DIVISION 3

Meath 0-16
Wicklow 0-8

A much improved Meath ran out comfortable winners over Wicklow at Aughrim.

Having suffered such a heavy defeat to Monaghan in their Division Three opener Meath were in far better from against Wicklow.

The home team were never in the reckoning as Meath’s Sean Tobin was sharp in attack ensuring the Royals led 0-10 to 0-4 at the interval.

It was a similar story after the restart with Meath always firmly in charge as Brian Meade and Mickey Newman struck scores.

Peadar Byrne also landed a tidy point for Meath, who easily closed out the deal to take the spoils.

Scorers for Meath: Mickey Newman (0-5, 4fs), Sean Tobin (0-4, 1f), Peadar Byrne (0-2), Graham Reilly (0-1), Ciaran Lenihan (0-1), Paddy Gilsenan (0-1), Brian Meade (0-1), Paddy O’Rourke (0-1, 45).
Scorers for Wicklow: Anthony McLoughlin (0-2), James Stafford (0-2, 1f), John McGrath (0-2, 145, 1f), Brendan McCrea (0-1), Paudge McWalter (0-1).

Sligo 1-12
Antrim 0-13

Sligo held on to record a victory despite a spirited Antrim fight back at Markievicz Park.

Kevin Walsh’s side ruled the first half and were 1-8 to 0-4 ahead at half-time as Pat Hughes blasted a goal.

Neil Ewing, Mark Breheny, and Adrian Marren were all effective for Sligo, but Antrim responded in the second period.

Substitute Paddy Cunningham added extra attacking bite to Antrim’s approach as they trimmed Sligo’s advantage.

Antrim finished with 13 players as Kevin Niblock and Michael McGill were sent off and Sligo prevailed.

Scorers for Sligo: Adrian Marren (0-4, 4fs), Mark Breheny (0-4, 2fs), Pat Hughes (1-0), Niall Murphy (0-1), Neil Ewing (0-1), Brian Curran (0-1), James Clarke (0-1).
Scorers for Antrim: Paddy Cunningham (0-3, 1f), Conor Murray (0-3, 3fs), Michael Pollock (0-2), Ryan Murray (0-2, 1f), Justin Crozier (0-1), Michael McCann (0-1), Kevin Niblock (0-1).

DIVISION 4

Limerick 0-12
Offaly 1-8

Limerick finished with a flourish to secure a hard earned triumph over Offaly at O’Connor Park.

The Faithful have shown signs of improvement under new boss Emmet McDonnell in the early weeks of 2013, but this was always going to be a revealing examination.

Maurice Horan’s Limerick side trailed by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break, but they restricted Offaly to only two points in the second half.

An early Brian Connor goal gave Offaly a good start, but it was tight for the remainder of the opening period.

After the interval Offaly struggled to create space and make chances inside as Limerick seized the initiative.

Stephen Lavin, Eoghan O’Connor, and Ian Ryan were prominent for Limerick, who have made an enterprising start to the campaign.

Scorers for Limerick: Ian Ryan (0-5, 2fs), Eoghan O’Connor (0-2), Brian Scanlon (0-2, 2fs), John Riordan (0-1), Stephen Lavin (0-1), Mark O’Riordan (0-1).
Scorers for Offaly: Brian Connor (1-2), Niall McNamee (0-4, 1f), Bernard Allen (0-1), Graham Guilfoyle (0-1).

Clare 1-14

Leitrim 2-8

Clare showed ample grit and determination to pinch a win at the end of a lively contest at Carrick-on-Shannon.

With Emlyn Mulligan in typically classy form Leitrim were quickly out of the blocks as they accumulated a 1-5 to 0-1 lead.

A Mulligan delivery was palmed to the Clare net by Conor Beirne, but Clare recovered from the concession and hit back through a David Tubridy goal.

When the interval rolled around Leitrim were 1-5 to 1-4 ahead, but Clare took over in the third quarter with Tubridy, Rory Donnelly, and Gary Brennan influential.

In the closing stages Mulligan pounced for a goal, but it was merely a consolation as Mick O’Dwyer’s charges left the west with Leitrim’s scalp.

Scorers for Clare: David Tubridy (1-6, 4fs), Shane McGrath (0-2), Gary Brennan (0-2, 145), Gordon Kelly (0-1), Rory Donnelly (0-1), Cathal O’Connor (0-1), Mark McCarthy (0-1), Podge McMahon (0-1).
Scorers for Leitrim: Emlyn Mulligan (1-4, 1-2fs), Conor Beirne (1-0), Wayne McKeon (0-2), Paddy McGowan (0-1), Danny Beck (0-1).