DIVISION ONE
Dublin 1-17 Mayo 1-15
Galway 1-12 Armagh 0-9
Kerry v Donegal (postponed)
THE GAA made an early call on Saturday morning to cancel this game in Killarney, which was due to be played yesterday. Re-fixture details are expected to be confirmed today.
Tyrone 2-13 Derry 1-9
DIVISION TWO
Cavan 0-20 Monaghan 2-22
Cork 2-19 Meath 0-21
CORK defeated Robbie Brennan’s Meath in a hugely entertaining affair in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.
The four-point win was the first in the opening round for The Rebels since 2020, the same year in which they last beat bitter rivals Kerry.
Mark Cronin’s free-talking was faultless early doors, with Cork having the added benefit of the breeze in the opening half. Jordan Morris, a star of TU Dublin’s Sigerson campaign to date, was one of the men to keep Meath in touch at 0-8 0-5.
Morris’ next score put The Royals in front, with Shane Walsh having notched a two-pointer as a talented forward line began to show their prowess.
Having gone in level at the break, the hosts required a huge second half against the elements, and it duly came.
Seán Powter, ever the orchestrator of a devastating counter, teed up Mattie Taylor to finish to the net to give Cork a cushion.
If Meath goalkeeper Billy Hogan was aggrieved he certainly didn’t show it, kicking one of three scores from play as the sides were level again.
But, a Cronin two-pointer was soon followed by a second goal from Chris Óg Jones – scorer of 1-4 in all – and an eight-point lead proved too much for Meath to rein in.
Roscommon 3-21 Down 1-20
Westmeath 0-18 Louth 1-17
WITH the likes of former Tailteann Cup Player of the Year Ronan O’Toole not part of the Westmeath panel, they were touted amongst the favourites for relegation in Division Two.
John Heslin’s retirement was a further headache for new manager Dermot McCabe, and when a Ryan Burns two-pointer was followed by scores from play from Sam Mulroy and Peter Lynch, his side found themselves six points down just 24 minutes into their campaign.
Fionn O’Hara was among those in the firing line as he faced an early substitution, with star man Luke Loughlin and the under-rated Ronan Wallace bringing the hosts back into contention for a half-time score of Westmeath 0-8 0-9 Louth.
Loughlin’s two-pointer started off the second half in ideal fashion for McCabe, with All-Star Craig Lennon biting back for Louth.
It was the impressive Loughlin once more who tied matters up at 0-14 apiece with 10 to play, and the sides traded scores until Seán Reynolds punched home a goal for The Wee county.
Loughlin brought his tally to 0-12 with a two-point free in the fourth minute of additional time, but Sam Mulroy pointed at the other end as Louth ran out winners.
DIVISION THREE
Antrim 1-9 Clare 1-6
Kildare 2-24 Fermanagh 1-12
Leitrim v Laois (postponed)
THIS game was originally fixed for Saturday and pushed back a day, but a further postponement was called as Storm Éowyn caused further electrical interruptions in Ballinamore.
Offaly 1-17 Sligo 0-13
Offaly began the Mickey Harte era in style as they saw off Sligo in Glenisk O’Connor Park after a mammoth second-half display.
Amidst all the talk of new rules, it was interesting that it took until the 66th minute for Niall Murphy to raise the first orange flag, with the Coolera-Strandhill man straight back into inter-county action after defeat to Cuala a fortnight ago.
But Tony McEntee’s men were certainly second best in the latter period, having gone in ahead at the break.
Indeed, it was the Yeatsmen who rallied coming up to the break, reeling off five scores in a row after Ruairí McNamee had put Offaly 0-6 to 0-4 ahead in the 23rd minute.
Alan McLoughlin was to the fore, having had a stellar League campaign in 2024, but after the whistle McEntee watched his side leak 1-6 without reply, as that man McNamee grabbed a major.
Indeed, Sligo only managed three second-half scores in all, including Murphy’s two-pointer, as Keith O’Neill came away with 0-6 and The Faithful with the all important win.
DIVISION FOUR
Carlow 2-13 Tipperary 1-16
The visitors clawed back an eight-point deficit to earn a share of the spoils at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
Goals from Aaron Amond (penalty) and Ross Dunphy were the foundation for Carlow’s lead, with Sean O’Connor netting for the Premier county. O’Connor was also on target for the late levelling point.
Longford 2-12 Limerick 1-15
A two-point free from Matthew Carey helped Longford salvage a point in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park yesterday.
All three goals came in the first half with Oran Kenny netting twice for the home side and Peter Nash replying for Limerick.
Wexford 2-24 London 2-6
The Model county had their shooting boots as four two-pointers helped them to a comfortable win at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday.
Gavin Sheehan was their first-half goalscorer as they took a 1-15 to 1-2 half-time lead, Liam Gallagher netting for the Exiles.
Although the home side weren’t as prolific after half-time, the game was done and Paraic Hughes bagged a second goal, with Ciaran Diver replying for the visitors.
Wicklow v Waterford (postponed)
Yesterday’s game was called off as the Echelon Park pitch in Aughrim was deemed unplayable)
