Kerry topple Dublin

Kerry took the points by 1-12 to 0-12 and registered a second victory in Div. 1A, but this was far from vintage fare.
There were little or no memories of those momentous clashes of the 1970s for the 9,000 spectators, more confusion as to how Dublin could be leading by 6 at the interval and then lose by 3. It was more sporting schizophrenia from Tommy Lyons’s players who were forceful and accurate during the first half and then woefully ineffective in the second.
With the excellent Conal Keaney scoring 5 points, including 4 from play, Dublin were in front by 0-9 to 0-3 at the changeover, but with Seamus Moynihan driving forward from defense and with Declan O’Sullivan picking off important scores, Kerry quickly closed the gap and when Mike Frank Russell drove home a penalty after O’Sullivan was fouled, Dublin were in trouble.

TYRONE 3-15, LONGFORD 0-9
Longford’s attempt to notch up a third win in succession was comprehensively foiled by Tyrone at Pearse Park. If Longford found their level following a vibrant start to the campaign, it was the All-Ireland champions who caught the eye with a performance that augurs well for the rest of the year.
In control for much of the game, Tyrone led by 1-14 to 0-9 on the hour mark, but they then proceeded to kill off their opponents with two quick goals by Kevin Hughes and Sean Cavanagh.
“If you’re going to lose like that,” reflected Longford manager, “then this is the time of year to do it when there’s time to correct it.”

CORK 2-9, MAYO 0-10
Mayo were looking to preserve an unbeaten record, while Cork were desperate for a first success of the season at Pairc Ui Rinn. Cork’s need proved that much greater as they took the points. With Austin O’Malley kicking 0-5 for Mayo and with the lively Trevor Mortimer adding 4 from play, the winners were always under pressure until substitute Colin Corkery blasted home his side’s second goal in the 52nd minute.

WESTMEATH 1-9, FERMANAGH 0-12
Westmeath blew their opportunity of a first win when they drew with Fermanagh at Brewster Park. Ahead by 5 points well into the second half, Westmeath lost their momentum when Stephen Maguire drove home a goal for Fermanagh, which didn’t please manager Paidi O Se. “That’s the type of football we’ve been playing since the start of the league,” he said. “If we go 3 or 4 points up, we concede as many scores just as easily and that’s very worrying.”

DIV. 1B
LIMERICK 2-10, WEXFORD 1-9
With Tyrone, Mayo, Kerry and Longford all on four points at the top of Div. 1A, the picture is much clearer in 1B, where Limerick are leaders with maximum points from their three games. Their victory over Wexford at the Gaelic Grounds was not without its difficult moments as a 10-point advantage was whittled back to just 4 in the closing stages.
Goals by Eoin Keating and Maurice Horan as well as 5 points from Muiris Gavin had Limerick on course, but Matty Forde responded with a goal for Wexford and then inspired a revival with a hat trick of points.

ARMAGH 1-14, LAOIS 2-8
Like Tyrone, Armagh got back to winning ways with a narrow verdict over Laois at Crossmaglen. Ahead by 12 points at one stage and stabilized by the introduction of Kieran McGeeney and Oisin McConville off the bench, Armagh lost their concentration for a period as Paul Lawlor and Joe Higgins struck for Laois goals.
The losers closed to within two points, but McConville eased the pressure with a couple of late scores, which meant that Mick O’Dwyer’s Leinster champions were consigned to a third successive defeat.

MEATH 2-11, CAVAN 0-12
Meath responded after last week’s surprise defeat by Wexford when two goals by Ray Magee paved the way to victory over Cavan at Navan. Magee struck twice in the first half to frustrate Cavan who squandered numerous chances are now, like Laois, pointless after their three outings.

SLIGO 1-11, GALWAY 1-11
Sligo missed the opportunity to stay level with Limerick at the top when Michael Donnellan’s late free earned Galway a draw at Markievicz Park. A Paul Taylor point looked to have earned Sligo a valuable win. However, Joe Bergin was fouled as he surged forward and Donnellan calmly converted the free.

DIV. 2
Donegal’s Brendan Devenney was the hero as his third goal in injury time inspired his side to a dramatic 3-6 to 1-11 victory over Monaghan at Ballyshannon. Monaghan, who had been the much the dominant team, still looked to have the win secured, but Stephen McDermott kicked a point to level the scores before John Gildea ran through to fire over the winner.
Donegal therefore stay level on 6 points with Roscommon, who defeated London by 2-12 to 2-7 at Ruislip, while Ciaran McManus’s late penalty gave Offaly a 2-9 to 1-11 win over Carlow at Dr. Cullen Park.
Meanwhile, in Div. 2B, Kildare kept their 100 percent record with a 0-13 to 0-8 success against Tipperary at Newbridge, and Wicklow stayed in touch a point behind after a 1-11 to 0-8 result against Louth at Ardee. Down got the better of Derry by 2-10 to 2-6 at Newcastle, but there was no luck for Waterford, who were edged out 1-16 to 3-8 by Antrim at Walsh Park.

HURLING
Newtownshandrum’s Ben O’Connor stole the show as his late free earned the Cork side a 1-16 to 0-19 draw with Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels in last Sunday’s riveting All-Ireland club hurling semifinal at Thurles.
Not alone did O’Connor keep his nerve to dispatch the crucial point, but he scored 10 in all with Dan O’Riordan clipping home the game’s only goal. Nigel Skehan was even more accurate for O’Loughlin Gaels as he accounted for 0-11 from placed balls. The replay is scheduled for the same venue on Saturday.
In the other semifinal, there was joy for Dunloy of Antrim, who overcame the challenge of Galway’s Portumna by 2-13 to 2-10 at Clones. Even though the contest was marred by a free-for-all involving players and officials at halftime, the lasting memory was of a magnificent sideline cut from near halfway by Paudie McMullan.