Football

NFL round-up: Dublin make it 33 unbeaten and counting

Philly McMahon was man-of-the-match for Dublin against Mayo
Philly McMahon was man-of-the-match for Dublin against Mayo Philly McMahon was man-of-the-match for Dublin against Mayo

NFL Division One: Dublin 1-16 Mayo 0-7; Roscommon 1-13 Kerry 1-19

ALL-IRELAND champions Dublin stormed to the top of Division One on Saturday night with a resounding 12-point win over Mayo in Croke Park.

Starting back-to-back inter-county games for the first time, Conor McHugh was Dublin’s standout player, grabbing 1-3 as the Jacks extended their unbeaten run to 33 games and counting.

Dean Rock and man-of-the-match Philly McMahon were also on fire for the Dubs – Rock kicking a total of eight points and McMahon pulling the strings in a fine display.

Mayo, on the other hand, were woeful. They managed just two points in the first-half and couldn’t muster a point from play until the 39th minute, when Stephen Coen broke their duck.

It was a bad weekend all round for Connacht sides in the top flight as Roscommon suffered a six-point home defeat to Kerry, which leaves them pointless after four games.

Paul Geaney and James O’Donoghue did the damage for the Kingdom, Geaney kicking 1-6 of their 1-19 total.

While Roscommon wing-back John McManus was dismissed with 13 minutes remaining, it had little impact on the outcome and Geaney put matters beyond doubt with his injury-time major.

Roscommon now looked nailed on for relegation, as they prop up the table four points from safety, while Kerry can focus on a place in the play-offs.

NFL Division Two: Clare 2-11 Cork 0-9; Meath 1-13 Galway 0-15

CLARE landed provincial rivals Cork in potential hot water with a famous win over the Rebels in Ennis on Sunday.

The Banner men are now sitting pretty in third place in the second division, with only scoring difference keeping their illustrious neighbours clear of the relegation zone.

Cork dominated the play in the first-half – James Loughrey getting among the scores for the Rebels - but they couldn’t shake themselves clear of the Banner, with the teams going in all square at half-time.

Donal Óg Hodnett had a second-half goal disallowed for Cork, but it would have proved academic as Cian O’Dea and Jamie Malone found the back of the net for Clare, while David Tubridy kicked four points.

Meath also sprung something of a surprise over promotion favourites Galway in Navan to keep their own hopes of playing Division One football next year alive.

Coming off the back of the defeat to Down, Donal Lenihan was the hero for the Royals, amassing a haul of 1-5 as Meath moved to within a point of second place in the division.

The Tribe were three to the good with just 10 minutes remaining yesterday – Barry McHugh kicking five points on a fine day for him personally – but Lenihan’s 66th minute goal turned the tide and the Connacht men went home empty handed.