Division 1A
Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 3-14
TIPPERARY’S Steven O’Brien landed a 70th minute point as the Premier County kept up their unbeaten record in Division 1A on Saturday evening. In an entertaining encounter, which ebbed and flowed, a draw was a fair enough result. TJ Reid scored two penalties for the Cats, and snaffled 3-5 in all, while Seamus Callanan rifled over six points for the All-Ireland champions.
Clare 0-20 Dublin 1-15
CLARE were the stronger team down the home straight as they claimed a vital win against Dublin. The visitors led the contest for 40 minutes, aided by Ryan O’Dwyer’s goal midway through the first half, but it was the Banner men who clawed back a five-point gap by hitting nine of the last 11 points of the game to reel in the Leinster men. Dublin will now need a big win against Kilkenny to avoid the play-off.
Waterford 1-13 v Cork 1-21
CORK kept alive their hopes of making the quarter-finals with a determined win against Waterford. The opening quarter of the match was a cagey affair before Cork gained the upper hand. They recorded the last five points of the opening period to lead by seven. When Luke Meade fired in a goal on 49 minutes, the game was truly up for the Deise. 12 Cork players got on the scoreboard and Maurice Shanahan and Seamus Harnedy were sent off in the second half.
Division 1B
Laois 1-19 Limerick 6-33
LIMERICK demolished Laois on Saturday night with a ruthless display of finishing power. The game began at a furious pace as the sides swapped scores early on, and although Laois were still just about in the game with 20 minutes gone, Limerick assumed command thereafter. With Gearoid Hegarty, who finished with a personal tally of 2-6 instrumental, the half time score was 3-14 to 0-10. Further green flags were raised in the second half by Colin Ryan and Gearoid Hegarty (2).
Offaly 0-15 Wexford 1-7
WEXFORD will ply their trade in the top division next year following this five-point win over a dogged Offaly team. Davy Fitzgerald’s men, with Conor McDonald goaling just before the break, led by two points at half-time. Shane Dooley, who finished with 0-10, failed to convert a 49th minute penalty, with Mark Fanning saving superbly. The unbeaten Yellowbellies lead Galway and Limerick by two points at the top of the table, and having beaten both already, are guaranteed to top the table with just one round of matches left.
Kerry 0-12 Galway 1-22
JOE Canning scored nine points for Galway as they eased to a third win at the expense of Kerry. The Kingdom stuck with their rivals for the first half hour of the contest with just Padraig Brehony's goal separating the teams at the interval. After the break, however, the Tribesmen stamped their authority on proceedings as the scores flooded in. As well as Canning’s contribution, Cathal Mannion grabbed five points from play. Kerry play Offaly next, with a win earning them a quarter-final spot.
