NFL Division 1A: Armagh 1-9 Offaly 1-6
ARMAGH'S display started off-key, rallied superbly to lead by seven points after 46 minutes, but then had to survive a late scramble for a vital win.
Offaly, the NFL champions, tumbled to a second successive defeat before 4,000 spectators at Oliver Plunkett Park.
The titleholders now hang precariously close to the relegation drop zone.
A famous landmark game for the GAA in Armagh, yesterday’s match in itself created history as the first National League fixture to be played at Crossmaglen.
For Armagh, it opened with a brace of missed chances, a shot blasted against the body of Offaly keeper Patrick Kelly, and a bizarre goal for the visitors.
After 15 minutes of robust football, all Armagh’s positive play, working open the opportunities, and tackling aggression had come to nothing.
Instead they found themselves four points in arrears after Colm Quinn’s sideline free was deflected into the net for a 1-1 to 0-0 Offaly lead. A brilliantly worked goal, however, sparked Armagh to life.
It was dispatched on his league debut by Paul Dynes, and levelled the match within five minutes.
Later, it was a case of a series of scrambled defensive work which left Armagh hanging on for victory over the last six or seven minutes, with Hughes producing one vital piece of good work two minutes from time as an Offaly goal threatened.
Armagh: B Tierney, E McNulty, G Reid, M McNeill, K Hughes, K McGeeney, A McCann, J McNulty, P McGrane, P Dynes (1-0), C O’Rourke (0-4, 3 from frees), J Rafferty (0-1), J Byrne, D Marsden (0-2), D Mackin (0-2).
Subs: P McKeever for O’Rourke (55 mins).
Offaly: P Kelly, C Daly, B Malone, D Foley, J Kenny, F Cullen, P O’Reilly, J Grennan (0-1), R Mooney, C Quinn (1- 1), C McManus (0-2), M Daly (0-1), D Connolly (0-1), V Claffey, R Malone.
Subs: S Grennan for Connolly (halftime), W Reynolds for R Malone (35), P Brady for McManus (56).
Ref: Seamus Prior (Leitrim).
NFL Division 2B: Carlow 2-11 Fermanagh 0-10
FERMANAGH lost their unbeaten record in the National Football League when they fell heavily against Carlow at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.
This was a poor performance from the Ulster side, especially in the first half when for a 15 minute spell they were run ragged by a lively home team who registered 1-6 without reply. Fermanagh’s cause was not helped by the departure of Tom Brewster, the result of an injury sustained in a nasty challenge. Brewster’s injury will be sure to worry Queen’s manager Dessie Ryan with the Sigerson Cup taking place over the first weekend of March.
Last score of the game went to Fermanagh, Paul Brewster pointing from play but the Erne side were a well beaten side at the finish.
Carlow: J Clark, B Farrell, A Corden, P O’Dwyer, J Kavanagh, K Walker, J Byrne, S Kavanagh (1-1), P Nolan, J McGrath, M Carpenter (0-2), M Dowling (0-4), J Nevin (1-1), M Nolan (0-3).
Fermanagh: C McAdam, P Courtney, P McGuinness, M Lilly, R Curran, K Gallagher, T Callaghan, P Brewster (0-1), D McGrath, C Courtney, T Brewster (0-2), S Maguire (0-1), R Gallagher (0-6), S Quinn, S King
Subs: D McNulty for T Brewster, J Gilheaney for D McGrath.
NFL Division 1B: Derry 1-9 Monaghan 1-9
IN the final minute wing-forward Damian Freeman flicked over a point to earn Monaghan a draw in this pedestrian game at Celtic Park before an estimated 1,000 crowd.
In the previous five minutes Derry, as they had done in the early stages when they led 0-3 to 0-1, enjoyed their most productive period.
Top scorer Geoffrey McGonigle (0-5), had converted a free and the quiet Joe Brolly had knocked over a brace of well taken points to take Derry into a 1-9 to 1-8 lead.
Thought of a first league victory were uppermost in Derry minds at that stage but Freeman’s point and referee Curley’s whistle ended such feelings.
While Derry were happy to get a point, their position is now perilous and they are fully aware that this was a game they could have won
Derry: S O’Kane, S Donnelly, S O’Neill, S McGuckin, F Crossan, J McBride, G Coleman, D Dougan, R Boylan, A Tohill (Capt 0-2), E Boylan, P Murphy, J Brolly (0-2), G McGonigle (0-5, 4 frees), J Cassidy (1-1)
Subs: S Lockhart for S Donnelly, E McKeever for Coleman, D Dougan for Murphy
Monaghan: G Monaghan, P McKenna, D McDermott, N Warren, E Murphy, D McKenna, J Conlon, C Ronaghan, J Coyle, D Swift (0-2), P O’Connor (0-1), D Freeman (0-1), P Duffy (0-1) S McGinnity (0-2, both frees), I Larmour (1-2, 1 free).
Referee: Michael Curley (Galway)
