Connolly keeps Dublin top of the pile

GAA: A hat-trick from Diarmuid Connolly ensured Dublin remain at the top of the Allianz Football League after a thrilling 4-…

Diarmuid Connolly allows himself a wry smile after completing his hat-trick within 25 minutes at Croke Park this afternoon. Photograph: Inpho
Diarmuid Connolly allows himself a wry smile after completing his hat-trick within 25 minutes at Croke Park this afternoon. Photograph: Inpho

GAA:A hat-trick from Diarmuid Connolly ensured Dublin remain at the top of the Allianz Football League after a thrilling 4-15 to 3-13 win over Mayo. With Cork also winning, the result keeps Dublin two points clear in Division One.

Almost 20,000 were in attendance at Croke Park to see the league pacesetters take on James Horan’s side and Dublin looked every bit the champions elect in the first half as they established a massive 14-point lead.

All four of their goals arrived inside 25 minutes, with Connolly finding the target on three occasions after Tomas Quinn also had the ball in the back of the net.

However, in a remarkable turnaround Mayo fought back to level matters shortly after the break with goals from Jason Doherty (two) and Alan Freeman helping bring them back to parity.

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Stung back into action, Dublin wrested back the initiative in the final quarter and limited Mayo to just two more points as they eventually ran out deserving winners.

Sunday’s Allianz Football League results

Division One
Armagh 1-09 1-13 Kerry
Dublin 4-15 3-13 Mayo
Galway 0-13 0-16 Cork

Division Two
Antrim 1-11 2-18 Sligo
Kildare 1-14 1-12 Meath

Division Three
Louth 1-11 1-14 Limerick
Offaly 0-13 1-11 Tipperary
Westmeath 1-19 1-14 Waterford
Wexford 1-14 2-09 Cavan

Division Four
Clare 1-10 0-16 Roscommon
Kilkenny 1-05 4-16 Wicklow
Leitrim 0-11 0-10 Fermanagh

Saturday’s Allianz Football League results

Division One
Down 1-16 0-11 Monaghan

Division Two
Derry 2-12 2-18 Donegal

Division Three
Laois 0-11 1-12 Tyrone