Sligo, Kildare, Down cruise big wins
NIALL MURPHY starred for
Sligo as they made an emphatic statement of their Tailteann Cup ambitions with a 16-point win over Tipperary in Thurles.
Murphy was exceptional, racking up 2-6 as the Yeats men won on a 3-22 to 1-12 scoreline.
Sean Carrabine was the other Sligo goalscorer, while Stephen Grogan got a consolation goal for Tipperary in injury time.
Kildare continued their rehabilitation after a disastrous year with the expected thrashing of Waterford in Fraher Field.
They won by 24 points, 5-15 to 0-6, with all five goals coming in the second half. Shane O’Sullivan scored two, supplemented by strikes from Paddy Woodgate,
Niall Kelly, and Kevin Flynn.
Limerick improved their fortunes in the competition, rebounding from a heavy loss last weekend to prove too good for Offaly in Rathkeale, winning 2-10 to 0-8.
Offaly, chastened by a heavy loss to London last week, were competitive for stretches of this game, and it required two secondhalf goals from Emmet Rigter to ease Jimmy Lee’s men clear in this contest.
Limerick had found Down far too good in Newry a week ago, but this was a competent effort.
A Conor McShea goal proved decisive in Fermanagh’s tight win over Carlow in Dr Cullen Park. Fermanagh won out on a 1-13 to 0-13 scoreline, but Carlow matched them score for score throughout.
McShea’s goal, three minutes before half time, came after Carlow had actually taken a twopoint lead, but that three-pointer was the difference.
Antrim held on to win by a point in an entertaining clash with Wexford in Wexford Park, 1-15 to 0-17.
Ruairí McCann had starred last week for Antrim, and he was on hand to record an early goal, with Ryan McQuillan also superb as they remain on course to match last year’s effort at least, when they got to the last-four of the Tailteann Cup.
Down emerged from Ruislip with the expected win, coming out on top against London easily with a 1-24 to 0-10 win, strengthening their status as favourites for the competition.