Gaelic Games

Division Four round-up: Wexford leave it late in Waterford

Meanwhile there were wins for Antrim, Carlow and Leitrim

Wexford’s Adrian Flynn struck a late point to help them towards a one point win over Waterford in the Allianz League. Photo: Inpho
Wexford’s Adrian Flynn struck a late point to help them towards a one point win over Waterford in the Allianz League. Photo: Inpho
Sun Mar 06 2016 - 19:09

Waterford 0-11 Wexford 0-12

Wexford maintained their promotion push thanks to a brace of late points at Fraher Field to see off a Waterford side that’s become frustratingly accustomed to narrow Division Four defeats.

Before an official attendance of 283 on a bitterly cold Saturday night, Wexford seized the early initiative primarily thanks to the free-taking of impressive Under-21 corner-forward Donal Shanley, who kicked eight points in total, four from play.

By half-time, the visitors led by 0-6 to 0-3, with Waterford, who certainly enjoyed a majority of the opening half’s possession, staying in touch thanks to three Paul Whyte frees.

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By the 44th minute, Wexford had extended their lead to six points (0-10 to 0-4), but Waterford, inspired by Whyte, registered six unanswered points in a quarter-hour purple patch, with substitute JJ Hutchinson restoring parity five minutes from time.

But a 50-metre Michael O’Regan free two minutes later, followed by an injury-time point struck by substitute Adrian Flynn ensured David Power’s team remain in the hunt for an instant return to Division Three.

Waterford: S Enright; T O hUallacháin, M O'Gorman, J McGrath; B Looby, S Prendergast (0-1), R O'Ceallaigh; T Prendergast, C Prunty; G Crotty, D Breathnach, P Hurney; M Curry, J Veale, P Whyte (0-9; 0-7f, 0-1 45). Subs: M O'Halloran for R O'Ceallaigh (50), P Crowley for J McGrath, S Corcoran for J Veale (63), JJ Hutchinson (0-1) for P Hurney (63).

Wexford: A Masterson; R Vallejo, N Rossiter, J Wadding; B Malone, E Nolan, S Donohoe; S Byrne, D Waters; T Rossiter, B Brosnan (0-1), K Butler; D Shanley, (0-8, 0-4f) M O'Regan (0-1f), J Tubritt (0-1). Subs: A Flynn (0-1) for D Shanley (52), C Kehoe for S Byrne (58), K Rowe for K Butler (61), P Curtis for T Rossiter, R Tierney for R Vallejo (68).

Referee: Sean Hehir (Galway).

Antrim 1-11 London 0-11

Antrim required a late scoring burst at Ruislip to see off a battling London side and move top of Division Four.

The Saffrons trailed by one point midway through the second half but outscored their hosts by 0-5 to 0-1 in the final quarter to secure a fourth successive victory.

Kevin O’Boyle’s third-minute goal settled Antrim as they hit 1-3 without reply, but the scores dried up and London rallied.

Trailing 1-5 to 0-7 at the break, two points in three minutes from Lorcan Mulvey gave the Exiles the lead, but they managed just one point in the final 16 minutes.

James Laverty’s fisted point brought Antrim level and ended a 14-minute scoreless streak, before a quick-fire double from Conor Murray put them on course for victory.

Scorers – Antrim: T McCann 0-4 (3f), K O'Boyle 1-1, J Laverty, C Murray 0-2 each, P McBride, R Murray 0-1 each.

London: L Mulvey 0-5 (1f), A Moyles 0-4 (3f), E Murray, C Og Greene 0-1 each.

Antrim: C Kerr; C Burke, S McVeigh, J Laverty; R Johnson, N Delargy, K O'Boyle; J Carron, N McKeever; P McBride, C Murray, M Fitzpatrick; M McCann, T McCann, K Niblock. Subs: M Johnson for Burke (43), R Murray for McBride (45, BC), M Sweeney for Carron (50), D McAleese for McVeigh (58), M Armstrong for M McCann (70).

