O’Bryne Cup semi-finals
Longford 1-13 Dublin 3-6
DESSIE Farrell didn’t have to wait long for his first defeat as Dublin manager as Longford turned them over in his first game at the helm at Pease Park.
An experimental Dublin side had led by two points with 67 minutes gone on Saturday, but three points in-a-row, including the winner from a Darren Gallagher free four minutes into injury-time, secured a shock victory for Longford.
Referee Alan Coyne was verbally abused by Dublin supporters on the final whistle as he exited the field after awarding Longford what many viewed as the soft free that swung the tie.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Farrell confirmed that former Dublin star Mick Galvin is joining his backroom team.
Offaly 0-16 Westmeath 0-11
A MAN-OF-THE-MATCH performance from Bernard Allen helped Offaly overcome Westmeath at O’Connor Park on Saturday.
Allen converted eight frees as the Faithful county confirmed an unlikely final pairing with Longford.
Playing against a stiff breeze, Offaly had led by just the one point at half-time, but kicked on in the second-period to run out comfortable winners.
McGrath Cup final
Limerick 0-20 Cork 0-16
LIMERICK sprung a surprise in the McGrath Cup final on Saturday night, beating Cork in a high-scoring encounter at the Gaelic Grounds.
Danny Neville was the star man for the Treaty county, hitting seven points in total, including two attacking marks.
Billy Lee’s men built an early lead and never relinquished it, with defenders Ian Corbett, Robert Childs and Michael Donovan chipping in with scores.
When Brian Hurley and Killian O’Hanlon were introduced for Cork in the second-half, the tide began to turn, but Jamie Lee steadied the Limerick ship with his well-taken frees.
Munster Hurling League final
Limerick 1-32 Cork 0-20
LIMERICK made it a double over Cork on Saturday night, when they cantered to a 15-point victory in the Munster Hurling League final, also at the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick led by three at the break, 1-14 to 0-14, with David Reidy to the fore in the scoring department.
Captain Patrick Horgan togged out for the Rebels in the second-half, but the desired effect never materialised as Limerick hit seven without reply over a 15-minute period.
Connacht Football League semi-finals
Galway 1-17 Mayo 1-17 (Galway win 3-2 on penalties)
PÁDRAIC Joyce got his stint as Galway boss up and running with a penalty shoot-out victory over Mayo at MacHale Park yesterday.
In a match where Tom Parsons got his first start for Mayo following a lengthy injury lay-off, James Horan’s men led by a point at the break.
Galway’s Fiontán Ó Curraoin suffered a bad injury in the second-half as the teams played out an entertaining stalemate. Kevin McLoughlin had edged Mayo in front with a major, but a late Adrian Varley goal for Galway followed by three points forced penalties.
When it came to the spot-kicks, Brian Walsh’s miss handed Galway a final spot.
Roscommon 7-16 Leitrim 0-7
LEITRIM were humiliated by Anthony Cunningham’s Roscommon at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada.
Finbar Gregg (2), Enda Smith (2, 1 penalty), Andrew Glennon (2) and Noel Gately all hit the net in a game that was done and dusted by half-time, Roscommon going in at the break 4-7 to 0-1 to the good.
Walsh Cup semi-finals
Wexford 2-18 Kilkenny 1-9
WEXFORD emerged on the right side of the result against beaten All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny to book their place in this year’s Walsh Cup final.
Davy Fitzgerald’s men took a six-point lead into half-time thanks to a Michael Dwyer goal and, while the Cats threatened a second-half comeback when goalkeeper Eoin Murphy blasted a penalty to the net, it was snuffed out by the Yellowbellies.
Aidan Nolan grabbed Wexford’s second goal and they never looked back from there as they coasted to victory in Callan.
Galway 0-19 Dublin 0-18
GALWAY overcame Dublin at Parnell Park to set up a final date with Wexford.
The westerners hit the final three points of the first-half to take a one-point lead into the break in Shane O’Neill’s first game in charge. The second-half was painfully close, as Mattie Kenny's Dubs closed the gap to the minimum on no fewer than seven occasions.
However, they never managed to draw level, as Galway held on to progress to Sunday's final.
