GARY WALSH GRABBED two goals for Laois in their 3-9 to 1-10 win against Mickey Harte’s Louth in Division 3.  Bouncing back from their O’Byrne Cup loss to Dublin, Billy Sheehan’s men hit goals at the start of the second-half through Walsh and Sean O’Flynn to set them on their way. A two-point half-time lead was transformed into an 3-7 to 0-8 advantage after their unanswered 2-3. Advertisement Westmeath also enjoyed a good start to the third tier by seeing off Wicklow by 1-16 to 2-8 in TEG Cusack Park.  First-half goals from Darragh Fitzgerald and Eoin Darcy propelled the Garden County three points in front at the interval but a goal from Sam McCartan and…

Roscommon 1-13 Cork 0-10 Kevin Egan reports from Dr Hyde Park A DOMINANT DISPLAY by the Smith brothers along the spine of the attack gave Roscommon a measure of leadership and penetration that was sorely lacking from their Cork opponents this afternoon in the Hyde, as the Rossies cruised to a victory that was far more comfortable than the six-point winning margin would suggest. Roscommon’s Enda Smith and Cork’s Brian Hurley. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO Enda and Donie combined to score 1-9 between them, with their Boyle club colleague Cian McKeon firing over three of the other four, but they were also representative of Roscommon’s control of all the key battles…

Mayo 0-11 Donegal 0-11 Colm Gannon reports from Markievicz Park ROB HENNELLY WAS the hero for Mayo kicking last second injury time free to earn Mayo a draw against Donegal in Sligo. Donegal were by far the better side in the first half going in leading by 0-7 to 0-3 at the half time whistle and were looking in compete control of the game, with Michael Murphy and Michael Langan putting in strong showings. Points from Patrick McBrearty and Murphy had them two to the good inside five minutes. Ryan O’Donoghue got Mayo moving with a pointed free three minutes later. But Donegal reeled off three on bounce with Murphy,…

Clare 1-13 Offaly 0-7 Paraic McMahon reports from Cusack Park COLM COLLINS BEGAN his ninth National League campaign as Clare senior football boss by overseeing a nine point win over Offaly. Played in front of an attendance of 825, Clare got their Division 2 campaign off to a winning start deservedly seeing off the Faithful County on Sunday afternoon to collect a valuable two points. Offaly boss, John Maughan who famously managed the Clare footballers to Munster SFC glory in 1992 returned to Cusack Park for the tie. During the outing, three members of the All-Ireland winning Offaly side of 2021, Lee Pearson, Cormac Egan and Jack Bryant featured in…

Galway 1-14 Meath 0-6 John Fallon reports from Pearse Stadium PADRAIC JOYCE’S GALWAY got their Division 2 campaign off to the best possible start against a Meath team who did not get their first score until the 45th minute of a one-sided contest at Pearse Stadium. There was no way back for Andy McEntee’s men when they had the elements behind them after the restart and they will look to respond after this demoralising defeat next weekend when they host Roscommon. Meath won the toss and opted to play against the strong wind and rain and found themselves 1-9 to 0-0 adrift at the interval, with just four wides to…

Kerry 1-10 Kildare 0-13 ENTHUSIASM FOR JANUARY football was on evidence today in Newbridge with a bumper crowd that sparked a 15-minute delay to the throw-in. Jimmy Hyland scores the free that levels the game for Kildare. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO The home fans were rewarded for their eagerness to witness live action as their Kildare team performed with commendable second-half spirit at St Conleth’s Park, firing the last four points of the game to drag Kerry into a draw. Jimmy Hyland knocked over the injury-time free that restored parity for Glenn Ryan’s men on an overcast afternoon with their defence resolute in the final passages of play as Kerry chased…

KILCOO COACH CONLEITH Gilligan felt Aidan Branagan was harshly sent-off in the dramatic conclusion to normal time in yesterday’s All-Ireland club semi-final. Kilcoo ran out five-point winners over Cork and Munster champions St Finbarr’s, but needed extra-time before they shook off the determined challenge of their opponents in Portlaoise. Click Here: In normal time Kilcoo had a chance to win the game when Paul Devlin sized up a free but the decision was overturned by referee Brendan Cawley after an incident involving Branagan, who was subsequently sent-off, and St Finbarr’s Adam Lyne. “Look it’s very hard to make a call on it because you seen it in normal time and…

DERRY CAME OUT on top of a scrappy encounter with Down in Division 2 of the Allianz National Football League, Rory Gallagher’s side beating their Ulster rivals 1-10 to 0-6 in Owenbeg this evening. Niall Loughlin supplied the only goal of the game midway through the first half, with the hosts leading 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time. And Derry held out in a tight second period, Gallagher’s side finishing with nine different scorers, while Andrew Gilmore top-scored for Down with 0-3. In Division 3, Limerick survived a late rally from Longford to get their National League campaign off to a winning start, winning 4-9 to 1-11 at the Gaelic Grounds.…

Kilmacud Crokes 1-11 Pádraig Pearses 0-8 Kevin Egan reports from Kingspan Breffni Park KILMACUD CROKES WILL face Kilcoo in the AIB All-Ireland senior club football final in a fortnight’s time as a strong finish helped them overcome the challenge of first-time semi-finalists Pádraig Pearses at Kingspan Breffni Park this evening. Crokes fired over the final five points of the game after a strong third quarter from the Roscommon side left them well-positioned to challenge before the late flurry of scores. On four separate occasions, Pádraig Pearses cut their deficit back to a point in the second half but every time Kilmacud Crokes were able to conjure a response. The Dublin side…

OLIVIA DIVILLY DROVE Kilkerrin-Clonberne to their first ever currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Senior club title following a stunning four-point win over Mourneabbey in St Brendan’s Park, Birr. The Connacht champions are also the first team from Galway to get their hands on the Dolores Tyrell Cup since Galway Gaels in 1982. Chloe Miskell’s 12th minute wonder goal gave them a lead they never relinquished and scores from Olivia Divilly, Louise Ward and Eva Noone helped avenge the heartache of defeat to the same opponents in 2019. Doireann O’Sullivan opened the scoring for the reigning champions from a free on five minutes before a foul on Ailish Morrissey resulted in Eva Noone hitting…