Fab four for Mayo
MAYO CLINCHED THEIR fourth straight Connacht Senior Football title with a seven point win over Galway in Castlebar on Sunday thanks to goals from Lee Keegan, Jason Doherty and Barry Moran.
It was thankfully – from a neutral’s point of view – a far more competitive affair than last year’s 17-point hiding with Galway putting James Horan’s men under real pressure, particularly at the start of the second half.
However, the 2012 and 2013 All-Ireland finalists were more clinical in front of goal and secured their first four-in-a-row since 1951.
Galway, to their credit, fought right up to the final whistle and, with Shane Walsh missing his second-half penalty, the final score – 3-14 to 0-16 – should have been even closer.
Instead, the Tribesmen must settle for a spot in the qualifiers while Mayo take their, by now, annual spot in the quarter-finals.
Quality qualifiers
- Just 2,200 fans turned out in Markievicz Park to watch Sligo overcome Limerick by two points in a low-scoring affair on Saturday. Substitute Stephen Coen came off the bench to provide the Yeats County with the impetus they needed to see off the Munster side on a scoreline of 0-12 to 0-10.
- Tipperary are within 70 minutes of a place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals following a dramatic 3-17 to 4-9 win over Laois in Portlaoise on Saturday. The visitors saw a ten-point lead evaporate in the second half but bounced back to record a famous victory.
- Cavan were the first of three Ulster teams to crash out of the All-Ireland football championship this weekend when they scored just five times in a 0-16 to 0-5 defeat to Roscommon. Diarmuid Murtagh top-scored for the Rossies in a one-sided affair.
- Sunday’s qualifier action got under way with an even more emphatic 4-26 to 2-13 win for Clare over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park. Dual star Podge Collins can’t have expected his football season to last longer than his hurling one but his goal helped ensure they enter today’s Round 2B draw.
- Down never once led Kildare on Sunday despite home advantage and a strong breeze in the second half as Jason Ryan’s men ran out 10-point winners. Tommy Moolick’s late goal sealed the 1-18 to 0-11 win for the Lilywhites.
- The weekend’s final football qualifier saw Tyrone dumped out of the championship at the earliest stage since 2006 as Armagh shocked Mickey Harte’s men in Omagh. Their failure to score in the last twenty minutes saw the home side fall to a 0-13 to 0-10 defeat.
The British are still getting to grips with hurling
The w-eight is over for Cork
Second half goals from Seamus Harnedy and Paudie O’Sullivan inspired Cork to victory over Limerick in the final Munster Senior Hurling final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh before the famous stadium is re-developed.
The Rebels’ 2-24 to 0-24 win marks their first win in the Munster decider since 2006 and goes some way to avenge last year’s defeat at this stage to the same opposition in the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick weren’t without their chances in the game but Jimmy Barry Murphy’s men raised the green flag at key times to neutralise the marksmanship of Shane Dowling who bagged 12 points for the losers.
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Wexford de-throne Clare
It may have taken the best part of three hours over the course of a week but Wexford finally overcame Clare on Saturday evening to send the defending champions crashing out of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.
Like the first game, Clare were forced to play much of the game at a numerical disadvantage after both Brendan Bugler and Jack Browne were shown the line. While manager Davy Fitzgerald said he did not dispute either sending off, he did take issue with referee Johnny Ryan’s handling of extra-time.
Jack Guiney was the hero for the home side with 10 points though it was Harry Keogh’s extra time goal that proved the difference between the sides as Wexford ran out 2-25 to 2-22 winners. Liam Dunne’s men will now play Waterford in the next round of the qualifiers.
Tipp rout and Antrim close shave
- Despite Offaly reducing the gap to just four points early in the second half, Tipperary never really looked under threat as they recorded a 5-25 to 1-20 win over the faithful in Portlaoise on Saturday. Seamus Callanan (2), Lar Corbett (2) and Patrick Maher all scored maximums as Eamon O’Shea’s men romped to a 17-point victory.
- Antrim clinched a 13th Ulster Senior Hurling crown in a row with a one point win over Derry in Owenbeg on Sunday. Despite a goal after just 22 seconds, the Saffron’s needed Daniel McKernan’s late score to claim a 2-17 to 2-16 victory.
Provincial titles in a minor key
- Anything the seniors could do, the Mayo minors could halve as they made it back-to-back Connacht titles with a 2-16 to 0-14 win over Roscommon. Brian Reape’s 1-6 was the stand-out performance for Mayo.
- Shane Ryan’s injury time goal ensured the Munster minor hurling final will go to a replay after a dramatic draw between Waterford and Limerick. The 3-14 to 2-17 scoreline is just about a fair result despite Limerick dominating for much of the game.
- There was double delight for Antrim in Ulster with a comfortable 0-17 to 0-9 win over Derry in the minor hurling decider.
Assist of the week
What’s next?
After the drama with Clare, Wexford will face Waterford next Saturday. There’ll also be a pair of football qualifiers but the identity of the teams hasn’t been decided as yet.
Sunday is all about football with four provincial deciders taking place as Kildare and Dublin defend their minor and senior titles in Leinster while Monaghan and Donegal go head to head for the second year running in the Ulster final. Donegal and Armagh will contest the minor decider in Clones.
Dublin hurler Liam Rushe takes part in a Live Twitter Q&A with Liberty Insurance, proud sponsor of both Hurling & Camogie, today (14 July) at 4pm. Tweet your questions to Liam via @LibertyIRL Twitter for chance to win a signed hurl and two tickets to Dublin’s upcoming All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-Final.
