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Darcy’s heroics help Dubs tie with Galway

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Mark Jones

There was no resolution of the tussle for National Football League playoff places as Dublin and Galway played out an exhilarating 0-15 to 1-12 draw Sunday at a packed Parnell Park.

Dublin now have to travel to Cork in their last game in Div. 1A needing at least a point to make the knockout stages, while Galway will be looking to avoid relegation by getting the better of Offaly.

If there is still plenty of work to do, the All-Ireland champions’ manager, John O’Mahony, wasn’t showing the strain after a superb points from a line ball by Declan Darcy deprived Galway of victory.

"For 20 minutes we played great football," O’Mahony said. "We know we have to win the last match to stay up, but we look like we’re going in the right direction."

The most exciting and skillful contest in the competition to date got off to a rip-roaring start when Michael Donnellan created a goal for Niall Finnegan in the second minute. Gradually, Dublin composed themselves and with Dessie Farrell giving Gary Fahy a torrid time, they had drawn level 10 minutes before the break.

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By now, the impressive Darcy was in full flow, picking off five points to give Dublin an interval lead of 0-9 to 1-4. They maintained that supremacy with Paul Curran timing his runs from defense brilliantly and going into the final quarter, Galway looked to be in serious trouble.

But suddenly their attack emerged. Derek Savage, Michael O Collarain, Finnegan and Donnellan all combined smoothly to hit seven points to Dublin’s one in a spell of complete dominance.

Defeat for Dublin after such a promising performance would have been cruel, but there were a few Doubting Thomases when Darcy went for the equalizing point from the sideline.

"I wasn’t sure what he was up to," Dublin’s manager, Tom Carr, said. Thankfully for the Dubs, Darcy did.

Tyrone 0-8. Cork 0-6

Tyrone moved up to pole position alongside Dublin when they ground out a 0-8 to 0-6 victory over Cork at Dungannon. The game, which leaves Cork in third place a point behind the joint leaders, prompted some strong criticism of the referee by manager Larry Tompkins.

"I thought he was a disgrace," a furious Tompkins said. "I couldn’t understand many of his decisions." Tompkins also professed himself mystified at the sending off of Padraig O’Mahony for a second bookable offense.

Cork’s frustration was only compounded by a disappointing display that saw them lose ground in the race for the playoffs. With Peter Canavan in good form, Tyrone held the upper hand and were comfortable winners in the end despite the loss of Gerard Cavlan, who like O’Mahony was sent off for two yellow cards.

Offaly 1-7, Donegal 0-8

Offaly eased their relegation worries with a hard-fought 1-7 to 0-8 victory over Donegal at Tullamore. Having had to recently endure a tongue-lashing by manager Tommy Lyons, the Offaly players responded with a battling performance.

Vinny Claffey’s second-half goal proved to be the decisive score after Donegal had looked by some way the sharper combination in the opening stages. Brian Roper, John Duffy and Tony Boyle gave the Offaly defense the run-around for a while. However, the Ulstermen soon ran out of steam.

"We got what we deserved. Nothing," muttered manager Declan Bonner.

Monaghan 0-10, Kildare 0-5

In Div. 1B, Kildare slumped to a shock 0-10 to 0-5 defeat at the hands of Monaghan at Newbridge. Needing only a point to secure qualification for the quarterfinals, Kildare lost the plot in what was their first competitive setback since last September’s All-Ireland final.

Once Joe Coyle and Frank McEneaney took charge of midfield, Monaghan were looking good. Damien Freeman punished indiscipline in the Kildare defense with six frees, and while the home team were hit by injuries to Brian Lacey and Willie McCreery, there was no doubting the merits of Monaghan’s win.

Mayo 1-8, Meath 2-3

Mayo put themselves in line for the playoffs when they battled back from a 7-point deficit to get the better of Meath by 1-8 to 2-3 at Crossmolina.

The post-mortem will go on in Meath for a few days yet. They had rattled up 2-3 with goals from Jimmy McGuinness and Ollie Murphy inside the first 15 minutes, but, incredibly, they failed to score during the remainder of the action.

Mayo worked their way back into contention with Maurice Sheridan kicking four points and when James Nallen set John Casey up for a well-taken goal 10 minutes from time, there was no stopping the eventual winners.

Derry 1-16, Down 0-5

Any lingering hopes of Down making the knockout stages were well and truly dashed as Derry handed their Ulster rivals a 1-16 to 0-5 drubbing at Celtic Park.

Playing with a strong breeze at their backs were 11 points ahead at the break. Joe Brolly finished with 1-4 as Down failed to score from play throughout the hour.

Clare 2-9, Laois 0-9

Laois were relegated when they were comprehensively beaten 2-9 to 0-9 by a hungrier Clare side at Portlaoise. Denis Russell and Ger Keane scored the vital goals before Barry Keating of Clare and then Declan Rooney of Laois were both sent off.

Other Games

While Kerry and Wicklow both stayed on the promotion trail from Div. 2, Roscommon virtually assured themselves of a spot in Division 1 next season with a crucial win over Westmeath. All three counties are now level on 12 points at the top of the table.

Kerry crushed London by 3-14 to 0-4 at Ruislip and Wicklow predictably were much too strong for Kilkenny easing through by 1-16 to 0-3 at Aughrim, but Roscommon’s 1-7 to 1-6 victory at Hyde Park was the most significant result of the day.

Set to meet pointless Kilkenny in their final game, Roscommon now look certainties for promotion. However, Wicklow and Kerry must do battle to settle the remaining place.

Elsewhere, Louth defeated Antrim by 1-17 to 1-8.

In Div. 2B, Sligo moved a step nearer promotion with a 2-12 to 0-9 win over Longford at Pearse Park. Sligo need now to beat Tipperary in their final home match. Wexford also kept their hopes alive with a 3-13 to 1-8 demolition of Carlow at New Ross and Fermanagh took the points by beating Waterford by 2-9 to 0-8. Cavan ended a three-match losing sequence with a 0-12 to 0-8 success against Tipperary.

A superb scoring performance by Alastair Elliott ensured Antrim of a 2-14 to 2-9 win over Kerry in the only National Hurling League game played last weekend. Elliott hit an impressive 1-11 as Antrim registered a second victory in Div. 1A.

Joe Deane was also on target with a 10-point haul as Cork won the Oireachtas title with a 0-15 to 0-10 success against Galway at Pairc Ui Rinn.

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