Mayo footballers stun Dublin

Still, Dublin boss Tommy Lyons is probably looking for divine inspiration more than anything else at the moment following Sunday’s crushing 1-10 to 0-3 loss to Mayo in Div. 1A of the National League.
On the back of a victory over Tyrone in the first series of games, Dublin traveled to Castlebar with genuine optimism, and despite a sluggish start, they managed to have 3 points on the board after 18 minutes. The problem was, they weren’t to score again. Ciaran Whelan, who was suffering from a stomach upset, was substituted at the interval, midfielder Darren Homan was then sent off, an ineffective Ray Cosgrove was also replaced, Tomas Quinn saw a late penalty come crashing back off the crossbar, and only the outstanding Paddy Christie emerged from the contest with any credit.
“I’m not great after that,” a disconsolate Lyons said. “No excuses, we didn’t get going at all, I can’t explain it.” As for Mayo, they were sharp and decisive, especially during the first half, and now share top spot in the division with Longford, who continued their good early season form.
With the experienced James Nallen and goal scorer Trevor Mortimer guiding the younger contingent, new players such as Ronan McGarritty, Brian Ruane and Austin O’Malley, who kicked seven points, made an impact.
“What’s this, early February?” manager John Maughan said “It’ll still be no surprise if Dublin finish with more points than us. I’m pleased, but let’s keep it in perspective.”

LONGFORD 2-12, WESTMEATH 1-13
Finding it a little harder to keep things in perspective are unheralded Longford, who followed their historic success against Kerry with a 2-12 to 1-13 win over Westmeath at Cusack Park, where the home team failed to build on a 5-point lead just before the break.
It was a no-frills encounter with Longford holding on despite the dismissals of Cathal Conefrey and David Barden in the closing stages, while earlier Westmeath’s Rory O’Connell was also sent off. With Dessie Dolan coming off the bench to kick 6 points and with Martin Flanagan converting a penalty, Westmeath were in control during the first half, but Longford’s fitness told as the Barden brothers, Paul and David, each scored a goal, while Padraic Davis added four frees.

KERRY 0-11, CORK 0-9
Kerry put their first points of the campaign on the board with a bruising 0-11 to 0-9 victory over Cork in Tralee last Saturday. Kerry dominated the second half, scoring 9 points to 2, but a tempestuous clash may now have to be investigated by the GAA after Kerry’s Paul Galvin was allegedly punched by a Cork player as the teams made their way off the pitch.
Playing with the breeze, Cork’s 0-7 to 0-2 interval advantage never looked likely to be enough, and so it was as Kerry picked up the pace. The winners’ Seamus Scanlon and Padraig Griffin of Cork were both sent off in that first half, but with Seamus Moynihan and Dara O Cinneide both highly influential, new manager Jack O’Connor was soon able to reflect on his first competitive success.

TYRONE -29, FERMANAGH 0-10
Without ever performing with the luster of All-Ireland champions, Tyrone secured a first league victory of the season when they got the better of Fermanagh by 2-9 to 0-10 at Omagh. Mark Harte was scorer in chief for Tyrone with 1-4. However, it was a late goal from Colm McCullagh that broke Fermanagh’s spirit.

Div. 1B
WEXFORD 0-10, MEATH 1-5
Wexford didn’t exactly carve out a result of monumental proportions when they defeated Meath by 0-10 to 1-5 at Wexford Park. However, it was still a win to savor for manager Pat Roe and his players. Inspired by Matty Forde, who kicked 5 points, they were by some way the better side and should really have won more comfortably if several chances hadn’t been squandered.
“We did lack that killer instinct; we had Meath on the rack and I’d say we missed 1-5 in clear-cut chances,” Roe said.
As for Meath, who rotated a number of players following their opening success against Galway, there were still plenty of smiles. “I felt that we were not as far along as some people thought we were,” said Sean Boylan, “and it’s still a learning graph for a lot of those lads.”

GALWAY 0-16, ARMAGH 0-8
There were positive signs emanating from Galway as John O’Mahony’s players comprehensively defeated Armagh, 0-16 to 0-8, at Pearse Stadium. With Kevin Walsh and Tommie Joyce in excellent form, and with Michael Donnellan looking sharp, the home team were always in control with Nicky Joyce helping himself to 5 points.
Armagh were a major disappointment. “We made some schoolboy mistakes out there,” manager Joe Kernan said. “We needed leaders, but we didn’t have them. Some of the boys have to take a long hard look at themselves.”
For a game that was never violent, there was still enough fouling for the Armagh pair of Steven McDonnell and Paddy McKeever, as well as Galway’s Michael Comer, to be sent off for second bookable offenses.

LIMERICK 0-11, CAVAN 0-7
Limerick took advantage when the Cavan pair of Pearse McKenna and Anthony Forde were sent off in the second half to take the points at Kingscourt by 0-11 to 0-7. This second win means that Limerick are joint top-of-the-table with Sligo and they owe much of that to Muiris Gavin’s accurate freetaking. Gavin landed 6 points, while Maurice Horan added 3 from play.

SLIGO 2-6, LAOIS 0-8
Sligo maintained their good form with a 2-6 to 0-8 win over a disappointing Laois side at Portlaoise. A 2-3 scoring performance by Paul Taylor — both goals coming from penalties — was a major factor, while Sean Davey was highly impressive in midfield.

OTHER GAMES
In Div. 2A, Donegal notched up a second win by emphasizing their superiority over Leitrim during the second half at Cloone. It finished 2-10 to 1-5 in the Ulster county’s favor with Brendan Devenney and Adrian Sweeney each scoring a goal. Also, Roscommon went to the top of the division, along with Donegal, following their convincing 0-17 to 1-9 success against Carlow at Hyde Park. The Freeman brothers, Damien and Tom, shared three goals in Monaghan’s 4-9 to 1-12 victory over Clare at Clones. London are still without a point after their 1-13 to 1-8 defeat by Offaly at Tullamore.
Meanwhile, Kildare lead the way in Div. 2B after a somewhat lucky 1-10 to 1-8 victory against Antrim at Casement Park. Wicklow’s 1-5 to 0-8 draw with Down at Aughrim keeps them in joint second place with Tipperary, for whom Declan Browne kicked 12 points, including eight from play, after their 0-17 to 1-8 success over Waterford at Clonmel. Derry secured their first win with a comfortable 0-21 to 1-7 result over Louth at Celtic Park.

HURLING
UCD 2-16, KILKENNY 0-5
The students of University College Dublin sprung a surprise when they hammered an admittedly understrength Kilkenny by 2-16 to 0-5 in the Walsh Cup final at Nowlan Park. Kilkenny fielded just one member of their All-Ireland-winning team, but with goals from John O’Connor and Brendan Murphy, UCD still celebrated becoming the first non-county side to win the competition since its inception in 1954.
Also, Wicklow’s attempt to lift the Kehoe Cup for a fourth season in a row came unstuck when they were well beaten 1-15 to 0-11 by Meath in last Sunday’s final at Navan.