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Down's Donal O'Hare with Mayo's Donal Vaughan. INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry
GAA

Allianz FL: Wins for Down and Monaghan as Derry draw with Armagh

Here’s how tonight’s three games in Newry, Derry and Enniskillen unfolded.

Division 1

Down 0-13
Mayo 0-11

DONAL O’HARE FIRED 0-9 to help Down claim their first points of this year’s Allianz football league campaign tonight in Páirc Esler against Mayo.

O’Hare was in sparkling form for the Mourne men with his two late points clinching victory for the home side at the Newry venue.

Down entered the game under huge pressure after suffering defeat in their first three games. They had suffered an agonizing loss against Cork last Sunday but on this occasion they finished strongly to hold off James Horan’s Mayo side.

Victory helps them in their fight against relegation and the contribution of Burren club man O’Hare was central to their triumph.

Mayo have now lost three league games on the bounce despite drawing level at 0-11 apiece with four minutes left when goalkeeper Kenneth O’Malley converted a ’45.

Mayo had started brightly to lead 0-4 to 0-2 before Down rallied with O’Hare’s accuracy from frees and play helping them to a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage at the interval.

Down opened the second-half brilliantly with a brace from O’Hare and one from Mark Poland stretching their advantage to 0-9 to 0-4. At the other end goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh played his part when he produced a stunning save to deny Barry Moran’s shot from close range.

But Mayo refused to fold and strung togethers five points in succession courtesy of Crossmolina’s impressing youngster Cathal Carolan (2), Jason Doherty (2) and Moran to draw level entering the closing stages.

The teams traded points in the finale and a draw looked in the offing until O’Hare popped up with those match-winning scores.

Scorers for Down: Donal O’Hare 0-9 (0-6f), Conor Laverty, Ryan Mallon, Mark Poland, Paul McComiskey 0-1 each.
Scorers for Mayo: Jason Doherty 0-4 (0-3f), Cathal Carolan 0-3, Kevin McLoughlin (0-1f), Barry Moran, Michael Conroy, Kenneth O’Malley (0-1 ’45) 0-1 each.

DOWN: Brendan McVeigh (An Ríocht); Daniel McCartan (Burren), Brendan McArdle (Annaclone), Ryan Boyle (Warrenpoint); Ryan Mallon (Warrenpoint), Aidan Carr (Clonduff), Keith Quinn (Mayobridge); Kalum King (Bryansford), Kevin McKernan (Burren); Conor Laverty (Kilcoo), Mark Poland (Longstone), Paul McComiskey (Dundrum)(; Donal O’Hare (Burren), Connaire Harrison (Glasdrumman), Benny Coulter (Mayobridge).

Subs: Darren O’Hagan (Clonduff) for Mallon (44), Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo) for Quinn (55), Conor Gough (Newry Shamrocks) for King (62), Eoin McCartan (Burren) for Harrison (62).

MAYO: Kenneth O’Malley (Ballinrobe); Chris Barrett (Belmullet), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee Keegan (Westport), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitt’s); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Cathal Carolan (Crossmolina); Enda Varley (Garrymore), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole), Michael Conroy (Davitt’s).

Subs: Kevin Keane (Westport) for Cafferkey (inj) (30), Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels) for Feeney (44), Alan Freeman (Aghamore) for Vaughan (55), Keith Rogers (Ballaghaderreen) for Varley (63).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

Down’s Benny Coulter with Mayo’s Ger Cafferkey.
Pic: INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry

Division 2

Derry 0-16
Armagh 0-16

It was honours even in tonight’s all-Ulster clash in Celtic Park with a late point by Crossmaglen sharpshooter Jamie Clarke rescuing a point for Armagh.

Derry looked poised to go top of the table when James Kielt notched his eight point of the night in the 68th minute from a free to push them into a 0-16 to 0-15 lead.

But Clarke, who was playing his last game before the championship as he is to go traveling for a short period, rescued Armagh with a late point. The draw keeps alive both teams hopes of promotion to the top tier.

Armagh exploded from the traps with Gavin McParland (2), Kevin Dyas and Jamie Clarke all notching points as they raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 16th minute.

After their slow start Derry steadied their challenge and when James Kielt pointed in the 23rd minute, the teams were level at 0-4 apiece.

Derry built on that, inspired by another three points by Kielt, to lead at the break by 0-7 to 0-6. Yet Armagh emerged from the second-half in a confident mood with Stefan Forker, Aaron Kernan and Stephen Harold all on the mark as they moved 0-12 to 0-8 clear.

But then Derry rallied and when Lee Kennedy, Daniel Heavron and Barry McGoldrick pointed in succession it was the Oak Leaf County who moved ahead by 0-15 to 0-14.

The game ebbed and flowed in a dramatic finale with Clarke tieing the teams from a free, Kielt nudged Derry in front before Clarke had the final say with a point for Armagh.

