Tribe put foot Down in NFL

PROMOTION favourites Galway did all the damage in the first half as they romped to a 0-9 to 1-12 Division Two win over Down last night.

Paul Conroy’s 1-2 from play in the opening 15 minutes with a strong wind at his back in Pairc Esler gave Galway a nice lead and they never looked back.

They were able to keep Down at arm’s length after that – although an inspired 10 minutes from Barry O’Hagan after the interval almost brought Down back into it.

He scored three of their four unanswered points, two from marks, and set up the other score for Cormac McCartan.

Galway responded well to Down’s mini-revival. Ex-Antrim player Owen Gallagher scored their first point in the second half in the 56th minute and they were able to draw the sting out of Down.

Shane Walsh steadied any nerves about a Down comeback with some late settling frees and sub Damian Comer also causing problems.

Elsewhere, two early goals for Limerick saw Antrim beaten 2-9 to 0-11 in Corrigan Park and in Division One Kerry hit an unanswered 1-8 before the break to beat Dublin 1-15 to 0-11 in Tralee

SNOOKER BY SHANE MacDERMOTT RECHARGED John Higgins has bounced back from a second bout of Covid and is ready to defend his Players Championship title.

The world No.6 heads to Wolverhampton’s Aldersley Leisure Village among the favourites to land the £125,000 top prize.

Scot Higgins, 46, has suffered heartbreak in four final defeats this season – but insisted: “I don’t care what anyone says, I feel a better player now than I’ve ever been.”