Good afternoon football fans and welcome along to our live coverage of the day’s All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. There are games everywhere you look this afternoon and we’ll keep you updated with all the action right here.
Before going any further, lets take a look at today’s fixtures:
Round 2A
- Derry v Meath, 2.30pm
- Cavan v Carlow, 5pm
Round 2B
- Cork v Limerick, 3pm
- Mayo v Fermanagh, 3.30pm
- Monaghan v Longford, 6.30pm
- Kildare v Offaly, 6.30pm
Not long until the opening game of the day gets underway. First on the agenda is the Round 2A clash between Derry and Meath.
Meath suffered defeat to Dublin in the Leinster semi last time out while Derry enjoyed victory over Louth in the last round after recovering from the heavy loss to Tyrone.
Throw-in at Owenbeg is at 2.30pm.
We’re underway in Celtic Park, a few minutes early it seems. Derry playing towards the scoreboard end in the first period. Conditions are perfect for football – dry and sunny.
Derry 0-0 Meath 0-2
Bright start from the visitors as they strike first. Pádraic Harney opens the scoring and Graham Reilly quickly adds a second point.
Derry 0-0 Meath 0-3
And they extend that lead to three points. Reilly on the mark again after five minutes.
Derry 0-0 Meath 0-4
Meath strike again as Michael Newman converts a long range free.
Derry 0-1 Meath 0-4
The hosts are on the board. Mark Lynch with a fine score from play and Derry are up and running.
Derry 0-1 Meath 0-5
Meath in control so far and Cillian O’Sullivan has restored their four-point advantage with a free.
Derry 0-2 Meath 0-6
Meath, who are playing with the breeze, are dictating the early proceedings as Newman converts another free. At the other end, Lynch dissects the posts to ensure Derry stay in touch.
Derry 0-2 Meath 0-7
But Newman strikes again and Meath have a five-point lead after 23 minutes at Owenbeg.
Derry 0-3 Meath 0-7
Lynch adds his, and Derry’s, third.
Throw-in is fast approaching at Semple Stadium, where Cork face Limerick at 3pm.
GOAL! Derry 0-3 Meath 1-7
Donnacha Tobin finds the net and Meath are pulling clear.
One late change for Limerick in Thurles as Tommie Childs replaces captain Iain Corbett.
Derry 0-3 Meath 1-7
Four minutes until half-time at Celtic Park and it is the visitors who have taken control of this contest. The wind cannot be underestimated as a factor but Meath have been sharper so far and deserve their lead.
Derry 0-4 Meath 1-7
Derry respond through Jamies Kielt after 32 minutes.
Colm O’Neill and the Cork team arrive out for the start of their warm up.
Early scoring chance from a free for Cork but Luke Connolly screws his shot badly wide.
Fintan O’Toole is in position in Thurles for today’s triple header. First up, it’s the football qualifier between Cork and Limerick.
Derry 0-4 Meath 1-8
Meath denied a second goal as Gareth McKinless thwarts Newman but O’Sullivan converts another free soon after.
Penalty missed! Cork’s Colm O’Neill sees his shot saved by Limerick’s Donal O’Sullivan.
Half-time! Derry 0-4 Meath 1-8
A commanding first-half display from the visitors as they take a seven point lead into the break. A lot of work to do for Derry in front of a healthy crowd at Celtic Park.
Cork 0-1 Limerick 0-0
7 mins – Mark Collins was fouled for that penalty for Cork and he’s fisted over the only score of the game so far as well.
Goal for Cork from Peter Kelleher!
Cork 1-4 Limerick 0-1
14 mins – That’s a huge boost for Cork. Captain Paul Kerrigan intercepted in his own half-back line as Limerick attacked. He fired in a long delivery towards Kelleher, so impressive for the Cork U21′s this year, and he turned before firing in a shot that was blocked first by the Limerick defence. But the Kilmichael man booted home the rebound off his left.
Crowd building at MacHale Park, where Mayo host Fermanagh.
Stephen Rochford’s side face a stiff appraisal of their credentials this afternoon after that shock defeat to Galway in the Connacht semi-final.
They must go through the back door and their first match in the qualifiers is far from a straightforward task with Pete McGrath’s charges certainly good enough to cause an upset today.
Conditions are pretty much ideal in Castlebar, although there is a bit of a breeze blowing across the ground.
The game is live on RTÉ or you can follow all the action with us here.
Cork 1-4 Limerick 0-1
22 mins – Cork close to another goal. Again it’s the combination of a Kerrigan delivery and a Kelleher finish, but this time his fisted effort comes back off the crossbar.
