This Weeks NFL Round-Up

Allianz NFL Division 2
Monaghan 1-10 Westmeath 0-11

Westmeath edged out Monaghan in a very entertaining game at Clones to gain promotion to Division One of the Allianz NFL.

Monaghan opened the scoring with a Tommy Freeman free but after 10 minutes Westmeath led by 3 points to 1 playing into a strong breeze in misty, drizzly conditions.

Dessie Dolan was the first to register a score for Westmeath with a free before Fergus Wilson put his name on the scoresheet with a score from a free and a nice effort from play after some very eyecatching Westmeath teamwork. The Lakesiders were on top at this stage and were playing some very flowing football with Wilson looking in very lively form.

On 13 minutes the scoreboard read 1-3 to 0-2 in favour of Westmeath after Denis Glennon netted for the Midlanders expertly chipping under the advancing Monaghan goalkeeper after a superb team score that started in midfield with Donal O’Donoghue.

Monaghan were not firing on all cylinders at this stage but the move of Paul Finlay back to midfield gave the Farney men a boost and they slowly began to take advantage of the strong breeze that was aiding them.

The game was soon turned on its head when Dermot McCardle, Tommy Freeman, Dick Clerkin and Conor McManus got in on the act with four unanswered points for the Seamus McEnaney’s men.

Tommy Freeman then put Monaghan two points in front with a nice point from play on 30 mins. Monaghan were now beginning to get into their stride in what was a very entertaining game with a lot at stake.

After 31 minutes a very quiet Dessie Dolan pointed for Westmeath – though the free was initially given to the home side but they fouled it and Dolan cashed in with an easy pointed free.

The final score before the half-time whistle came from the impressive Finlay who slotted over his third point of the day to leave Monaghan ahead by two points at the break.

With 51 minutes gone Monaghan opened up a seven point lead in what had become a very niggly and scrappy affair. Five Westmeth players booked for some tame fouls.

Dessie Dolan failed to emerge in the second half and was replaced by John Smith in what was a big blow for Tomas O’Flatarta’s men.

Vincent Corey put over the first score of the second half for Monaghan but the score of the game so far came from the boot of Westmeath’s Martin Flanagan as he slotted over a monster kick from the middle of the park.

However it was Finlay who was starring in midfield with 17 minutes gone in the second half.

Rory Woods sent over only Monaghan’s second score of the second half to the delight of the home crowd to leave the scores level at 1-8 to 0-11.

Westmeath hit the front again with another fine score from Martin Flanagan as the game neared it’s conclusion.

The game was now scrappy enough and Fergus Wilson was lucky to stay on the field after an altercation with one of the Monaghan players.

Prior to Flanagan’s point Denis Glennon scooped over two points for the visitors as Westmeath led by a point with only a few minutes to go but it was Westmeath that were to emerge victorious after John Smith punched a late point to leave the Lakesider’s two points ahead at the final whistle on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-11.

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Allianz NFL Division 2
Armagh 0-13 Cork 1-10

Almost 3,000 packed in to St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen as a 74th minute point from substitute Steven McDonnell ensured a share of the spoils following a tenacious opening half.

A superb 58th minute goal from midfielder Nicholas Murphy following a well placed pass from Sean O’Brien looked like the Rebels would take home the league points, but the action hadn’t finished yet as both sides finished with 14 men and also shared the spoils.

A second yellow card for Aaron Kernan along with a straight red card for Cork substitute Conor McCarthy all came in the closing eight minutes of a game, which was otherwise an open, clean affair especially during a less than eventful opening half.

Cork’s heavy club championship schedule on Friday night, took its toll with key defender Anthony Lynch injured while playing for his club Naomh Abán and his left corner back spot was taken by Kieran O’Connor, in one of just four changes on Cork’s starting XV from the match programme.

In a changed defence Graham Canty and Ger Spillane were also missing from the backs with Spillane still mourning the loss of his father, who died on in the lead up to the game.

However the Rebels started brightly and led by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes thanks to points from Daniel Goulding (2) and John Hayes. But this was where Cork’s dominance ended as Armagh went on to score the next five points with Oisin McConville and Paddy McKeever kicking two points each, while a 21st minute Michael O’Rourke point put Armagh in front for the first time.

Cork kept up the pressure and took the final point of the opening half with Daniel Goulding on target from a 45 metre kick but the Rebels were certainly left rooing their seven first half wides, as Armagh took a 0-6 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Although Goulding kicked the first point of the second half, Armagh maintained their momentum and kicked three of the next four points, with a brilliant Oisin McConville sideline kick ensuring his side broke 0-9 to 0-6 clear as the game entered the final quarter.

