Division 1B HL
Dublin 3-15
Carlow 0-11
DUBLIN secured their berth in the Division 1B hurling league final with a 13-point victory over Carlow in Parnell Park this afternoon.
The Dubs lead by 2-5 to 0-7 at the break after Kevin Byrne and Niall McMorrow both bagged goals in the opening period.
Marty Kavanagh helped Carlow stay in touch in the opening period as he displayed excellent accuracy from placed balls.
Byrne found the net in the 8th minute while Ballyboden St-Enda’s player McMorrow struck home his side’s second goal in the 20th minute.
David Treacy helped extend Dublin’s advantage after the break with a series of points before McMorrow fired home Dublin’s third goal in the 57th minute.
Carlow were reduced to 14 men with five minutes remaining when John Michael Nolan was shown a second yellow card.
Anthony Daly’s Dublin team now get set to face Limerick in next Saturday’s decider in Semple Stadium at 7pm.
A place in Division 1A in 2013 will be at stake as well as the chance to face Tipperary in this year’s Division 1 league semi-final on April 21st.
Carlow will face Antrim in the Division 1B relegation decider as they try to avoid the drop to Division 2A.
Scorers for Dublin: Niall McMorrow 2-1, Paul Ryan 0-7 (0-2f), David Treacy 0-4 (0-4f), Kevin Byrne 1-0, Simon Lambert, Liam Rushe, Eamonn Dillon 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 0-7 (0-6f), Shane Kavanagh 0-2 (0-1f), David English, JM Nolan 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: Alan Nolan (St Brigid’s); Ruairi Trainor (St Vincent’s), Paul Schutte (Cuala), Oisin Gough (Cuala); Stephen Hiney (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Liam Rushe (St Pat’s Palmerstown), Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Simon Lambert (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s); David Treacy (Cuala), Kevin Byrne (Crumlin), Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Conor McCormack (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes), Eamon Dillon (Naomh Fionbarra).
Subs: David O’Callaghan for McCormack (50), Paul Ryan for Dillon (50), Sean McGrath for Treacy (55), Maurice O’Brien for Keaney (59), Glen Whelan for O’Dwyer (63).
CARLOW: Brian Treacy (Naomh Eoin); Hugh Paddy O’Byrne (Mount Leinster Rangers), Eoin Nolan (Naomh Eoin), Des Shaw (Naomh Bríd); Alan Corcoran (Erins Own), Richard Coady (Mount Leinster Rangers), Johnny Corcoran (Erins Own); David English (Ballinkillen), Edward Coady (Mount Leinster Rangers); Jack Kavanagh (St Mullin’s), Marty Kavanagh (St Mullin’s), John Michael Nolan (Naomh Eoin); Peter Shaw (Naomh Bríd), Shane Kavanagh (Naomh Eoin), Daryl Roberts (Ballinkillen).
Subs: P Coady for Shaw (36), D Byrne for J Corcoran (44), A Gaule for Roberts (49), C Doyle for J Kavanagh (49), J Rodgers for Coady (65).
Referee: Christopher Browne (Galway)
Dublin’s Niall McMorrow scores their second goal of the game
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
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Limerick 1-19
Wexford 2-16
A late point by Paudie O’Brien saved a draw for Limerick against Wexford this afternoon in Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick had already qualified for the Division 1B final while Dublin’s victory over Carlow put paid to Wexford’s lingering hopes of securing promotion.
The match was evenly-contested in the opening period yet Limerick edged ahead by 1-9 to 0-10 at the interval.
Adrian Breen, a member of UCC’s recent Fitzgibbon Cup winning squad, fired home the goal with a well-taken strike.
Limerick powered on in the second-half with Kevin Downes, Niall Moran and Shane Dowling amongst their point-scorers as they went 1-17 to 0-15 clear with eight minutes remaining.
However Wexford launched a comeback with Garrett Sinnott and Eoin Quigley both netting in the finale and it took Paudie O’Brien’s point to ensure the sides shared the spoils.
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Dowling 0-8 (0-5f), Adrian Breen 1-1, Conor Allis, Niall Moran, Kevin Downes 0-2 each, James Ryan, Paudie Ahern, Sean Tobin 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Paul Morris 0-6 (0-3f), Garrett Sinnott, Eoin Quigley 1-1 each, Rory Jacob 0-3, Eanna Martin 0-2 (0-2 ’65), Lee Chin 0-1.
LIMERICK: Aaron Murphy (Hospital/Herbertstown); Alan Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh), Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Mark Carmody (Patrickswell); Cathal King (Na Piarsaigh), Wayne McNamara (Adare), Tom Ryan (South Liberties); Conor Allis (Croom), James Ryan (Garryspillane); Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Paudie Ahern (Kilteely/Dromkeen), Niall Moran (Ahane); Sean Tobin (Murroe/Boher), Tommy Quaid (Effin), Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh) for Quaid (inj) (17), Paul Browne for J Ryan (35), Stephen Walsh (Glenroe) for Dempsey (35), Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock) for McNamara (35), Graeme Mulcahy for Breen (63)
WEXFORD: Niall Breen (Tara Rocks); Bobby Kenny (Buffers Alley), Andrew Shore (Parnells, Dublin), Ciaran Kenny (Buffers Alley); James Tonks (St Aidan’s), Richie Kehoe (Faythe Harriers), Eoin Doyle (Shelmaliers); David Redmond (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn); Garrett Sinnott (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s), Eoin Quigley (Sarsfields, Cork); Gary Moore (Glynn-Barntown), Rory Jacob (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Ciaran O’Shaughnessy (Shelmaliers).
