28-5-18 GAELIC FOOTBALL
ULSTER FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERS
DERRY 0.16 2.16 DONEGAL
MC FADDEN AND
MULLAGAN KILL OFF GAME FOR DONEGAL
Jamie Brennan and McLoone, with a fine individual effort,
had Declan Bonner’s side four to the good by the time Mark Lynch got Derry off
the mark with an 11th minute free.
But seconds later, Murphy, heavily involved in all his
side’s offensive efforts, linked with Ryan McHugh to send marauding midfielder
McFadden in for a goal.
McBrearty knocked over a couple of points as they restored
the two points advantage, but Derry, with Sean Leo McGoldrick probing along the
left flank, and Enda Lynn using his pace along the right, got width into their
game and exposed weaknesses and uncertainty in the Donegal defence.
Emmet Bradley thumped over three points on the spin,
including a brilliant free from close to the sideline and a splendid effort
from play to get them to within reach.
But they couldn’t sustain the momentum, and Donegal reeled
off three late on, two of them from McBrearty, to lead by 1-10 to 0-7 at the
break.
Bradley added a couple more to his tally, but Shaun Patton’s
long, accurate kick-outs were highly effective in setting Donegal back on the
attack.
The loss of full-back Brendan Rogers was a further setback
for a Derry side struggling to contain an attack that had been fortified by
substitutes Cian Mulligan and Ciaran McGinley, as well as Odhran MacNiallais.
And in the 64th minute Daire O Baoill slipped a pass to
Mulligan, who gave goalkeeper Ben McKinless no chance with a rocket that opened
up an eight points lead.
MY OPINION
This game was more about the
goals than about anything else as Donegal showed their class against a Derry
side that just weren’t there on the day. But to win an All-Ireland Donegal must
show a sense of improvement as this will not be an easy task. I think Derry
will find it difficult in the qualifiers.
DOWN 1.18 0.14 ANTRIM
MC KERNAN MAKES NO
MISTAKE
Antrim were undone by kickout woes in the first half -
highlighted by Kevin McKernan's goal just before half-time which left Down 1-9
to 0-5 ahead.
McKernan was then black carded but Antrim could not exploit
his absence.
Down moved 10 ahead shortly before Antrim defender's Ricky
Johnston's 53rd-minute straight red card.
As Down eased off late on, Antrim reduced the margin but
this was another chastening championship outing for the Saffrons.
MY
OPINION
Antrim are the whopping boys of
ulster and you want to play them in the first round of the championship and you
know that it will make things easier. Down will be taking a few steps up as
they move into their semi final.
LEINSTER FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERS
LAOIS 4.13 1.12
WESTMEATH
KING KINGSTION KILL OFF WESTMEATH
The brilliance of Paul Kingston lit up this tie as he fired
in three second half goals, including two stunning finishes from almost the
same spot some 15 metres out from goal, while Evan O’Carroll came off the bench
to stamp his name on the contest, producing two sumptuous finishes to put 1-1
to his name.
Kieran Lillis got on a world of ball in his role as the
hard-working midfielder, while John O’Loughlin ruled the skies, claiming
several first half marks to put Westmeath on the back foot.
Just a point apiece was added in the ten minutes after
half-time however, and with Westmeath starting to get nervous in the face of
the relentless ticking of the clock, Paul Kingston was able to find space, pick
up a pass from Colm Begley and blast the ball to the roof of the Lake County
net from 15 metres out.
Four minutes later he added a second, and Laois should have
had a third when he ran in and set up Benny Carroll, but Carroll was adjudged
to have thrown rather than palmed the ball into the net while standing at the
far post.
It looked as if Laois might pay for that error when Finbar
Coyne kicked two nice points and then a scrappy Mark McCallon goal cut the gap
to four points, but Kingston produced another stunning finish to stretch the
lead once more, and the tie was well and truly settled when Evan O’Carroll
added his late cameo.
MY
OPINION
I was surprised in the clinical
measure that Laois were able to beat Westmeath and the way that they could rely
on one player to do it. If they can do this in the semi they might have a
chance in the final but the way this championship is running anything can
happen.
KILDARE 1.10 2.14
CARLOW
BRODERICK WAS UNSTOPPABLE FROM THE TEE
It was a remarkable performance by Carlow with Paul
Broderick kicking ten points throughout in a game where they didn’t shoot a
single wide.
For Kildare it's hard to know where they turn now as they
continue their winless run having not won a competitive game since last June.
Broderick extended the lead for the Barrowsiders with a free
before Kildare went into the lead for the first time in the 6th minute when a
dropping Cribbin shot came back off the chest of Robbie Molloy in goal and
Daniel Flynn was there like a light to palm to the net.
