Football

NFL Matchbox: Mayo & Kildare secure Division One football for 2022

Cillian O'Connor helped Mayo to victory over Clare at the weekend
Cillian O'Connor helped Mayo to victory over Clare at the weekend Cillian O'Connor helped Mayo to victory over Clare at the weekend

National Football League

Division Two semi-finals

Clare 2-18 Mayo 2-22

MAYO made sure their stay in Division Two was a brief one thanks to a battling victory over Clare at Cusack Park.

Aided by goals from Cillian O’Connor and Oisín Mullin, the visitors were 11 points clear at the break. However, there was to be no second-half saunter as Clare hit a quick fire double of their own through Darren O’Neill and Gavin Cooney upon the resumption.

Mayo needed to rely on all their reserves of experience to see them through to a vital victory.

Kildare 1-14 Meath 0-14

A FIFTH minute goal from Jimmy Hyland was ultimately the difference between the two Leinster sides at Newbridge.

A melee in injury-time ended with straight red cards for Meath duo Brian Conlon and Conor McGill.

Division Two relegation play-off

Cork 3-22 Westmeath 0-25

CORK kept their place in Division Two thanks to a six-point victory over Westmeath at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon.

The Rebels scored three second-half goals courtesy of Mark Collins, Luke Connolly and substitute Brian Hurley to consign the Lake county, who had went in at the break 0-14 to 0-12 in front, to relegation.

Division Three relegation play-off

Longford 1-13 Tipperary 0-9

A TIPPERARY collapse in the second-half at Pearse Park consigned the Munster champions to Division Four football next year.

Tipp were level with 20 minutes to go but an Evan Comerford goal swung the game decisively in Longford’s favour and they went on to kick the next four scores in the match.

Division Four semi-final

Carlow 1-15 Louth 1-23

LOUTH secured promotion back to Division Three at the first time of asking thanks to an eight-point win over Carlow at Cullen Park on Saturday evening.

The Wee county had a tight grip on the game throughout and never looked like coming up short after Conor Grimes’ first-half goal. Sam Mulroy also kicked seven points for Louth.

Division Four Shield final

Wexford 2-15 Sligo 0-9

JOHN Tubritt (0-6) was the top scorer while Ben Brosnan’s first-half goal set up this ultimately comfortable Wexford victory.