Subs: Stephen Murphy (St Martin’s) for Moore (51).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)
Limerick’s Paudie O’Brien.
Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
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Offaly 0-21
Antrim 0-19
Offaly finished off their Division 1B league campaign with a victory in Casement Park this afternoon.
In the process they condemned Antrim to a relegation playoff against Carlow in a battle to preserve their status in the division.
In a high-scoring encounter, the teams were tied at 0-11 apiece after the opening period. Antrim were grateful to the scoring input of Neil McManus who shot 0-12 during the game.
Offaly’s Shane Dooley grabbed 0-10 while Ciaran Slevin, a member of the Kilcormac-Killoughey side who contested the recent All-Ireland club side, struck 0-7 as Ollie Baker’s side triumphed.
Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-10 (0-7f, 0-1 sideline), Ciaran Slevin 0-7 (0-4f), Rory Hanniffy, Kevin Brady, Brian Carroll, James Mulrooney 0-1 each.
Scorers for Antrim: Neil McManus 0-12 (0-10f), Paul Shiels 0-2, Shane McNaughton, Eddie McCloskey, Thomas McCloskey, Stephen McAfee, Simon McCrory 0-1 each.
OFFALY: James Dempsey (Kinnity); Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels), David Kenny (Belmont), Paul Cleary (Birr); Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran), Rory Hanniffy (Birr), Kevin Brady (Coolderry); Brian Carroll (Coolderry), Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Colin Egan (Belmont), Sean Ryan (Birr), Cathal Parlon (Coolderry); Shane Dooley (Tullamore), James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran), Thomas Carroll (Seir Kieran).
Subs: Cathal Parlon (Coolderry) for T Carroll, Odhran Kealey (Kinnitty) for Molloy.
ANTRIM: Ryan McGarry; Conor McKinley, Aaron Graffin, Michael McFadden; Simon McCrory, Neal McAuley, Paul Shiels; Matthew Donnelly, Jackson McGreevy; Stephen Beatty, Neil McManus, Eddie McCloskey; Dessie McClean, Conor Carson, Shane McNaughton.
Subs: T McCloskey for Donnelly, S McAfee for McClean.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).
Antrim’s Aaron Graffin with Offaly’s Shane Dooley
Pic: INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry
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Camogie
Cork maintained what has been an impressive defence to date of their Camogie Division 1 league title with a 1-10 to 1-8 victory over Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.
It was a first defeat of the campaign for the progressive Noresiders but Cork always looked the likeliest winners. They held the minimum advantage at the break (1-4 to 1-3) thanks to a 21st minute goal from Briege Corkery in response to Aoife Neary’s seventh minute major.
They were level at 1-5 apiece ten minutes into the second half but five consecutive points secured the win for Cork. Jenny O’Leary produced the first two and Corkery followed up before half-time substitute Julie Mulcahy made it safe with a brace.
Ann Dalton (45), Edwina Keane and Katie Power reduced the margin for the hosts but it wasn’t enough to overcome the efficient Leesiders.
Kilkenny’s Mairead Power and Kate McDonald contest a high ball with Aoife Deasy of Cork
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
In the other Group 1 game, Offaly kept their hopes of making the semi-finals alive with their first win of the campaign against Tipperary, who were suffering their fourth loss.
Elaine Dermody converted nine frees in a commanding effort that saw the Faithful girls lead by 3-6 to 0-5 at half time. Arlene Watkins scored two of the goals with Tina Hannon bagging the other.
Despite having the Banagher wind, the home side struggled to find their radar in the second half and when Noelle Flanagan goaled to reduce the margin to seven, Tipperary were well in contention.
Triona McDonald continued to drive Offaly on from centre-back and Orlagh Kirwan’s goal finalised the 4-10 to 1-6 victory.
There was plenty for Martin Lynch to be happy about as Wexford carved out a 1-10 to 0-9 win over Clare at Wexford Park. Mary Leacy, Ursula Jacob and Katrina Parrock made their first appearances of the year in the county colours, while newcomers Louise Hamill (midfield) and Ciara Donohue (wing-back) were very impressive as the Bannerwomen lost their 100% record.
Jacob carried on where she left off in the All-Ireland final, scoring all of her side’s points. Six of them came from play in a wonderful display.
Claire McMahon (0-4) and Naomi Carroll (0-2) made significant contributions as Clare remained in contention right to the end but ultimately, Jacob’s stunning effort, allied with Parrock’s eighth minute goal ensured the Yellowbellies’ success.
Galway got their first win of the league after of a hard-fought battle with Dublin at O’Toole Park.
Galway made more of the diagonal wind than their opponents, leading 1-8 to 0-5 at the interval. Ali Maguire registered all of Dublin’s scores from frees but Ailish O’Reilly’s sixth minute goal had Galway in a strong position. With Clodagh McGrath and Niamh Kilkenny dominant and Rebecca Hennelly amongst the points, the Tribeswomen were full value for their advantage at the change of ends.
They only managed two points after the resumption but Ann Marie Hayes’ 40th minute goal ensured that they always had enough in hand.
Dublin kept battling away, with Caitriona Power and Grainne Quinn standing up well to the pressure in the full-back line. Aoife Kelly got their only point from play to go with another Maguire free and Sarah Ryan scrambled a goal with ten minutes remaining but Dublin never looked like overturning the deficit and it finished 2-10 to 1-7 in the visitors’ favour.
