CLARE, TIPPERARY, WICKLOW and Leitrim all claimed victories today on the opening day of action in Division 4 of the Allianz football league.
Clare enjoyed a great trip to Dungarvan as they beat Waterford by 3-10 to 1-9 at the Fraher Field. Manager Colm Collins was at the helm for the first time and saw his team triumph on a day when his son Podge, an Allstar hurler last year, came off the bench in the second-half and got on the scoresheet.
Newcomer Martin O’Leary found the net in the opening period for Clare to help them lead by 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval. Shane McGrath and Michael O’Shea then both raised green flags midway through the second-half to essentially seal Clare’s victory.
David Tubridy weighed in with some important points as well while on a disappointing day for Waterford, Paul Whyte notched a consolation goal towards the finish.
Clare’s David Tubridy.
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Tipperary thumped Carlow by 2-24 to 1-8 in Dr Cullen Park to get their campaign off to a superb start. Conor Sweeney (1-8) and Barry Grogan (0-6) lead the way with impressive scoring performances for the Premier County.
Tipperary lead by 0-12 to 0-4 at the interval, their prospects boosted when Carlow were reduced to 14 men after the early sending-off of Paul Broderick.
Anthony Rainbow’s Carlow side did notch an early second-half goal through Seamus Kinsella but then Tipperary upped the ante once more with Philip Austin and Sweeney hitting the net to seal a comfortable win.
FBD League champions Leitrim enjoyed a 1-11 to 1-6 win over Antrim in Carrick-on-Shannon. Tomas Beirne fired home Leitrim’s first-half goal that enabled them to lead 1-8 to 0-3 at the break.
Antrim recovered in the second-half, aided by a goal from Niall McKeever, but they could not make substantial inroads to Leitrim’s lead and lost out by five points.
Leitrim goalscorer Tomas Beirne
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Leighton Glynn bagged a hat-trick of goals in Aughrim to help Wicklow win out 3-13 to 1-8 against London.
In windy conditions, Glynn raised his first green flag early on before he then converted a penalty. Shortly before half-time Glynn completed his hat-trick to leave Wicklow in front by 3-9 to 0-4 at the interval.
London raised a green flag in the second-half through Adrian Moyles but Wicklow had laid the foundations for victory and had 11 points to spare at the final whistle.