Carlow weren’t down for long though and five minutes later
they had a goal of their own and like Kildare’s it was quite fortuitous as a
long range free from Daniel St Ledger evaded everyone including Mark Donnellan
and found its way to the net.
Broderick got another free before corner back Conor Lawler
put the icing on the cake when he got forward for a late goal as Carlow secured
a famous win.
MY
OPINION
For me Kildare were the only
team that could compete with Dublin in this year’s Leinster championship and
they go down like this. They will have to go back to square one to see what exactly
is needed to change if they are to reach the super 8s
LONGFORD 0.16 0.14
MEATH
GALLANT GALLAGHER
The sides were level on seven occasions in the first half,
the heavy summer's afternoon making the game flat with energy conservation the
aim of the day.
Reilly did manage a brace either side of a James McGivney
goal chance - he blazed it over the bar.
Paddy Collum, yet another goalkeeper to get on the scoring
act, stroked over a 45.
Robbie Smyth, on the back a game defining turnover from
Quinn on Reilly, put Longford four ahead. When Conor Berry’s shot from distance
bounced over the bar to make it five points between the sides soon after, the
outcome was never in doubt.
MY
OPINION
Meath seemed to go into their
shells and allow Longford to do whatever it was that Longford wanted to do but
they will always be a threat. I thought that this could have been a draw at
different parts of the first half but Longford’s showed that they could be a
shock team going forward.
DUBLIN 4.25 1.11
WICKLOW
KILLER KILKENNY
Brian Fenton and Dean Rock scored those early goals and two
more Dublin majors before half-time, from Ciaran Kilkenny and Con O'Callaghan,
left 18 between them at the interval.
Kilkenny was superb and finished with 1-07 while Fenton
lorded it at midfield, contributing 1-03, though Dublin were on top in all
sectors.
MY
OPINION
Dublin are in a league of their
own in Leinster and it just would be interesting to who can threaten them. Winning
the Leinster Championship must be considered a minimum requirement for them as
they look so strong.
MUNSTER FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI
CORK 1.17 0.09 TIPARARY
CONOLLY AND O NEILL
DO DAMAGE FOR CORK
Sean White doubled Cork’s lead before former All Star
Michael Quinlivan finally opened Tipperary’s account in the tenth minute.
The Clonmel Commericals clubman was looking dangerous and
two minutes later he turned full back Jamie O’Sullivan before he forced a good
save from goalkeeper Mark White.
. When Liam McGrath scored in the 22nd minute, Tipperary
were level but they wouldn’t score again until he did, with one minute of
normal time remaining in the first-half.
Connolly scored the first point of the second-half too and
Cork were on their way, with Collins and Connolly again pushing them into a
1-11 to 0-04 lead.
Tipperary lost their captain Robbie Kiely to a dead leg, but
to their credit they rallied with points from McGrath (two), Liam Boland and
Philip Austin.
But once Connolly scored his ninth point, a free in the
62ndminute, Cork retained their confidence and cruised to a big victory, while
Tipperary had Jack Kennedy black carded at the death.
MY
OPINION
How long does it take for a team
to develop? This tip team should be competing with sides like Cork and Kerry
now after their u21 exploits of recent seasons. I think that there are problems
within the squad in some way shape or form and I think Tip do deserve a run
soon but this might be a team where not having more experienced players in the
team could kill them.
CONNACHT FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIS
LETRIM 0.10 0.24 ROSCMMON
MIGHTY MURTUGH
Aided by a strong wind in the first-half Roscommon would
have been thrilled to go in 0-09 to 0-02 ahead at the interval, but the home
side will no doubt have been dismayed that they failed to build on a decent start
at Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.
Some patient play from Leitrim allowed Keith Beirne to kick
the first score of the game, but after four minutes Jack Heslin was denied by a
smart save on the Roscommon line, which would have give Benny Guckian’s side a
significant lift.
After that missed goal chance, Leitrim soon found themselves
behind as Diarmuid Murtagh scored twice, and although Beirne responded with a
free to level matters Leitrim failed to score again for the rest of the half.
Indeed only for a fine Diarmuid McKiernan save Smith’s shot
would have delivered a goal rather than the point.
But Roscommon too had power hitters to arrive, and Cregg
landed four from play, while Shane Killoran also split the posts to secure the
win.
MY
OPINION
Roscommon are a few steps ahead
of Leitrim and would be a team that any team would want to play. I think that
Roscommon have learned very little from this match while Leitrim again.
Learning that Leitrim have to move forward very quickly.
QUALIFIERS DRAW
Derry v Kildare
Meath v Tyrone
London v Louth
Wicklow v Cavan
Offaly v Antrim
Limerick v Mayo
Westmeath v Armagh
Wexford v Waterford
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