LAST UPDATE | 18 Mar 2023
Results – Allianz Football League
Division 3
- Antrim 1-17 Cavan 2-12
- Tipperary 0-13 Offaly 2-14
- Fermanagh 0-15 Westmeath 2-8
- Down 1-19 Longford 1-14
Division 4
- Waterford 2-9 London 2-5
- Carlow 0-11 Sligo 2-10
- Wexford 0-19 Wicklow 2-13
*****
AFTER A HUGELY difficult week off the pitch for the Offaly footballers after the sudden passing of their manager Liam Kearns, they returned to action on the pitch with a win in their Division 3 tie in Thurles today against Tipperary.
A sombre occasion brought together two counties that Kearns had managed with a minutes silence taking place before the match in Semple Stadium.
The game saw Offaly win out 2-14 to 0-13 with the result, coupled with Antrim’s win over Cavan, meaning Tipperary are relegated to Division 4 ahead of the final round. Offaly still have a shot at promotion entering that phase.
Offaly were in front 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval but Tipperary hung in contention and the gap was down to one, 0-14 to 0-13, by the 66th minute. However Offaly pounced for injury-time goals from Ruairi McNamee and Anton Sullivan to run out seven-point winners.
In Corrigan Park in Belfast, Cavan suffered their first defeat of the Division 3 campaign, losing 1-17 to 2-12 against Antrim.
Andy McEntee’s team received a real boost with this victory after their 31-point loss last time out to Westmeath and it helped ease their relegation fears, Longford’s loss later tonight ensuring that the Saffron county will be safe for next season.
Despite the loss, the rest of today’s results ensure Cavan are already promoted ahead of next weekend’s final round of games.
Antrim made all the early running with Ruairí McCann’s goal setting the tone as they went ahead 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time, Odhran Eastwood impressing with his point-scoring. That six-point interval advantage had swelled to ten points by the 58th minute, Antrim leading 1-14 to 0-7.
Then Cavan mounted a major revival. A few points chipped away at the deficit before goals from Conor Madden in the 64th minute and Paddy Lynch in the 74th minute, cut the gap to a single point, 1-16 to 2-12. Antrim held on though, Paddy McBride’s point clinching their success by two.
Latest #AllianzLeagues Div3 R6
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) March 18, 2023
Full Time
Aontroim: 1-17(20)
An Cabhán: 2-12(18)
ALL OVER!!!!! A MASSIVE 2 points! pic.twitter.com/IR57T2xNhS
In Ederney, Fermanagh held off the challenge of Westmeath to win at home by 0-15 to 2-8, while tonight in Newry it finished 1-19 to 1-14 in favour of Down against Longford.
The consequence is that defeat means Paddy Christie’s Longford side are now relegated along with Tipperary. Despite their win, Down are now unable to finish second due to the promotion permutations, Offaly or Fermanagh will go up alongside Cavan.
In Division 4, Waterford got a badly-needed success tonight as they collected their first win of the season at home to London, by 2-9 to 2-5.
Wicklow fashioned a draw tonight against Wexford, 2-13 to 0-19, while Sligo won away against Carlow by 2-10 to 0-11.
Sligo are now top of the table ahead of the final round of games. Wicklow are second but must wait to see the outcome of tomorrow’s game between Laois and Leitrim.
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