Scorers for Armagh: Gavin McParland, Aaron Kernan (0-2f), Jamie Clarke (0-2f) 0-3 each, Stefan Forker 0-2 (0-1f), Declan McKenna, Kevin Dyas, Anto Duffy, Johnny Hanratty, Stephen Harold 0-1 each.
Scorers for Derry: James Kielt 0-8 (0-5f), Lee Kennedy 0-3, Daniel Heavron, Barry McGoldrick, Mark Lynch, Charlie Kielt, Emmett McGuckin 0-1 each.

DERRY: Thomas Mallon (Loup); Gerard O’Kane (Glenullin), Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil), Dermot McBride (Ballinascreen); Charlie Kielt (Kilrea), Mark Lynch (Banagher) (capt), Sean Leo McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua); Patsy Bradley (Slaughtneil), PJ McCloskey (Banagher); Daniel Heavron (Magherafelt), James Kielt (Kilrea), Enda Lynn (Greenlough); Benny Heron (Ballinascreen), Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt), Lee Kennedy (Kilrea).

Subs: Barry McGoldrick.

ARMAGH: Philip McEvoy (Dromintee); James Morgan (Crossmaglen Rangers), James Donnelly (Killeavy), Declan McKenna (Armagh Harps); Aaron Kernan (Crossmaglen Rangers), Brendan Donaghy (Clonmore), Ciaran McKeever (Cullyhanna); James Lavery (Maghery), Stephen Harold (Carrickcruppen); Kevin Dyas (Dromintee), Johnny Hanratty (Crossmaglen Rangers), Caolan Rafferty (Granemore); Jamie Clarke (Crossmaglen Rangers), Stefan Forker (Maghery), Gavin McParland (Ballymacnab).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).

Derry’s P.J McCloskey and Armagh’s James Lavery
Pic: INPHO/Presseye/Lorcan Doherty

Division 3

Monaghan 0-14
Fermanagh 0-12

Former Fermanagh boss Malachy O’Rourke enjoyed a successful return to Enniskillen as the current Monaghan manager’s side triumphed in Brewster Park tonight.

Victory helped Monaghan move ahead of Fermanagh and go top of the table as they seek an immediate return in this campaign back to Division 2 football.

Monaghan had only three scorers in the game but the experienced duo of Paul Finlay and Conor McManus, and Latton youngster Owen Duffy managed to contribute their winning total of 0-14.

The Farney men missed a penalty in the second-half when Darren Hughes effort was saved by Chris Snow while Colin Walshe, the recent DIT Sigerson Cup winning captain, was sent-off for a second yellow card late on. Yet they still managed to condemn Fermanagh to their first defeat to this year’s league campaign.

Peter Canavan’s Fermanagh charges sprinted into an early 0-4 to 0-0 lead with Paul Ward leading the way. Yet Monaghan bounced back with three points in succession and they drew level at 0-5 apiece midway through the half courtesy of Paul Finlay.
Duffy was to the fore in helping propel Monaghan into a 0-9 to 0-6 half-time lead and they ran out victors by two points at the finish.
Scorers for Monaghan: Paul Finlay (0-3f), Conor McManus (0-2f) 0-5 each, Owen Duffy 0-4.
Scorers for Fermanagh: Paul Ward 0-6 (0-4f), Tomas Corrigan 0-3 (0-1f), Shane McCabe, Daryl Keenan, Ryan Jones (0-1f) 0-1 each.

MONAGHAN: Mark Keogh (Sean McDermott’s); Dessie Mone (Clontibret), Fintan Kelly (Clones), Kieran Duffy (Latton); Colin Walshe (Doohamlet), Darren Hughes (Scotstown), Karl O’Connell (Tyholland); Owen Lennon (Latton), Dick Clerkin (Currin); Gavin Doogan (Magheracloone), Kieran Hughes (Scotstown), Owen Duffy (Latton); Conor McManus (Clontibret), Paul Finlay (Ballybay), Christopher McGuinness (Ballybay).

Subs: Tommy Freeman for McGuinness, Drew Wylie for O’Connell (both 48), Neil McAdam for Clerkin (52), Dermot Malone for Doogan (62).

FERMANAGH: Chris Snow (St Joseph’s Ederney); Niall Bogue (Kinawley), Anthony McGuinness (Devenish), John Woods (Lisnaskea); M O’Brien, Brian Cox (Belcoo), Declan McCusker (Ederney); Shane Lyons (Belleek), Marty McGrath; Tommy McElroy, Shane McCabe, Eoin Donnelly (Coa); Paul Ward (Derrygonnelly), Tomas Corrigan (Kinawley), Daryl Keenan (Tempo).

Subs: Daniel Kille for Donnelly (27 mins), Conor Quigley for McCusker (half-time), Ryan Jones for McGrath (51), Barry Owens for McGuinness (59), Ryan Corrigan for Kille (67).

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)

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