Kevin Feely remains a key performer for Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division Three
Clare 1-17 (1-2-13) Fermanagh 1-15 (1-1-13)
Laois 0-23 (0-1-21) Sligo 0-16 (0-3-10)
Offaly 4-19 (4-2-15) Antrim 0-15 (0-3-9)
Kildare 1-27 (1-2-23) Leitrim 0-7 (0-1-5)
Clare’s narrow home victory over Fermanagh felt like the decisive result of the day in Division Three of the Allianz Football League, as two sides that suffered defeat in round one, but bounced back with a win a fortnight ago went into battle at Cusack Park.
The razor-thin margins that can separate teams was in evidence in the 73rd minute of this game, when Declan McCusker sent what he hoped would be a skyscraping equaliser towards goal from 45 metres out, only to see the ball bounce off the post, crossbar, and eventually into the arms of a Clare defender.
The Erne County had the wind at their backs in the second half and they looked the more likely winners at half-time, when they trailed by just three points, 1-9 to 1-6, despite failing to score for the opening 12 minutes. Emmet McMahon scored two of his 10-point tally in that early burst for the Munster county, with Alan Sweeney finding the net in between.
Ronan McCaffrey’s good work to keep a Fionan O’Brien shot in play and set up a Joe McDade goal looked like a crucial play, and Fermanagh were definitely the favourites to prevail when Josh Largo Ellis’ two-pointer put them in front after 43 minutes.
McMahon stepped up in style, however, leading the Clare attack as they produced their best football of the season so far to secure a huge win.
Laois are also right back in the promotion mix as they made it two wins on the spin with an excellent home win over Sligo at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
Mark Barry was in spectacular form scoring 0-11, and unlike any of the other hotshots over the weekend, he did it the hard way, putting the ball over the bar 11 times.
Laois had nine scorers in the first half as they took an 0-14 to 0-4 lead into the dressing room, and while Sligo were much improved with the breeze at their backs, two-pointers from Alan McLoughlin and Niall Murphy (two) weren’t enough to get them back into contention.
Playing with 13 men for nearly half an hour eventually took a toll on Antrim in Tullamore today, as Offaly overpowered the Saffrons to outscore them by 2-8 to 0-1 in the final 15 minutes of action at Glenisk O’Connor Park.
With the breeze at their backs in the first half, Antrim needed to build up an interval lead by the concession of goals to Shane Tierney and to Cillian Bourke left them seven points adrift with the interval approaching.
Marc Jordan and Dermot McAleese were two of Antrim’s stronger players on the day and they were both on the scoresheet as Andy McEntee’s side rallied in the closing minutes of the half, kicking 0-5 in a row, including a two-pointer.
Red cards for Conor Stewart and Conor Hand at the start of the second half changed the game utterly, however. Antrim dug their heels in and for the next 15 minutes, outscored Offaly by 0-2 to 0-1, with John Furlong clearing a goal attempt from Jordan off the line.
The exertions took their toll as Offaly cut loose at the end, with Keith O’Neill scoring two goals.
It was all too easy for Kildare at Ballinamore, as they put a depleted Leitrim side to the sword to confirm their place on top of the table, poised for a quick return to Division Two.
The home crowd never had the chance to get even slightly animated, as Kildare were totally dominant in the opening 25 minutes, firing 1–13 without reply.
Alex Beirne took the lead with 1-3, including an opportunist goal from a free where Leitrim were caught napping, expecting a tap-over point.
Aaron Masterson shot a two-pointer from play and there were points from Ryan Sinkey, Cathal Hagney, Kevin Feely, Brian McLoughlin, David Hyland, and Colm Dalton, with Kildare breaking tackles and creating overlaps with every attack.
Tom Prior, who picked up a Sigerson medal with DCU during the week, scored Leitrim’s only first half point after 26 minutes, while it was 1-17 to 0-1 at the interval.
Unsurprisingly, Kildare used their bench early and the second half was much more competitive, albeit with no doubt as to the result.