But Cork weren’t finished yet and points from Sean O’Brien and Daniel Goulding, coupled with Murphy’s goal saw the visitors break into a two point lead with 12 minutes remaining.

However the dismissals soon followed and although a third pointed free from McKeever levelled the game for only the second time, Cork look to have stole victory with a late John Hayes fisted points.

But substitute Steven McDonnell, who was only four minutes on the field, stepped up to the mark deep in injury-time, to ensure a share of the spoils and a thrilling finish to an open game

Armagh: C McKinney; P Kernan, F Bellew, F Moriarty; A Kernan (0-1), A O’Rourke (0-1), C McKeever; P McGrane, D McKenna (0-1); C Vernon, P McKeever (0-3, 3f), B Mallon; O McConville (0-5, 2f, 1 sl), G Swift, Michael O’Rourke (0-1). Subs: Martin O’Rourke for Mallon (20); P Loughran for Vernon (50); R Clarke for Swift (55); A Mallon for Moriarty (58); S McDonnell (0-1) for Michael O’Rourke (69)

Cork: A Quirke; D Duggan, D Kavanagh, K O’Connor; P Kissane, S O’Donoghue, J Miskella; N Murphy (1-0), F Goold; S O’Brien (0-1), K O’Sullivan, K MacMahon; D Goulding (0-6, 3f, 2 45), J Masters, J Hayes (0-3, 1f). Subs: P Kelly for K O’Sullivan (HT); C McCarthy for MacMahon (58); N O’Leary for Masters (72)

Referee: Vincent Neary (Mayo)
Wides Armagh 9 Cork 11

Frees Armagh 16 Cork 25

45’s Armagh 1 Cork 2

Yellow Cards: Armagh 5 (Aaron Kernan * 2; Paul McGrane, Charlie Vernon, Finian Moriarty) Cork 3 (Stephen O’Donoghue, Kevin O’Sullivan, John Hayes)

Red Cards: Armagh 1 (Aaron Kernan) Cork 1 (Conor McCarthy)

Attendance: 3,000

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Allianz NFL Division 2
Roscommon 2-13 Cavan 1-15

Roscommon registered their first victory of the season when they got the better of Cavan in stoppage time at Dr Hyde Park.

Roscommon hit the front after 8 minutes as Karl Mannion slotted over a free but their lead was short lived as Cavan hit the front with a fine Ronan Flanagan goal after 13 minutes set up by the livewire Seanie Johnston who himself has two points to his name.

In front of an attendance of around 900 people Roscommon registered their second point of the day through Senan Kilbride before Mark McKeever pointed a free for the visitors.

Eddie O’Reilly was roving all over the field and was very effective with Seanie Johnston rivalling him for the star of the show.

With 25 minutes gone the score read 1-5 to 0-3 for Cavan after Mark McKeever put over two points from play in what was an entertaining game despite there being nothing at stake.

After half an hour Roscommon were back in the game when Jonathan Dunning goaled expertly for the home side and Kilbride now had three frees to his name.

Early in the second half Cavan led by 1-11 to 1-9 with Seanie Johnston getting three points in the second half bringing his total on the day to seven points.

Senan Kilbride added two points from frees to keep the home side in it after 17 mins of the second half.

But in a dramatic finish Karl Mannion slotted home a penalty for the Rossies to leave the sides level at 2-12 to 1-15.

However, in Paul Earley’s last game in charge subsitute Seamus O’Neill stepped up to give the home side a one point victory in stoppage time with a well-struck point from play leaving the final score 2-13 to 1-15.

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Allianz NFL Division 3
Down 0-13 Fermanagh 1-12

Fermanagh secured promotion to Division Two of the National Football League with a 1-12 to 0-13 win over Ulster rivals Down.

Down’s hopes of playing Division two football are on hold for another year after they finished in third place in the division, four points away from the promotion places.

Fermanagh will now play Wexford in the final thanks, in the main, to a Ryan Keenan goal on 34 minutes.

Down had led by three points at one stage of the second half, but Tom Brewster came on as a substitute and his two points were instrumental in the end.

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Allianz NFL Division 4
Antrim 0-08 Waterford 1-08

Antrim’s hopes of promotion were dashed following a 1-8 to 0-8 defeat to Waterford at Casement Park.

Antrim had their destiny in their own hands, and two weeks ago looked a certainty to come out on top in Division Four as they only needed a draw against Waterford.

However, a defeat to Tipperary two weeks ago was compounded by another disappointing display against the Munster side.

Maurice O’Gorman scored the vital goal for The Deise on 50 minutes, while the Saffrons had Tony Scullion sent off.