ALLANZ HURLING LEAGUE
It was Championship fare in winter conditions at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, with the Cats striking late to beat Tipperary and earn a vital win in their battle to avoid a relegation playoff.
An injury time point for Richie Leahy was enough to see them over the line against the Premier, on a scoreline of 2-22 to 2-21 at Nowlan Park.
Kilkenny led by one at the break, before Walter Walsh and Luke Scanlon both found the net early in the second half. Tipp roared back into life through Michael Breen who scored two goals in four minutes (an eventual total of 2-9), taking a two point lead, but the Cats clung their way back into the game, Leahy pointing the winner in time added on.
Kilkenny have been replaced in the bottom two by Cork, who saw Seamus Harnedy sent off in the first half of their 1-20 to 1-15 defeat to Waterford, the Deise registering their first win of the campaign.
The Rebels travel to Tipperary for next week’s final round of regular-season games, while Waterford will host Clare, who surrendered top spot to Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford today, on a scoreline of 20 points to 1-13.
Clare had led by 8 points to 7 at the break, but a powerful second half for the home side saw them defeat the Banner, and overtake them at the top on points difference.
Meanwhile in Division 1B, reigning league and All-Ireland champions Galway will host Limerick in a winner-takes-all promotion clash next Sunday, after they both maintained their 100 percent records.
Limerick lead Galway in the table on points difference, cruising to a 3-21 to 13 points win against Antrim, who are guaranteed to be in the relegation playoff. Aaron Gillane, Graeme Mulcahy and Oisin O’Reilly all found the net for John Kiely’s side, who know a draw or better will see them end their eight-year spell in the second tier.
Galway earned their fourth win from four games with a comfortable 1-20 to 1-14 victory against Dublin, who know they will need to beat Laois next week, in order to avoid the relegation playoff against Antrim.
The Tribesmen led from start to finish against Pat Gilroy’s side, Jason Flynn hitting an impressive 1-9. However, Dublin will take some solace from their performance. A disastrous start saw them trail by 9 points to 2 during the first half, but they rallied to cut the gap to two at one stage, before Flynn’s goal killed the game off.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Galway’s flying form continued in Division 1, joining Dublin at the top of the table, with their fourth win from four games.
Kevin Walsh’s side inflicted a second defeat in successive games on Kerry, beating the Kingdom 1-14 to 14 points in Tralee, with Eamonn Brannigan’s stunning individual goal proving the difference between the sides.
Towards the foot of the table, Donegal have their first victory, climbing out of the relegation zone with a 1-15 to 3-7 win against Kildare.
Ryan McHugh’s goal helped Donegal to their first win of the campaign, and sees them leapfrog both Mayo and Tyrone into fifth place.
Kildare remain bottom with four defeats from four, the prospect of relegation back to Division 2 become more and more real.
Cavan could be set for an immediate return to Division 1, they earned a 14 points to 11 win against Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, sending them top of the Division 2 table.
They sit just above Roscommon in the standings, with Kevin McStay’s side cruising to a 1-21 to 12 point victory against bottom side Louth, who have lost all four of their games this season.
Clare are out of the bottom two, with a 1-12 to 1-11 win against Down.
In Division 3, Armagh joined Fermanagh at the top of the table, beating bottom of the table Offaly by 1-15 to 1-9. Longford and Westmeath both remain in the hunt for promotion though, earning their third wins from four game. Longford saw off relegation-threatened Wexford 1-12 to 0-9, while Westmeath earned a controlled victory against Sligo, 20 points to 14.
Division 4 leaders Carlow have been joined at the top of the table by Laois, who maintained their 100 percent record by beating Wicklow 1-16 to 10 points. Antrim are just one point further back from the promotion places, winning away to London 17 points to 13. Limerick have fallen to the bottom of the table, losing 2-18 to 1-9 away to Leitrim, who move out of the bottom two.
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