Allianz Football League Division Three and Four Round-Up

by Declan Rooney

Allianz Football League Division Three

Sligo 1-16 Wexford 1-13

Cathal Corey claimed his first league win as Sligo manager as the Yeats men inflicted a second loss of the competition on Wexford at Markievicz Park.

Sligo got to a brilliant start with Adrian Marren and Patrick O’Connor on target, and when Niall Murphy fired a great goal for the home side they led 1-5 to 0-1 after 22 minutes. But a run of four points in a row meant Wexford only trailed 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time, which was scant reward for Sligo’s impressive start. A bright start to the second period saw Sligo pull six points clear, but Cathal Deveraux hit a Wexford goal to trim that advantage, but with Stephen Coen in form Sligo held on to win.

**Longford 1-13 Derry 1-6 **

Longford remain unbeaten in the third tier after their seven-point win over Derry at Glennon Brothers Parse Park.

After falling behind early on, Longford surged clear thanks to points from Darren Gallagher, Donal McElligott, Rian Brady (2) and James McGiveny, but Enda Lynn’s goal on the half-hour mark brought Derry back in touch and they only trailed by two at the interval.

But Michael Quinn’s goal five minutes after the break was key for Longford, who ran out 1-13 to 1-6 winners.

Fermanagh 2-11 Offaly 1-6

It’s two wins from two for Fermanagh as two first-half goals helped them to the triumph over Offaly at Brewster Park.

Sean Quigley and Anton Sullivan exchanged scores early on, but Fermanagh took a five-point lead when Conall Jones goaled after 15 minutes. There was a brief rally from Offaly, but the home side claimed goal number two from Aidan Breen ten minutes from the interval, which saw them lead by eight at half-time.

Michael Brazil got Offaly back in touch with a goal early in the second-half, but Kane Connor and Ryan Lyons kicked the insurance points for Fermanagh.

Westmeath 1-11 Armagh 2-17

Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh remain unbeaten after a convincing win over Westmeath. Ronan O’Toole and Luke Loughlin points got Westmeath off to a flying start in Mullingar, but after a tight 20 minutes Ronan Lappin’s goal gave Armagh the lead, which they worked into a three-point advantage by half-time.

Points from Stephen Sheridan and Niall Grimley kept Armagh clear early in the second period, but despite James Dolan’s fisted goal 19 minutes from the end, Armagh powered on to the win when Rory Grugan hit the net two minutes later for their second win from two outings.

Allianz Football League Division Four

London 1-16 Wicklow 0-10

Liam Gavagan’s first-half goal was key to victory for London as they claimed a resounding 1-16 to 0-10 win over Wicklow at McGovern Park in Rusilip. Gavagan also kicked three early points to help London into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes, but his cool finish put his side eight points ahead at the interval. That dominance continued after the break and with Adrian Moyles and Gavagan on target they claimed a first win of the competition.

Waterford 0-10 Antrim 2-12

Antrim lead Division Four on scoring difference after they maintained their 100 per cent return with victory over Waterford.

A competitive opening quarter at the WIT Campus was blown asunder when Antrim goaled in the 21st minute, which earned them a 1-6 to 0-5 half-time lead.

Waterford finished with 14 men after Paul Whyte picked up two yellow cards early in the second-half, while a second Antrim goal with 13 minutes remaining finally decided the game and the Ulster men ran out easy eight-point winners winners.

Leitrim 3-10 Laois 3-16

The goals flowed at Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, but it was Laois that claimed the two points with a six-point win.

Trevor Collins’s early goal was added to by an Eoin Lowry penalty after 41 minutes and a third goal from Gary Walsh gave Laois control. Leitrim were 3-12 to 0-6 down with time running out but Darragh Rooney scored two goals and Ryan O’Rourke a third in the last 11 minutes, but Leitrim couldn’t claim a first win.

Limerick 0-14 Carlow 2-11

Paul Broderick’s goal after 13 minutes set Carlow on the road to consecutive wins in Division 4 as Turlough O’Brien’s side impressed in their second away win of the season.

That goal meant Carlow lead 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time in Limerick, and they pushed on to the victory after the break with a second goal, which wrapped up a tight three-point win over Billy Lee’s side.