Munster SFC quarter-finals
Clare 0-14 Cork 0-13
A LAST gasp point from Cillian Rouine sent Cork tumbling out of the Munster Championship and put Clare into a semi-final meeting with Limerick.
Cork had won comfortably against an ultimately relegated Clare when the sides met in a Division Two clash at Cusack Park last month, but the tables were turned in Ennis yesterday.
It didn’t look like it was going to be that way for much of the contest though as Cork built up a 0-6 to 0-4 half-time lead, and the Leesiders were four up early in the second thanks to a brace of Steven Sherlock points.
While Sherlock would finish with 0-10 to his name, it wasn’t enough for Cork as Clare finished strongly to defeat the fancied visitors.
The points of Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton closed the gap for Colm Collins’ men in the third quarter and they hit the front with 10 minutes to go via scores from Gavin Cooney and Jamie Malone.
Sherlock levelled matters in the 64th minute prior to Cleary giving the hosts’ back the lead and Kevin O’Donovan squaring matters for the last time in the third minute of injury-time.
When one last chance fell to Rouine, however, he held his nerve to earn Clare a famous victory.
Tipperary 3-9 Waterford 1-11
TIPPERARY were made to work for victory in Semple Stadium yesterday, a win that set up a Munster semi-final meeting with Kerry.
The favourites made a strong start in Thurles, opening up an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead, but the Déise stayed in the fight and only a goal from the returning Steven O’Brien saw Tipp lead at the break, 1-5 to 0-5.
Waterford started the second-half the better side, kicking three points and they hit the front when Darragh Corcoran netted a 59th minute goal. Stephen Quirke hit back with a quick goal for Tipp after some brilliant work from Jack Kennedy and the win was finally secured when Paudie Feehan netted the home side’s third goal in injury-time.
Tipp now look forward to a last-four meeting with the defending All-Ireland champions while Waterford head for the Tailteann Cup.
Leinster SFC round one
Wicklow 2-12 Carlow 0-10
OISÍN McConville’s Wicklow bounced back from their Division Four final defeat with a comfortable victory over Carlow in Aughrim yesterday.
The Garden county finished five points above Carlow in the league table and they dominated the second-half to register their first Championship win over the Barrowsiders since 2010.
Wicklow didn't move ahead in the game until the end of the first-half, when Malachy Stone netted, but the hosts remained in pole position from there on in.
Eoin Darcy struck Wicklow's second goal in the 69th minute - bringing his tally to 1-2 for the afternoon – when Carlow goalkeeper Ciarán Cunningham was caught out up the field.
Although Wicklow were ultimately comfortable victors, watching Kildare manager Glenn Ryan won’t have been overly concerned ahead of their April 23 quarter-final.
Offaly 1-12 Longford 1-11
A LATE point from substitute Bernard Allen secured Offaly’s progress at Pearse Park yesterday afternoon.
It was the visitors who made the perfect start through Peter Cunningham’s goal seven minutes in, but Longford eventually got going with 15 minutes remaining of the first-half, with points from Darren Gallagher, Joseph Hagan and Dylan Farrell leaving it 0-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
A Gallagher goal eight minutes into the second-half gave Longford the lead, but it stayed tight until the end. Cian Farrell’s point left it at 1-9 apiece with under 10 minutes to go and scores from Peter Cunningham and Allen had two in it heading towards injury-time.
Although Iarla O’Sullivan did pull a point back for Longford, it is Offaly who advance to the quarter-final with Meath.
Laois 2-17 Wexford 2-13
LAOIS earned the right to face Dublin in the Leinster quarter-finals with a four-point victory over Wexford at O’Moore Park.
Wexford were in the game throughout and a goal from Robbie Brooks and points from Kevin O’Grady and Ben Brosnan saw them take a 1-8 to 1-7 lead in at half-time.
The performance of Mark Barry, who finished with 2-4, helped Laois into the lead by the third quarter and an Evan O’Carroll point had them four clear before Brosnan struck back for Wexford with a converted penalty.
However, Laois had more up their sleeve and a Barry goal plus points from himself and O’Carroll saw the game out.
