NFL Division 1A Dublin 1-15 Tyrone 1-9
TYRONE’S season got off to the worst possible start yesterday when they were embarrassed by a rejuvenated Dublin team at Parnell Park. A late rally ensured the bad look was taken off the defeat but Tyrone were lucky to escape with only a six point thrashing which papered over some pretty alarming cracks.
The loss of Canavan and Dooher before the game certainly didn’t help and the Red Hands did have a couple of youngsters making their first start in county colours.
But Dublin had their debutants too and it was they who settled quickest including Mick O’Keeffe, who scored four points.
Chris Lawn, Ger Cavlan and maybe Eoin Gormley apart, Tyrone were not at the races.
In front of a healthy 7,000 crowd, the Dublin players skipped first to every ball, played directly and easily found space in front of their markers.
But it was at midfield where they excelled and outclassed the visitors who struggled in a long-time problem position all afternoon.
Ciaran Whelan’s fielding was quite breathtaking at times especially during the first period when Dublin were rampant.
Dublin: D Byrne, S Ryan, P Christie, K Galvin, T Lynch, I Robertson, P Croft, C Whelan (1- 2), E Sheehy, J Gavin (0-1), D Darcy (0-5, three frees), B Stynes, R Cosgrave (0-3), D Farrell (0-1), M O’Keeffe (0-2)
Subs: S Cowap for Darcy (40), B Irwin for K Galvin (58)
Tyrone: F McConnell, P McGurk, C Lawn, F Devlin, P Devlin, C Holmes, P Canavan, G Cavlan (0- 1), F Logan, D McIlroy, S Corr, C McBride (1-0), R Thornton (0-1), E Gormley (0-7, five frees), S Lawn
Subs: Cush for Logan (35), C Gourley for P Devlin (41)
Referee: Brian White (Wexford)
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AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final: Ballycastle 3-7 Ballgalget 1-13
Castle earn a second bite at the cherry
A DEBATE riddled with blunders and disjointed game plans offered Ulster hurling fans a thrilling final, Ballycastle a second chance and Ballygalget, a moment of crowning glory dismissed by a poorly-directed free.
At times the bases of ash came closer to scarring eyebrows than it did grace the sloithar with all the class that was expected of Antrim and Down’s club representatives.
Ballycastle, favourites beforehand, looked a pale shade of such a label.
Accomplished outcomes cannot be placed on the shoulders of one man. But for Paul McKillen, Ballycastle would have been torn asunder by the unremitting dominance Ballygalget held in every department.
Ballycastle: D Donnelly, M Dallas (2-0), O Colgan, C Kelly, P Jennings (Cpt), T Kinney, R Donnelly, P McKillen (1-4), B Hill (0-1), G Maybin, A Campbell, C Kelly, M McShane (0-1), B Donnelly (0-1), N Jennings.
Subs: R McMullan for B Hill (35mins), C Brown for N Jennings (39mins).
Ballygalget: G Clarke, L Clarke, K Coulter, E Dorrian, M Coulter (Snr, 0-2), P Coulter (Cpt), M Pucci, B McGrattan, P Monan, B Gallagher, B Coulter, B Smyth, M Coulter (Jnr), J McGrattan (0-4), P Savage (1- 0).
Subs: P Braniff for B Smyth 47mins), L Coulter for B McGrattan (52mins).
Referee: Gerry Devlin (Armagh).
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All-Ireland club camogie semi-final: St Vincent’s (Dublin) 3-12 Liatroim Fontenoys 1-8
Fontenoys are foiled by St Vincent’s
A NEW competition, new management, three new faces to the senior county scene yet the same unfortunate result at Casement Park for the Saffrons.
After a recent mauling at the hands of Fermanagh this was much more positive and tenacious stuff but the end result, despite the effort, remains the same.
A management quote after this four point Division 2A League defeat suggests that “giving away three goals, not converting chances, a learning process and a confidence it will get better” had a certain ring of truth to it.
Westmeath: A Lennon, D Brady, D Murphy, R Casey, D Healy, A Lyons, A Canning, J Cooney, D O’Shaughnesy, L Gillivan, M Ennis (0-1), E Casey (0-1), G Heavin (1-1), S Colleary (1-1), D Dolan (1-6).
Subs: M Flanagan for O’Shaughnesy, S Hynes for Cooney, D Fox for Casey.
Antrim: D Shannon, C McKearney, M Mulholland, A Donnelly, T Convery, T McCrudden, A Finnegan, D Niblock, C Murphy (0-1), J Quinn (0-2), K Madden (0-8), Peter McCann, C McCabe, M Boyle, K Brady.
Subs: Paul McCann (1-0) for Boyle (inj), P Mulholland for McKearney.
Referee: B Gorman (Armagh)
