THE WEATHER WASN’T the best on the last night of February so we got stuck into a busy evening of GAA action. We’d the Fitzgibbon Cup final and three games in the Allianz football league to focus on.
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Results
Fitzgibbon Cup Final
UL 3-12 Waterford IT 0-21 (after extra-time)
Allianz Football League
Division 1
Tyrone 0-11 Derry 1-8
Division 2
Down 1-9 Cavan 0-8
Division 4
Carlow 0-11 Waterford 0-9
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Evening all. There’s been busier Saturday night GAA schedules but there’s still a bit to get through tonight. Here’s what’s in store.
- Fitzgibbon Cup final – UL v Waterford IT, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm
- Allianz FL Division 1 – Tyrone v Derry, Healy Park, Omagh, 7pm
- Allianz FL Division 2 – Cavan v Down, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7pm
- Allianz FL Division 4 – Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 7pm
We’ll be mainly focusing on the Fitzgibbon Cup final tonight. It was a hectic day of action yesterday in Moylish with Waterford IT needing extra-time before they saw off Cork IT while UL overturned hosts Limerick IT.
Already today, Longford enjoyed a successful cross-channel trip with a 15-point win over London in Division 4 of the Allianz football league.
In colleges GAA, there was final action in Leinster and Munster.
Here’s how St Kieran’s won a 53rd senior hurling crown in Leinster.
While PS Chorca Dhuibhne and Rochestown College must meet again after their Munster football battle in Killarney.
The big football match of the night is at Healy Park. Pressure on Brian McIver and Derry. They may have reached last year’s league final but opening defeats to Donegal and Kerry have them looking over their shoulder this season. Lose tonight and relegation fears will become real.
Tyrone for their part bounced back from an opening loss to Monaghan to record a really encouraging victory over Mayo.
Weather conditions not the best in Healy Park tonight.
Couple of late Tyrone changes to their starting side.
In Division 2, Cavan have started with a draw against Roscommon and a win over Laois. Tonight is their first home game of the league campaign. Opponents Down defeated Kildare away in their first game before losing at home to Roscommon last time out. In a tightly-contested division, victory could be significant for either side tonight.
In Division 4, Waterford started out with a home win over Wicklow before falling away to Offaly by six points. Carlow drew away to Antrim in their first game and then followed that up with a home success against London.
Tyrone 0-1 Derry 0-1
Early points traded by Colm Cavanagh and Eoin Bradley in Omagh.
Down 0-3 Cavan 0-1
Luke Howard sends Down two points clear at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Waterford 0-4 Carlow 0-1
The Deise will be pleased with that start as Shane Ahearne points a free to push them three clear.
Tyrone 0-2 Derry 0-1
It’s not an easy night for football in Omagh. Sean Cavanagh knocks over a point to put Tyrone narrowly in front but it’s a really low-scoring affair.
Here’s the starting teams for the Fitzgibbon Cup final. Eoin Moriarty replaces the suspended Jack Browne on the UL team.
UL
1. Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary)
4. Eoin Moriarty (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
3. David McInerney (Tulla, Clare)
17. Gearoid Ryan (Clarecastle, Clare)
5. Daire Quinn (Éire Óg Nenagh, Tipperary)
6. Brian Troy (Emeralds, Clare)
7. Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons, Tipperary)
19. Dan Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea, Clare)
10. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
14. Conor Martin (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
8. Jason Forde (Silvermines, Tipperary)
13. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell, Limerick)
24. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe, Clare)
12. Tommy Heffernan (Éire Óg Nenagh, Tipperary)
WATERFORD IT
1. Darragh Stapleton (Doon, Limerick)
7. Owen McGrath (John Lockes, Kilkenny)
3. Ger Teehan (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny),
4. Jerome Maher (Geraldines, Waterford)
5. Thomas Hamill (JK Brackens, Tipperary)
6. Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion, Waterford)
2. Tom Fox (Éire Óg-Annacarty, Tipperary)
8. Jack Langton (Clara, Kilkenny)
9. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion, Waterford)
13. Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore, Waterford)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner, Waterford)
10. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn, Wexford)
12. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion, Waterford)
14. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
15. Jake Dillon (De La Salle, Waterford)
Tyrone 0-3 Derry 0-1
Darren McCurry pops over a long-range free after Tyrone go ahead by two.
Down 0-4 Cavan 0-2
Down holding the upper hand so far.
First scoring chance for UL but Cathal McInerney’s effort tails just wide.
UL 0-2 WIT 0-0
John McGrath knocks over a free after McInerney is fouled and then follows that up with a score from play.
Tyrone 0-3 Derry 0-3
Carlus McWilliams and Eoin Bradley bring Derry level with points.
Waterford 0-7 Carlow 0-1
Mark Ferncombe knocks over Waterford’s seventh point of the night approaching half-time.
UL 0-3 WIT 0-0
Quite a start by UL. McGrath with his third point of the game, the latest from play.
Half-Time
Waterford 0-7 Carlow 0-2
Tyrone 0-4 Derry 0-3
Sean Cavanagh restores Tyrone’s advantage.