London: C Campbell; P Butler, C Dunne, D Quinn; D McGreevy, D Ryan, C Dunne; J Moran, M Gottsche; A Moyles, C Og Greene, L Gavaghan; S Hickey, E Murray, L Mulvey. Subs: D Moore for Hickey (ht), C Coyne for Quinn (43), A Dunne for Coyne (45, BC), A Hanlon for Moran (52), E Mageean for Hanlon (58, BC).

Referee: J Bermingham (Cork).

Carlow 0-17 Wicklow 0-14

Carlow came from a three point deficit at half time and losing talisman Brendan Murphy to a black card to win by three points over Wicklow. Darragh Foley finished the day with ten points in a very good individual performance.

Wicklow were the much better team in the first half and spurned a couple of goal chances but for twenty five minutes in the second half they were held to a single point. Carlow scored seven in that period.

It’s Carlow’s second victory in the League while Wicklow will look at this as a missed opportunity to make it three wins out of four.

Carlow: R Molloy; BJ Molloy, D St Ledger 0-01, K Nolan; G Kelly 0-01, D Hayden, B Kavanagh; Brendan Murphy 0-01, S Gannon; A Kelly, J Murphy 0-02, E Finnegan; Brian Murphy 0-01, D Foley 0-10 (five frees), C Blake. Subs: H Gahan for Brendan Murphy (33 mins, BC), G Power 0-01 for D Hayden (40 mins), D Murphy for B Kavanagh (62 mins), JJ Smith for J Murphy (69 mins), D O'Brien for C Blake (72 mins).

Wicklow: M Carey; A Murphy, R O'Brien, E Murtagh; J Crowe, S Kelly, C Murphy 0-01; D Healy, A McLoughlin; D Hayden 0-01, J McGrath 0-08 (six frees), M Kenny 0-03; P O'Connor, P Cunningham 0-01, M Lennon. Subs: N Gaffney for A McLoughlin (47 mins), K Murphy for C Murphy (53 mins), E Doyle for M Lennon (56 mins), M O'Connor for P O'Connor (61 mins), P McLoughlin for E Murtagh (69 mins).

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).

Leitrim 0-16 Louth 2-9

Leitrim handed a shock to Louth’s promotion ambitions with a deserved victory in a tense and exciting encounter at Pairc Sean MhicDiarmada,Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday.

A rejuvenated Leitrim produced an impressive display of pacy, free flowing football as Louth struggled in all sectors. Two early Leitrim points were cruelly punished by Ryan Burns six minutes in when the classy forward found himself in space but the Leitrim response was immediate scoring six points without reply between the 7th and 17th minute. The subsequent introduction of Conor Grimes, Gerard McSorley and James Calif was a game changer, yielding four points for the remainder of the half to leave the home side 0-11 to 1-4 ahead at the interval.

A deflected goal by Derek Maguire in the 38th minute reduced the arrears, but once again Leitrim responded in style registering four further points without reply, Louth came more into the game in the final ten minutes reducing the arrears to a single point as Leitrim tired but the home side held out to deservedly win their first League points.

Leitrim: B Flynn, R Gallagher, N Woods, M McWeeney, P Maguire, G Reynolds, S McWeeney, D Wrynn(0-2), S Moran(0-1), N O'Donnell, E Mulligan (0-7 4f), K Conlan(0-1f), J Rooney, R Kennedy(0-3 1f), A Croal(0-2). Subs: C Gaffney for N O'Donnell(61m).B Prior for R Gallagher(62m).C Gilheaney for A Croal(66m).M Murphy for S McWeeney(70m).M McWeeney 2nd Yellow Card (62m).

Louth: C Lynch,P Rath,P Reilly,K Toner,D Maguire (1-0),D McMahon,E Lafferty,D Byrne,J Stewart,J Bingham,R Holcroft,J McEneaney (0-2),A Reid,R Burns(1-4 3f),C McKeever. Subs: C Grimes for C McKeever(15m).G McSorley(0-1)for R Holcroft (20m).J Calif(0-1f) for J Bingham(23m).K McLaughlin(0-1f) for G Lafftery(49m).A Williams for J McEneaney B/C 63m.

Referee: N McKenna (Monaghhan).