Longford goalkeeper, Paddy Collum.
Allianz Football League Division Four
CARLOW 2-13 (2-1-11) TIPPERARY 1-16 (1-2-12)
WEXFORD 2-24 (2-4-16) LONDON 2-6 (2-0-6)
LONGFORD 2-12 (2-2-8) LIMERICK 1-15 (1-0-15)
WICKLOW P/P WATERFORD P/P
Matthew Carey hoisted over a two-point free at the end of Longford’s home clash with Limerick to ensure that both of the drawn games in this weekend’s opening round of Allianz League fixtures were in Division Four.
Limerick will travel south feeling that they left the winning of the game behind them in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, as they controlled more of the possession and scored 16 times to Longford’s 12.
Longford started brighter and two goals in the space of two minutes around the quarter-hour mark, both from the boot of Oran Kenny, put them in the driving seat.
Peter Nash found the net in response with 21 minutes played and Limerick were the dominant side from then on, though their inaccuracy meant it didn’t show on the scoreboard.
Paddy Collum made an excellent double-save to keep Longford two points up at half-time, Limerick scored the first three of the second half with James Naughton, Peter Nash and Emmet Rigter all moving well, but they never build up enough of a lead and were eventually reeled in by Matthew Carey’s long-range free.
The first game of 2025 in Division Four of the Allianz Football League was in Netwatch Cullen Park last night, where with 38 minutes played, Carlow had just responded to Ben Comerford’s goal for Tipperary with a green flag of their own from Ross Dunphy. That meant they led by six points and looked good to kick off their league campaign with a win over the Premier County.
However after putting 13 scoreless minutes behind them with a flurry of three points in a row from John Murphy, Mikey Bambrick and Conor Doyle, they again failed to score from the 56th minute onwards and were ultimately reeled in for a draw.
The opening quarter was nip and tuck, with Mark Russell and Cathal Deeley getting early scores for Tipperary, leaving the contest delicately poised at 0-4 each. Aaron Amond’s goal and three points on the spin from Conor Crowley opened up a gap, which remained after the two sides traded goals shortly after the resumption.
Mark Russell doubled his first-half tally of two points with a booming kick four minutes into the second half but Carlow looked to be in control up until the 65th minute, when Cian Smith, Steven O’Brien (two-pointer) and Seán O’Connor kicked the frees that levelled the game.
Even if there had been a winner in Carlow, the margin of Wexford’s victory down the road at Chadwick’s Wexford Park would have ensured that they would be the table toppers for the week.
Seán Nolan and Páraic Hughes put two-pointers on the board early as Wexford raced into a five-point lead before London got off the mark, and when Gavin Sheehan pulled down a long delivery and picked his spot with a composed finish, that made it 1-13 to 1-2 at the end of a one-sided first half.
In total Wexford had nine scorers from play, with Seán Nolan (0-9), Páraic Hughes (1-2), Niall Hughes (0-5) and Shane Pettit (0-4) topping the scoring charts for the Model County.