Cork 1-5 Limerick 0-1
25 mins – Cork are pouring through the Limerick defence at will here. Collins kicks his third point and then Kerrigan races through before driving the ball across the goal as he sought to find the net. They’re on top but should be further ahead.
Cork 1-5 Limerick 0-3
29 mins – Limerick have some cause to cheer with a couple of good points, Sean McSweeney from a free and Darragh Treacy from play.
Derry 0-9 Meath 1-8
Three mins into the second half and already Derry are making full use of the breeze at their backs. Sammy Bradley, Eoghan Brown, James Kielt and Mark Lynch all on the board since the restart.
Derry 0-10 Meath 1-8
And Kielt adds another free. Just a point in it now.
We’re underway in Castlebar and Fermanagh have started full of intent but Sean Quigley’s effort is pushed wide.
Mayo 0-0 Fermanagh 0-1
And it’s the visitors who draw first blood as Aidan Breen’s effort sails between the posts.
Mayo 0-1 Fermanagh 0-1
Instant reply from the home side through Diarmuid O’Connor.
Derry 0-10 Meath 1-10
Meath score their first point of the half through Mickey Burke and then Newman converts another free.
Mayo 0-1 Fermanagh 0-2
Superb score from Barry Mulrone as Fermanagh regain their lead.
Half-Time: Cork 1-6 Limerick 0-4
Cork five points to the good at half-time without being overly impressive. They’ll be thankful for Peter Kelleher’s goal having spurned a few other clearcut chances.
Mayo 0-1 Fermanagh 0-3
Quigley strikes a long-range free sweetly and it sails over. Fermanagh have their noses in front early doors.
Mayo 0-1 Fermanagh 0-4
Paul Durcan goes into the book and Tomas Corrigan slots over the resulting free. It has been a flat start from Mayo, with the home supporters trying their best to urge their side on.
GOAL! Mayo 1-2 Fermanagh 0-4
That’s what Mayo needed. Alan Freeman collects the rebound after a fine save from Christopher Snow and slots it into the corner.
Mayo 1-2 Fermanagh 0-5
Pete McGrath’s men respond and they just need to settle again. A fine point from Corrigan on the run.
GOAL! Mayo 1-2 Fermanagh 1-5
Superb from Quigley as he gathers possession and rounds the goalkeeper to put his side back into the lead. That was poor defending from Mayo, who were cut open far too easily there.
Derry 0-11 Meath 1-11
Time running out for Derry with a goal remaining between the sides.
Mayo 1-2 Fermanagh 1-6
Corrigan shows great pace to get away from his man and after manufacturing the space for himself, makes no mistake to extend Fermanagh’s lead.
Into the final 10 minutes at Celtic Park.
Mayo 1-3 Fermanagh 1-6
Cillian O’Connor adds a free for Mayo from close range after 20 minutes.
Derry 0-13 Meath 1-11
Big finish in store at Celtic Park. Enda Lynn points and then Lynch adds another to his tally. One point game now.
Mayo 1-4 Fermanagh 1-6
The referee, to his credit, is letting the game flow but he has no choice but to give a free as O’Shea is nudged in the back by Declan McCusker. O’Connor does the necessary for his third point of the match.
Cork bring on Sean Powter at half-time for Brian O’Driscoll.
GOAL! Derry 1-13 Meath 1-11
As we head into added time, Derry strike! Niall Toner surges forward and eventually plays in Kielt to set-up Loughlin who hits the net.
30 minutes gone in Castlebar. It’s a two-point game.
Cork 1-7 Limerick 0-4
41 mins – Cork finally get off the mark in the second-half at the fourth attempt courtesy of a point by captain Paul Kerrigan.
Mayo 1-4 Fermanagh 1-7
Lovely score from Fermanagh as we approach half-time. Aiden Breen shimmys inside and dissects the uprights.
Full-time! Derry 1-14 Meath 1-11
Cork bring in Daniel Goulding to their attack for Colm O’Neill.
Mayo 1-4 Fermanagh 1-9
The visitors have been mightily impressive. They may be playing with a strong breeze but Fermanagh have controlled large periods of this half.
Aiden Breen points again – his third of the day – and then Eoin Donnelly sends over a curling effort, which goes the right side of the post via the upright.
Stephen Rochford has made a change with Donal Vaughan in for Patrick Durcan, who had picked up a yellow.
Mayo 1-4 Fermanagh 1-10
Into two minutes of added time and Ryan Lyons comes to the party with a superb, left-footed score. Fermanagh’s lead is six points.
