Monaghan’s time in top flight ends
AN INSPIRED Darragh Canavan brought the curtain down on Monaghan’s 10-year tenure as a top tier Allianz League team last night.
Despite a battling performance, Monaghan were undone by the brilliance of Canavan, who finished with 1-6 and whose stunning first-half goal, which he dispatched with a soccer-style half volley, was key to Tyrone’s 1-19 to 2-13 win, which could be enough to secure the Red Hand’s Division 1 status for next season.
But, inspired by veteran
Conor McManus who scored 0-6 and Killian Lavelle’s final quarter goal, it took an injury time save from Niall Morgan to deny Jack McCarron to seal the victory.
Donegal and Armagh confirmed their return to Division 1 after empathic wins over Kildare and Cavan last night.
Donegal, inspired by the excellent Peadar Mogan who scored five points, romped to a 0-17 to 1-8 win over Kildare at Dr Cullen Park; a result that sealed the Lilywhites demotion to Division 3.
Alex Beirne’s second-half goal brought Kildare within two points but Jim McGuinness’ charges killed off any chance of a comeback as they reeled off the last four points.
Meanwhile, first-half goals from Peter McGrane and a Conor Turbitt penalty saw Armagh ease to a 2-21 to 0-12 victory over Cavan.
Louth look primed to retain their Division 2 status after completing a stunning six-goal rout of fellow relegation candidates Fermangh at Ardee yesterday.
The Erne men went into the game one point ahead of Louth in the table but after a nightmare first half, they were crushed on a 6-17 to 0-11 scoreline.
Two goals from Sam Mulroy — the first after Fermanagh goalkeeper Ross Bogue was caught upfield — and strikes from corner-back Peter Lynch and Conor Grimes saw the home side cruise to a 4-6 to 0-6 half-time lead.
Further three-pointers followed from Ciaran Downey and Tom Jackson as Louth romped to an astonishing 24point win.
Cork secured their place in Division 2 for next season with a strong final-quarter comeback against Meath in Navan, beating the Royals on a 1-15 to 1-11 scoreline.
Cork trailed by three points after 56 minutes, but, aided by Stephen Sherlock, reeled off seven unanswered points in a result that is almost certain to secure their place in the Sam Maguire this summer.
Meanwhile, Clare will take their unlikely bid for promotion back to Division 2 to Newry next weekend, after seeing off Antrim by 0-15 to 0-12 in
Ennis.
Clare, though, had to hang on against the Ulster side, who had midfielder Colm McLarnon redcarded in the first half, as an eight-point lead was whittled down to three points in the final quarter.
Offaly eased their relegation worries with late points from Keith O’Neill and substitute Nigel Dunne as they earned a 110 to 0-13 draw with Sligo at Markievicz Park.
Meanwhile, Longford’s hopes of getting out of Division 4 remain in their own hands after a 0-14 to 0-8 win over Carlow at Pearse Park, a result which means that the losers will remain in the bottom tier next season.
Limerick were relegated to the bottom tier.
They lost their bottom-of-thetable clash to Wicklow — on a 0-9 to 0-9 scoreline in Aughrim.
And Leitrim will also go into the final round with a chance of going up after coming from five down to beat table-toppers Loais by 0-17 to 1-13, with
Barry McNulty kicking the winning score in Portlaoise.