TYRONE’S bid to reach the Allianz Football League final was not derailed by their home defeat to Mayo yesterday, but the road to the April 9 final is now looking considerably less certain.
In a nervy game that hung in the balance for most of the 70 minutes, it was left to Kevin McLoughlin to fire over the winner in stoppage time to claim a crucial win for the Westerners, with the final score 0-12 to 1-10.
Mickey Harte’s men make the trip to Kerry next weekend knowing that even a win may not be
enough for them.
Donegal and Monaghan remain firmly in the hunt for a place in the final after they fought out a 1-11 to 1-11 draw that leaves them tied on eight points each in second place behind Dublin.
An ice-cool Conor McManus penalty in stoppage time snatched the draw for the Farneymen.
Cavan showed commendable character to grab a 1-10 to 0-13 draw with Kerry. Behind by two points in injury-time, debutant Joe Dillon halved the deficit, before a nerveless 36-metre free from Seanie Johnston levelled matters.
Mattie McGleenan’s men will fancy their chances of beating pointless Roscommon next Sunday, but will have to rely on Donegal doing them a favour against Mayo if they are to avoid the drop.
All three Ulster sides in Division Two lost yesterday and all three are in danger of falling into the third tier. Derry fell victim to another wonder display from Colm O’Neill. The Cork ace hit 0-11 in a 0-20 to 2-10 win for the Rebels, who eased their own relegation fears with the win.
Had either Down or Fermanagh won, the Oak Leafers would have made the drop at the close of the day’s action. As matters stand, they face Fermanagh in Brewster Park next weekend in what is a crucial game for both.
The Ernesiders fell to their fourth defeat of the campaign after they were on the wrong end of a 3-15 to 0-6 mauling at the hands of Meath. On a very disappointing day, Fermanagh scored just three points from open play.
Down must also wait until the final day, and a trip to play Cork before their fate will be fixed. They currently sit on four points alongside Fermanagh, and just a point above Derry.
Galway raised three second half green flags against Eamonn Burns’ side, who could not get to within three points of their opponents. The game finished 1-13 to 3-15.
Armagh were the only Ulster county to claim a win in the Allianz Football League at the weekend.
Their two-point defeat of Antrim on Saturday evening, the game finishing 1-12 to 0-13, means that the Orchard county’s last game against Tipperary next Sunday is effectively a play-off for promotion.
Antrim face Longford next weekend with relegation back to Division Four a real possibility.
n Full Allianz Leagues
coverage P63-71