Cork 1-8 Limerick 0-4
50 mins – Paul Kerrigan kicks Cork into a seven-point lead. Luke Connolly off for them, John O’Rourke on.
Half-time! Mayo 1-4 Fermanagh 1-10
Cork 1-9 Limerick 0-5
52 mins – Points swapped now by Cork’s John O’Rourke and Limerick’s Iain Corbett.
Cork 1-10 Limerick 0-6
58 mins – This game is petering out. Cork look like they’ve enough done, Limerick not really threatening in the second-half apart from the efforts of Iain Corbett.
Sean Quigley calmly scored Fermanagh’s goal in that first half.
Cork 1-11 Limerick 0-7
66 mins – Time running out in Thurles, Cork on course for a place in Monday’s draw.
Teams are back out in Castlebar and Mayo face a big test in this second half to overhaul a six-point deficit.
12,011 in attendance at MacHale Park and the majority of those will be hoping Mayo can turn this game around.
Mayo 1-5 Fermanagh 1-10
And they’ve made a good start. Cillian O’Connor with another free.
Mayo 1-6 Fermanagh 1-10
Fermanagh up against it already. Diarmuid O’Connor charges through and forces Snow into a fine save. The goalkeeper tips the stinging drive over the bar.
Goal for Cork from Paul Kerrigan!
Cork 2-11 Limerick 0-8
71 mins – Cork finally hit the net for a second time. Kerrigan raises the green flag after being set up John O’Rourke.
Great block from Lee Keegan there and Fermanagh are being stretched. They have a chance to keep the scoreboard ticking over but the angle is tight and Corrigan’s effort falls short.
Mayo 1-6 Fermanagh 1-11
The Ernesiders have their first point of the half. Barry Mulrone the man to get it.
Mayo 1-7 Fermanagh 1-11
Mayo still creeping their way back as Evan Regan’s left foot makes it a four-point game again. Frenetic pace to proceedings now.
Full-Time: Cork 2-12 Limerick 0-10
Mayo manager Rochford brings Alan Dillon on for Alan Freeman.
Mayo 1-8 Fermanagh 1-11
Mayo fans calling for a penalty before Alan Dillon makes it a three-point game. 18 minutes remaining at MacHale Park.
Regan misses a free and then fires wide from close range after O’Shea set him on his way. Fermanagh defending resolutely but Mayo are creating chances. Blockbuster finish in store.
Mayo 1-9 Fermanagh 1-11
Sweet point from Lee Keegan as Mayo bring on the firepower. Barry Moran is on for Stephen Coen.
Mayo 1-10 Fermanagh 1-11
And just one point separates the teams now. Colm Boyle finishes a superb move and the natives are off their seats. 14 minutes remaining.
Job done for Cork’s footballers today. Here’s Fintan O’Toole’s report from Thurles.
Fermanagh are still in the lead but they’re running out of gas. McGrath introduces fresh legs with James McMahon coming on.
Mayo 1-11 Fermanagh 1-11
And we are level. Cillian O’Connor converts another free – his fourth – and Mayo are in the driving seat now. Fermanagh need to find something as we enter the final 10 minutes.
Fermanagh haven’t scored since the 42nd minute but they have a chance here. Tomas Corrigan is preparing himself to take the free.
Mayo 1-11 Fermanagh 1-12
The visitors lead again. Corrigan makes absolutely not mistake.
Penalty to Mayo!
The referee points to the spot and Fermanagh are furious. Aidan O’Shea goes down under the challenge of Che Cullen – and there was little or not contact.
O’Shea completely fools Joe MCQuillan and that’s a shocking decision.
GOAL! Mayo 2-11 1-12 Fermanagh
Cillian O’Connor fires it into the roof of the net.
Two minutes to go, last chance saloon for Fermanagh.
Mayo 2-13 Fermanagh 1-12
Brilliant from Lee Keegan and then O’Shea adds another.
What a chance!
Mayo are cut apart and the goalkeeper is forced to make a smart save and that was the chance for Fermanagh. Four minutes added time.
Here’s the penalty incident.
Cillian O’Connor named the RTÉ man of the match.
Full-time! Mayo 2-14 Fermanagh 1-12
Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Live coverage of the hurling qualifier between Cork and Wexford with Niall Kelly is here.
Two Cork changes. Daniel Goulding and Michael Hurley in for Colm O’Neill and Luke Connolly. It’ll be Hurley’s starting senior championship debut.
Game on in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford.
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