All-Ireland U21 Football Championship final: Cork 1-14 Mayo 5-7
A STRONG finish to this thrilling contest netted the westerners their first U21 title since 2006.
Early on, favourites Cork were in the ascendancy and led 0-7 to 0-4 as the first-half entered stoppage-time. But amazingly, Mayo then hit 2-1 without reply to lead by four at the break. On the resumption, Conor Loftus hit a third goal to make the gap five.
The Rebels refused to buckle though and battled away gamely. A Peter Kelleher goal on 46 minutes lifted them and a Brian Coakley point on 55 levelled matters. But Mayo added further, dramatic majors late on from Loftus and Liam Irwin to spark joyous scenes in Ennis.
Christy Ring Cup round 2A: London 1-16 Meath 2-17
MEATH upset the odds in Ruislip with this four point win over the Exiles.
It was a second win for the Royals after their comfortable nine-point defeat of Wicklow in round one. The loss is disappointing for London as they failed to build on their first day defeat of Down.
Christy Ring Cup round 2B: Wicklow 0-9 Kildare 0-17
KILDARE responded well to their first round reverse at the hands of Antrim with a convincing win against Wicklow, who had three players sent-off late in the game.
The opening half was dominated by the free-taking of Gerry Keegan of Kildare and Christy Moorehouse of Wicklow. The visitors went in a point ahead at the break. In the second-half, Keegan, Ross Bergin and Mark Maloney increased the lead of the Lilywhites, who were always keeping their opponents at bay.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Qualifier Group round one: Kerry 2-19 Carlow 0-17
THE Kerry hurlers became the first Munster county to play in the Leinster SHC and marked the occasion with a comfortable win over Carlow.
The Kingdom netted goals in each half from John Egan and Shane Nolan, with the latter effort in the 42nd minute putting them five clear. Although Carlow kept themselves in touch, with Michael Kavanagh on song from frees and open play, thereafter they never threatened to score the goal they badly needed.
In addition, the O'Moore men will rue the 12 wides they struck while playing with a stiff opening half breeze.
Westmeath 2-22 Offaly 1-11
EOIN PRICE and Derek McNicholas found the net for Westmeath as they shocked a disappointing Offaly side at Cusack Park.
A five minute burst of scoring after half-time, when they opened up a 13-point lead, augmented an impressive first-half showing from the Lake county. Thereafter, they were never going to be caught and although Paddy Murphy raised a green flag for Offaly halfway though the second period, Price hit the net in the 69th minute to put added gloss on the scoreline.
Lory Meagher Cup second round: Warwickshire 2-10 Louth 3-13
LOUTH made it two wins from two in the Lory Meagher as they repeated their league win over Warwickshire.
Shane Callan, Nigel Stanley and Diarmuid Murphy were prominent for the Wee county, who led by two points at the interval. John Reddan and Pádraig Crehan tried hard for Warwickshire, but Louth prevailed.
Lancashire 2-10 Leitrim 2-18
LEITRIM also prevailed at Páirc na hÉireann to notch their first points.
Pádraig O’Donnell was back for the Ridge county and he slugged it out with Paddy Duggan in the free-taking stakes in the first-half. Both players also scored second-half goals and it looked like being close until Leitrim, aided by scores from Colm Moreton and Gavin O’Hagan, finished the strongest.
