National Football League
Tyrone survived a second-half comeback from Dublin, while Galway, Cavan, Mayo, Kerry and Armagh enjoyed comfortable wins in their league encounters.
Division 1A Tyrone 0-18 Dublin 2-10
Tommy Lyons travelled to Dungannon with his squad of Dublin players high with confidence after his debut victory over Donegal but was quickly brought down to earth. Tyrone established an early lead and held a clear 0-9 to 0-5 at the break. But after the restart, Dublin came back to life and reduced the deficit to three points, 0-9 to 0-12, before Ray Cosgrove scored their first goal to level the scores. Tyrone had shown remarkable accuracy from play, and by the end of the match had scored 0-16 of their total from play. They didn’t lose their composure and four points in quick succession put them back in front. However, Dublin had cut the deficit to three points once more before Peader Andrews has a chance to sew the match up with a goal three minutes before the end, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper. At the other end, veteran attacker Peter Canavan finally broke the deadlock in injury time, and when Gerard Cavlan hit a further injury-time point victory for Tyrone was safe.
Offaly 0-13 Donegal 0-16
Donegal finally got their first win of the campaign and after the disappointment of defeat to Dublin a week ago, it is no surprise that the Ulster county was only too happy to work hard to get it. In Tullamore, it looked as thought he home side would cruise to victory after establishing an early lead and, at the break, Offaly held a 0-10 to 0-8. With much work to do, Donegal emerged from the dressing rooms focused and set about taking the lead. That they achieved, outscoring their hosts 0-8 to 0-3 in the second half, with three of those points coming in the final minutes.
Cork 0-10 Roscommon 1-9
Roscommon were not considered likely victors when they arrived at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, but by the final whistle they had impressed enough – albeit against a off-colour Cork side – enough to claim both league points. The Connacht side led at the break 1-2 to 0-4, with John Hanley’s 15th minute goal the opening score of the afternoon. Brendan Ger O’Sullivan and Fionan Murray did their bit to try and bring Cork back into the game in the second half, but a strong display from Roscommon’s forwards saw them add seven more points to their tally while a Cork could only manage six more points.
Galway 3-12 Westmeath 0-13
Galway made league football look like a doddle when they took on Westmeath at home. The All-Ireland champions were 2-7 to 0-5 in front by half time, with Tommy Joyce and Matthew Clancy the goal scorers. Westmeath simply couldn’t compete and in the second half, although their tally rose considerably, they couldn’t halt Galway’s scoring machine. Paul Clancy lobbed the Westmeath goalkeeper to add the third goal. Jarlath Fallon was the real hero however, scoring six points from play in a Man of the Match performance.
Division 1B Kildare 1-15 Derry 1-11
Then scoreline suggest that Kildare had a good win over Derry at Newbridge, but the game was a tight affair which either could have claimed. At the break, Kildare held a 1-5 to 0-4 lead with John Doyle’s goal giving the home side the boost they needed to hold onto the lead. Despite some good scored from the Derry players, including Paddy O’Neill’s goal, Kildare had enough composure to hold Derry off and secure a hard-earned win.
Clare 1-6 Mayo 2-19
The defending league champions showed they can be a scoring force when they put 2-19 past a pedestrian Clare side in Ennis. However, Mayo only led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the half time, and it wasn’t until the second half that Clare’s challenge collapsed. Marty McNichols got both of Mayo’s goals early in the second period to bring the scores to 2-9 to 0-5. The game looked to be over by then, but Mayo continued on their scoring spree. Cathal Mortimer ended the day with six points to his credit.
Sligo 0-11 Down 0-10
Sligo secure both league points on offer when they hosts Down, but they can count themselves lucky that the referee was in such a generous mood – generous with red cards that is. The Connacht side offered Down a stern test, but when Sean Ward was sent off near the end of the first half, it put Down at a distinct disadvantage for the second period. Sligo only led by two points at the break, 0-6 to 0-4, so the visitors felt sure they might still get something out of the fixture. However, when Gregory McCartan was dismissed nine minutes after the restart – followed quickly by Sligo’s Gerry McGowan – there seemed little chance of their sneaking a win. That proved not to be the case, however, and Down fought their way back to level the game at 0-9 to 0-9 with seven minutes remaining. It was only when Ronan Murtagh was sent off, reducing Down’s number to 12, that the challenge eventually ended.
Cavan 0-16 Fermanagh 0-14
Cavan had to fight their way back from six points down at half time to record their second victory of the NFL. The Breffni men produced a first-half performance they are proud to forget to be 0-9 to 0-3 down at the break. Both teams had been reduced to 14 men by that stage, with Paul Brewster sent off for elbowing a Cavan player midway through the half, while Larry Reilly was given a second yellow card. Cavan were a much different side in the second half however, and began to play the style of football that has proven effective in recent championship campaigns. They clawed their way back into contention and with three minutes remaining just one points separated the side, 0-14 to 0-13, but thee points in the final minutes secure victory over the Breffni men.
Division 2A Results
Kerry 0-14 0-7 Antrim Armagh 3-16 0-9 Leitrim Louth 2-18 0-12 Wicklow London 0-10 3-22 Limerick
Division 2B Results
Laois 2-16 1-11 Carlow Monaghan 1-6 1-8 Wexford Waterford 1-12 4-13 Longford Meath 0-14 1-7 Tipperary
You must be logged in to post a comment.