LAST UPDATE | 22 Feb
GAA Allianz Leagues
Division 2 Football
- Monaghan 3-16 Cork 1-15
Division 3 Football
- Antrim 4-16 Leitrim 1-11
- Kildare 0-21 Laois 0-9
Division 4 Football
- Tipperary 0-17 London 2-13
- Carlow 1-17 Limerick 0-13
Division 2 Hurling
- Derry 0-17 Kildare 2-25
Hogan Cup Senior A Football Semi-Finals
- St Colman’s Claremorris 4-4 Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar 1-7
- Mercy Mounthawk Tralee v St Patrick’s Maghera — postponed.
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MONAGHAN RETURNED TO winning ways, while Kildare maintained their 100% record and London stunned Tipperary at the death in the Allianz Football Leagues today.
The Farney county powered to a to a 3-16 to 1-15 win over Cork in Division 2, as Kildare made it four wins from four in Division 3 with a 0-21 to 0-9 rout of Laois.
But perhaps the most striking result of the day came in Division 4. A late two-pointer saw London secure a famous victory in Thurles, the final scoreline at FBD Semple Stadium 2-13 to 0-17.
Liam Gallagher was the Exiles’ match-winner after Thomas Lenihan’s late equaliser. Ciaran Diver and Shay Rafter scored their first-half goals, but Tipperary recovered and looked set to continue their unbeaten record until London’s late heroics.
It’s Michael Maher’s side’s second win of the campaign: they shocked Wicklow on opening day.
Earlier, three first-half goals sent Monaghan on their way to a seven-point victory in Inniskeen, as they bounced back from last weekend’s defeat to Roscommon.
Goalkeeper Rory Beggan was influential, scoring three two-pointers as the Farney county reinvigorated their Division 2 promotion push with their third win in four games.
Jack McCarron raised the game’s first green flag from the penalty spot after eight minutes, and further goals from Stephen O’Hanlon and Ryan Wylie after 18 and 26 minutes put Monaghan 10 points ahead.
They took a wind-assisted 3-5 to 0-5 lead into the break, and saw the win out thereafter with Beggan to the fore.
Mark Cronin did score a second-half penalty for Cork, but six points was as close as they came as Colm O’Callaghan was sent-off after being shown two yellow cards. Cronin finished with an impressive individual haul of 1-8 (1 pen, 1 2pt score, 1 2pt free and 4 frees).
Kildare eased past Laois at Cedral St Conleth’s, the difference 13 points in the end, as they continued their bright start to life under Brian Flanagan.
The Lilywhites led from pillar to post, with a spread of ten different scorers as they avenged for last year’s Tailteann Cup quarter-final exit to their neighbours.
Kildare’s full-forward line of Ben McCormack, Kevin Feely and Niall Kelly combined for eight brilliant points from play, the other offering a two-pointer from McCormack.
In Division 3, Antrim hit four first-half goals as they secured a 4-16 to 1-11 win against Leitrim at Corrigan Park, Belfast.
Marc Jordan (two), Dominic McEnhill (penalty) and Fionn Nagle were all on target as the Saffron picked up their second victory. Riordan O’Rourke scored Leitrim’s goal late on, but they remain rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points.
And in Division 4, Carlow made it back-to-back victories as they defeated Limerick on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-13. James Naughton bagged the game’s only goal at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Elsewhere today, Kildare beat Derry in Division 2 of the Allianz Hurling League, and St Colman’s Claremorris booked their place in the Hogan Cup Senior A Football final.
Meanwhile, the GAA have confirmed that tomorrow’s Division 3 football league meeting between Sligo and Clare, and the Division 4 clash of Wexford and Wicklow, have been postponed following pitch inspections at Markievicz Park and Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Tyrone and Kerry’s Division 1 football showdown has been moved to Pomeroy, while Fermanagh-Offaly (Division 3 football) and Louth-Leitrim (Division 4 hurling) have also seen venue switches, to St Josephs GAA, Ederney, and Darver respectively.
As a Wex supporter have to say Gemma O’Connor was one of the best camogie players of all times her first touch read of the game and her striking was top class, and tough as nails.
Female ringy legend go girl
In the 2016 final, Gemma received two yellow cards and unfortunately for her, had to leave the field early. At the end of the game, she came back out onto the pitch and I just watched her go from player to player congratulating the Kilkenny team. I thought it was the most sporting gesture I ever saw on any sports field. She hit the winning score two years later!! A class player in every way.
What a lady, seriously impressive list of achievements, along with her team mates during those years. My daughters watched and followed her and those Cork teams as if they were Cork. Rebels Abu.