously, Denis Connerton's team blighted the life of another Kerryman yesterday.

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Páidí Ó Sé's Westmeath staged the midland derby in Mullingar and had racked up a comfortable, four-point lead by the break. But second-half goals by brothers David and Paul Barden turned the match and Longford won 2-12 to 1-13.

Mayo had a big win over Dublin in Castlebar. With a win over double holders Tyrone under their belts, Tommy Lyons's team were favourites to beat an understrength home side. But an explosive start proved misleading and Trevor Mortimer's goal before half-time gave Mayo a 1-6 to 0-3 lead.

Dublin failed to add to their total in the second period and ended up walloped 0-3 to 1-10.

Also walloped were Armagh, who had no answer to some flowing Galway football. In a niggling, stop-start match it was Galway who got off to a good start, and, unlike last week when a big first-half lead evaporated against Meath, they survived a difficult match, which saw three players sent off - two from Armagh - and won by double scores, 0-16 to 0-8.

"We learned a few lessons from last week," said manager John O'Mahony. "They came at us in the second half and there was a stage when a goal could have turned it around, but I suppose we had to adjust after Mikey Comer was sent off and between injuries to defenders.

"The lads responded well to keep the structure and take a point or two at the same time - unlike last Sunday. Then again, the conditions were a lot better and the big pitch suited us."

Scoring statistic of the weekend has to be Aidan O'Prey's 44th-minute equaliser for Down in Aughrim. It levelled the match and neither team raised a flag for the remaining 28 minutes.

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times