UL 0-3 WIT 0-1
WIT finally get off the mark as Harry Kehoe fires over a point.
Half-Time
Tyrone 0-4 Derry 0-3
WIT’s shooting betraying their approach work with Austin Gleeson and Stephen Roche both shooting wides. Very difficult conditions for hurling tonight in the Gaelic Grounds though.
UL 0-4 WIT 0-1
No problems at the other end for Kevin O’Brien as he slots over off his left for UL.
Half-Time
Down 0-6 Cavan 0-3
UL 0-5 WIT 0-2
Tipperary players trade points, Tomas Hamill for WIT and Tommy Heffernan for UL.
UL 0-5 WIT 0-3
Outstanding sideline cut by Austin Gleeson for WIT. He pointed one yesterday and has repeated the trick tonight.
UL 0-5 WIT 0-4
WIT cut the gap further through a Pauric Mahony free.
UL 0-6 WIT 0-4
John McGrath slots over another free for UL after Kevin O’Brien was fouled by Ger Teehan.
Waterford 0-7 Carlow 0-4
Carlow have pulled back early second-half points courtesy of Sean Gannon and Daniel St Ledger.
UL 0-6 WIT 0-4
Pauric Mahony fails to converts another free for WIT after Jake Dillon is fouled.
Half-Time: UL 0-6 WIT 0-4
Down 0-6 Cavan 0-4
Jason McLoughlin pulls a point back for Cavan.
Tyrone 0-4 Derry 0-4
James Kielt knocks over a long-range free for Derry.
Cavan 0-6 Down 0-6
The Breffni County have drawn level now.
UL 0-6 WIT 0-5
Great point by Austin Gleeson to kickstart the second-half scoring.
Goal for UL by Tommy Heffernan!
Down 0-8 Cavan 0-6
Kevin McKernan points for Down and they go two clear.
Waterford 0-9 Carlow 0-6
Brian Murphy converts free to reduce the deficit Carlow face to three.
Tyrone 0-6 Derry 0-4
Tyrone holding on to a two-point lead in Omagh.
UL 1-6 WIT 0-6
Pauric Mahony slots a free and the gap WIT face is back to three.
Red card for Cavan’s Ronan Flanagan.
UL 1-7 WIT 0-6
McGrath rifles over another point from a free for UL.
UL 1-7 WIT 0-9
WIT rattle off three points in a row from Tom Fox, Jake Dillon and Mahony.
UL 1-8 WIT 0-9
Cathal McInerney grabs a point for UL.
Cavan 0-8 Down 0-8
Martin Dunne brings Cavan level.
UL 1-9 WIT 0-9
Tony Kelly strikes over a superb point from distance for UL.
Full-Time: Carlow 0-11 Waterford 0-9
Goal for Down from Donal O’Hare!
UL Sub: Stephen Bennett for John McGrath.
UL 1-10 WIT 0-9
Jason Forde converts a free to send UL four points clear.
UL 1-10 WIT 0-10
Johnny Hayes points to cut the deficit WIT face to three.
UL 1-10 WIT 0-11
Hayes on target again.
Derry 1-8 Tyrone 0-10
Derry hanging on to a narrow advantage.
Full-Time: Down 1-9 Cavan 0-8
UL 1-10 WIT 0-12
Pauric Mahony slots over a point and there’s only one between them!
Full-Time: Derry 1-8 Tyrone 0-11
UL 1-10 WIT 0-13
All square now! Incredible drama as Mahony misses a free but then claims possession from the rebound to point for WIT.
WIT 0-14 UL 1-10
Johnny Hayes puts WIT ahead!
Last-gasp chance for UL to draw level, difficult free from left wing. Tony Kelly to take it.
Tony Kelly points it!
Full-Time: UL 1-11 WIT 0-14
Extra-time underway in the Fitzgibbon Cup final.
WIT 0-15 UL 1-11
Pauric Mahony converts an early free for Waterford IT.
WIT 0-16 UL 1-11
Jake Dillon fires over another point for WIT and they go ahead by two.
Great goal by Jason Forde for UL.
Half-Time (ET): UL 2-11 WIT 0-16
UL 2-11 WIT 0-17
All square again as Mahony converts a free after Stephen Roche is fouled.
Stephen Bennett goal for UL!
UL 3-12 WIT 0-17
Superb run by David McInerney to lay off the ball for Bennett to crack home a goal and then PJ Scully points for UL.
WIT goal chance at the other end through Johnny Hayes but Paul Maher deflects the ball out for a ’65.
UL 3-12 WIT 0-18
Mahony knocks over the ’65 for WIT.
UL 3-12 WIT 0-19
Brilliant long-range point for WIT by Martin O’Neill.
UL 3-12 WIT 0-20
Great point by Martin O’Neill for WIT again.
UL 3-12 WIT 0-21
Level again! Tom Fox scores a point.
Incredible match and it’s going to a replay.
We’ll need to take a breather after that amazing match. Thanks for joining in this evening.
