LAST UPDATE | 7 Apr 2024
Munster SFC
- Waterford 2-7 Tipperary 1-5
Connacht SFC
- Leitrim 0-6 Sligo 0-15
Leinster SFC
- Wexford 4-19 Carlow 0-8
- Westmeath 1-11 Wicklow 2-9
******
WATERFORD AND WICKLOW enjoyed shock wins as the provincial football championships sparked to life on opening weekend.
Waterford secured their first Munster senior football championship since 2010, defeating Tipperary at Fraher Field.
The Déise finished up 2-7 to 1-5 winners in Dungarvan as they enjoyed their first championship victory over Tipp in 36 years.
Tom O’Connell hit 2-3 and proved the late matchwinner for Paul Shankey’s side.
They trailed 1-2 to 0-1 at half time, but produced a big second half and ultimately, a famous result. Stephen Curry was another scoring star with 0-3, while Mark Stokes bagged Tipp’s early goal.
Waterford now play Clare in the last four, with Kerry and Cork facing off on the other side.
Elsewhere, Wicklow beat newly-crowned Division 3 champions Westmeath in Portlaoise.
The Garden County started brightest and were 1-4 to 0-1 up after Dean Healy’s goal on 25 minutes. They added another point for a 1-5 to 0-1 scoreline at the break.
Westmeath responded on the restart but Wicklow raised a second green flag in the 52nd minute to lead 2-7 to 0-5. Jonathan Lynam struck back immediately, but Wicklow held off Westmeath’s fightback.
Oisin McConville’s side face Kildare next weekend.
Wexford, meanwhile, romped to a 23-point win over Carlow as they swatted their neighbours aside at Wexford Park.
Mark Rossiter (2-2) and Seán Nolan (1-7) led the Yellowbellies’ scoring charge as they ran out 4-19 to 0-8 winners. Jonathan Bealin scored their other goal.
Wexford now face 2023 finalists Louth in the quarter-final, while the wait for a first Leinster championship win since ’18 continues for Carlow as they head for the Tailteann Cup.
And Sligo accounted for Leitrim on the road to book a Connacht semi-final date with champions Galway.
Leitrim scored first amidst a slow start, but Sligo had moved into a 0-9 to 0-1 wind-assisted lead by half time. Niall Murphy starred in the forward line.
Andy Moran’s side tried to claw back but it was a bridge too far. They finished the game with 14 players after Shane Quinn saw a second yellow card late on.
A wonderful win for the Waterford footballers. Overdue reward for all the hard work by the management and players.
Take a well deserved bow Paul Shankey.
Congratulations to Waterford. Not much joy in recent years been a Waterford footballers. Enjoy tonight lads
Absolutely brilliant from the deise delighted for them well done…what a win..
1-2 to 1 at half time. Christ.