Updated at 5.30pm
Sligo 2-26
Louth 2-9
SLIGO HAD NO fewer than 17 points to spare over a Louth side looking for a third successive win in Division 3 of the Allianz National Football League at Markievicz Park this afternoon.
The win is the hosts’ first of this year’s campaign and, in truth the game was over before the break as goals from Criostoir Davey and David Kelly helped them into a 2-16 to 1-4 half time lead, Derek Crilly with the reply for the visitors.
Conor Grimes did pick up a second maximum for Louth in the second half but it was far too little, far too late for Colin Kelly’s men.
Wexford 1-16
Limerick 2-12
The day’s other game was a much tighter affair as the Wexford footballers avenged the one point defeat suffered by their hurlers in the first of Sunday’s double header with Limerick at Innovate Wexford Park.
The result, Wexford’s first win in this year’s campaign, condemns Limerick to their third defeat in four games but is not enough to lift the Model County off the bottom of Division 3 following Sligo’s win.
Wexford trailed by a point with five minutes remaining, however, two late frees from Ben Brosnan gave his side a much needed two points as they hope to avoid the drop to football’s bottom tier.
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Saturday’s games
Armagh 1-10
Fermanagh 1-10
ARMAGH AND FERMANAGH remain undefeated in Allianz Football League Division 3 after the joint-leaders played out a draw this evening at the Athletic Grounds.
Fermanagh grabbed a share of the spoils thanks to a point from Ryan Jones in the final minute of added time, as they came from 1-10 to 1-5 down with 19 minutes remaining to hit five unanswered scores to draw the game.
Armagh were excellent in the first half and led by four at the break — 1-7 to 1-3 — but they were eight ahead by the 23rd minute when Michael McKenna found the net, before Aiden Forker added a point.
But Fermanagh recovered well and Ruairi Corrigan scored their goal shortly before the interval and cut Armagh’s eight-point lead in half before the half-time whistle.
Armagh remained in the ascendancy throughout the second period and were 1-10 to 1-5 ahead in the 51st minute, but five consecutive Fermanagh points — three from Sean Quigley and two from Ryan Jones — saw the game end even.
Scorers for Armagh: E Rafferty 0-5 (4f), M McKenna 1-1, M Murray 0-2, A Forker 0-1, E McVerry 0-1
Scorers for Fermanagh: S Quigley 0-6 (4f), R Corrigan 1-0, R Jones 0-2, T Corrigan 0-1, E Donnelly 0-1
Tipperary 2-11
Clare 1-8
PETER Creedon’s Tipperary kept their promotion hopes alive by collecting a second Allianz Football League victory of the season in Thurles.
The Premier County claimed a comfortable six-point victory against Clare in what was a repeat of last year’s Division 4 decider. And on a weekend when pace-setters Armagh and Fermanagh are set to meet, these could be two valuable points for Tipp.
Clare, despite dominating the kickout stats, struggled on a day when the visitors registered ten wides to Tipp’s 12. And David Tubridy saw his stoppage penalty saved by Evan Comerford, before the Clare forward slammed the rebound over the crossbar on the volley from point-blank range.
Tipp were four points clear at half-time, 1-5 to 0-4, as Conor Sweeney accounted for 1-2 of the home side’s tally in the first half. But Clare, who played against the breeze from the start, were still just about in touch, despite going 24 minutes without a score.
Clare’s best player, Shane McGrath, popped over their opening point in the eighth minute, as the teams exchanged early scores, but they didn’t trouble the scoreboard operator again until Tubridy converted a free three minutes before half-time.
Tubridy added another free and McGrath struck again before the break to leave the Banner County in contention at the midway point.
Tipp, who lost Michael Quinlivan through injury, had netted through Sweeney in the eleventh minute, as the Ballyporeen forward fisted home a Liam Casey effort that dropped short.
And a run of 1-4 without reply had established Tipp’s biggest lead of the first half, 1-5 to 0-1, with 28 minutes on the watch.
Clare were eight points down, 0-5 to 1-10, when sub Shane Brennan netted in the 60th minute. But Tipp reasserted complete control when Philip Austin bagged their second goal two minutes from time, finishing off Brian Mulvihill’s excellent approach work.
Scorers for Tipperary: Philip Austin & Conor Sweeney (0-2f) 1-2 each, Stephen O’Brien & Barry Grogan (1 45) 0-2 each, Seamus Kennedy, Michael Quinlivan & Ian Fahey 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: David Tubridy (0-3f) & Shane McGrath 0-4 each, Shane Brennan 1-0.
Tipperary
1. Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
7. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers, Cork)
3. Paddy Codd (Killenaule)
2. Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)
10. George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers)
6. Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers)
5. Seamus Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
8. Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens)
9. Stephen O’Brien (Ballina)
15. Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)
12. Philip Austin (Borrisokane)
20. Liam Casey (Cahir)
13. Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen)
14. Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials)
11. Barry Grogan (Aherlow)
Subs:
18. Sean Flynn (Fr. Sheehy’s) for Quinlivan (inj, 22)
19. Brian Mulvihill (Moyle Rovers) for Flynn (50)
26. Ger Mulhair (Arravale Rovers) for Grogan (60)
Clare
1. Joe Hayes (Lissycasey)
2. Dean Ryan (Éire Óg)
3. Kevin Hartnett (Meelick)
6. Gordon Kelly (Milltown)
5. Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
4. Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane)
7. Jamie Malone (Corofin)
8. Gary Brennan (Clondegad)
9. Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
10. Sean Collins (Cratloe)
11. Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane)
12. Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis)
13. David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
14. Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
15. Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes)
Subs:
19. Shane Brennan (Clondegad) for Sean Collins (46)
22. Sean Haugh (O’Currys) for Malone (50)
17. Martin O’Leary (Kilmhil) for Burke (62)
23. Chris Dunning (Wolfe Tones) for Hickey (66)
Referee: Gary McCormack (Dublin)
Originally published at 9.45pm on 7 March.
