NFL DIVISION TWO
Galway 3-13 Clare 1-11
GALWAY boosted their promotion hopes on Sunday afternoon when they ran out eight-point winners over Clare at Pearse Stadium.
The Tribesmen finished the first period 2-8 to 0-5 to the good, with Eamon Brannigan and Shane Walsh doing the damage with the majors.
While Clare struggled without their talisman Gary Brennan, Galway coped with the absence of Damien Comer rather better and were able to soak up any Banner pressure.
The hosts began fast and they led 1-2 to 0-0 by the sixth minute, when Brannigan rattled the Clare net after a brilliant move. Michael Daly gave an intricate cross-field ball and that split the Clare defence before Shane Walsh spotted the on-rushing St Michael’s forward and Brannigan finished into the bottom right corner past Joe Hayes.
The wind was a huge problem for the Clare goalkeeper’s kick-outs and kept the pressure on, before Walsh rifled Galway’s second goal five minutes before the break. Gary O’Donnell provided the assist and Walsh made little of the tight angle.
With Clare trailing by nine at half-time and Galway getting the first two points of the second-half through Johnny Heaney and Barry McHugh, the result looked to be beyond doubt.
Keelan Sexton raised hopes of a Clare fightback when he hit the back of the net 10 minutes into the second-half, but Galway saw the game out relatively comfortably, with Gareth Bradshaw adding a third goal late on.
NFL DIVISION THREE
Offaly 0-14 Louth 2-13
LOUTH are looking increasingly well equipped for a move up the divisions following their third league win on the trot yesterday.
Having already defeated Laois and Longford, the Wee county travelled to Tullamore for a meeting with another Leinster rival in the form of Offaly.
Two first-half goals from star forward Ryan Burns helped Colin Kelly's side into a 2-5 to 0-7 lead at the break.
The visitors also outscored their rivals in the second-half to run out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-14.
NFL DIVISION FOUR
Wexford 1-9 Waterford 0-10; Westmeath 2-18 Leitrim 1-9; Wicklow 0-17 London 2-4
SÉAMUS McEnaney’s Wexford side moved a point clear at the top of Division Four yesterday with a four-point victory over Waterford at Wexford Park.
Kevin O’Grady was Wexford’s star man, notching a goal and two points as the Yellowbellies moved out in front in the second-half. They survived a late Waterford rally to make it three wins from three.
Westmeath increased their chances of an immediate return to Division Three with an easy win over Leitrim at Cusack Park. John Heslin and Tommy McDaniels hit the back of the net for the Leinster men.
Wicklow strolled to comfortable victory over London despite being reduced to 14-men. Wicklow kicked 17 points in the game and even two second-half Exile goals weren’t enough to reel them in.
