Limerick's victory over Waterford saw them promoted from Division 4 alongside Wexford.
DIVISION FOUR RESULTS
LONDON 1-17 (1-1-15) CARLOW 1-18 (1-4-10)
TIPPERARY 0-12 (0-3-6) WICKLOW 0-21 (0-5-11)
LONGFORD 1-10 (1-2-6) WEXFORD 2-18 (2-1-16)
LIMERICK 4-24 (4-1-22) WATERFORD 1-17 (1-2-13)
Waterford gave Wicklow fans a brief glimpse of hope when Rory Furlong opened up the Limerick defence with a solo and go to set up an early goal for Tholom Guiry in Rathkeale today, but the home side didn’t take long to settle into the game and they ultimately picked up the win they needed to secure promotion with plenty of comfort.
Limerick knew their fate was in their own hands if they took care of business in Mick Neville Park and with James Naughton in sensational scoring form, racking up 4-12, they weren’t long about undoing their slow start.
Dermot Ryan and James Power hit early two pointers as Waterford bounced back from the concession of Naughton’s first goal to lead by 1-5 to 1-0, but Limerick took over from there and by half-time were 2-9 to 1-8 in front.
The second half was one-way traffic with Tommie Childs dominant in the middle third of the field, and Emmet Rigter scoring well to add a second attacking threat alongside Naughton.
A Limerick slip up would have opened the door for Wicklow to sneak an snatch second spot, and the Garden County made life tougher for themselves when Jack Kirwan was red carded for a high challenge after 12 minutes.
Despite this, Oisín McConville’s side led by 0-12 to 0-6 at half-time, boosted by doubles from Oisín McGraynor and Dean Healy (two). However with the diagonal breeze in Clonmel set to favour Tipperary, the contest was still there to be won for both sides.
It was Wicklow who seized the initiative in the third quarter however, with Kevin Quinn kicking things off with a fine two-point free, before John Paul Nolan hit a couple of points to help them move ten clear.
Tipperary were improved for the last 20 minutes or so but they struggled to create the goal chances they needed to really get into the game, with Malachy Stone clearing the ball off the line just when it looked as if they might make a breakthrough.
This league has been a very different story for Longford and Wexford, with the former struggling to find any form while Wexford have been unstoppable – and so it continued today at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, where Páuric Hughes kicked five points from play in a comprehensive win.
Longford had the wind behind them in the first half but still were always under pressure when Wexford ran at them, quickly falling into a four-point hole.
Once Páuric Hughes set up his brother Cian for a goal in the 12th minute the lead was never less than four points, even after Oran Kenny, Keelin McGann and Dessie Reynolds replied to Seán Ryan’s second goal with a run of points.
With the breeze at their backs, Wexford got their scores quite easily in the second half, while Longford scored just a single point in between the half-time break and the closing minutes, when Oran Kenny brought his tally for the day to 1-4 with a late goal and point.
There was nothing at stake in McGovern Park other than seeding for the Tailteann Cup later in the year, but that didn’t stop London and Carlow from throwing up a hugely enjoyable game that was ultimately settled by Conor Doyle’s goal in the 64th minute.
Rúairí Rafferty hit the net for the Exiles in the opening half while Liam Gallagher (0-8) and Shay Rafter (0-5) were in fine form, but Carlow’s ability to hit two-pointers from frees kept them in the game, allowing them to strike late through Doyle to snatch their third win of the campaign.
