Leinster SHC round four
Wexford 2-22 Westmeath 4-18
WESTMEATH turned around a 17-point deficit to leave Wexford’s summer in tatters.
With 32 minutes gone at Wexford Park, the Yellowbellies appeared on course for an anticipated easy victory as they led by 2-14 to 0-3. However, things began to fall apart for the home side thereafter as two Niall O’Brien goals sparked a Westmeath revival.
From there, Ciarán Doyle, Joe Boyle, Derek Nicholas and O’Brien were excellent in front of the posts, pointing regularly to narrow the margin.
Entering injury-time, the sides were level and up stepped substitute Niall Mitchell to register two massive points and secure victory for Westmeath.
If Kilkenny beat Wexford this weekend and Antrim beat Westmeath, the Yellowbellies will be playing Joe McDonagh hurling next year.
Kilkenny 0-27 Dublin 0-21
KILKENNY have one foot in the Leinster hurling final and both feet in the All-Ireland series following Saturday’s win over Dublin in Nowlan Park.
Dublin who began strongly, leading 0-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes thanks to Donal Burke frees. However, the Cats found their groove and TJ Reid helped them into the lead by half-time, 0-13 to 0-9.
Kilkenny were comfortable throughout the second-half, with Reid, Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen and Paddy Deegan all pointing.
Munster SHC round four
Clare 2-22 Cork 3-18
A STUNNING 74th minute point from Diarmuid Ryan edged Clare past Cork at Cusack Park and secured the Banner’s place in the Munster hurling final.
Clare found themselves eight points clear at the start of the second-half after Tony Kelly goals either side of the break left the score at 2-13 to 1-8. However, Cork refused to give up the ghost, with a Declan Dalton and Patrick Horgan goals teeing up a grandstand finish.
Clare were guided over the line by their defence as wing-backs Ryan and David McInerney contributed five of their last seven points to get their side over the line.
Nickey Rackard Cup round five
Armagh 3-14 Louth 0-27
LOUTH went into Saturday’s game needing a win to save their Nickey Rackard skin, and they were able to deliver against Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.
Armagh had nothing to play for against the Wee county, but started brightly with a Fionntán Donnelly goal and point and were five points ahead after 17 minutes. Louth fought their way back into the game and a series of Darren Geoghegan points saw them take a 0-14 to 1-7 lead in at the break.
Tomás Galvin's 49th minute goal brought Armagh back into the contest, but Geoghegan points ensured that Galvin’s second goal wasn’t enough to turn the result in Armagh’s favour.
Roscommon 2-17 Fermanagh 1-18
FERMANAGH will be back playing Lory Meagher hurling next year after they fell to defeat to Roscommon in Athleague.
Trailing by six at the break, Daniel Teague and JP McGarry led a Fermanagh revival early in the second period and the former drew them level in the 50th minute before Roscommon got back in front through a Brendan Mulry goal.
Both sides were reduced to 14 players with Fermanagh’s Francie McBrien and Roscommon’s Conor Cosgrove dismissed.
Donegal 1-18 Wicklow 2-17
WICKLOW won Saturday’s Letterkenny dress rehearsal for the Nickey Rackard Cup final.
A Sean Ward goal had helped Donegal into a 1-14 to 1-6 lead, but Wicklow fought back from there to take victory.
Lory Meagher Cup round five
Monaghan 2-16 Longford 0-17
MONAGHAN booked their place in the Lory Meagher final thanks to a four-point win over Longford in Cloghan.
Thomas Hughes grabbed an early goal for the Farney and a series of Ethan Flynn points gave them a 2-8 to 0-11 half-time lead.
Longford showed fight in the second-half, but Niall Arthur and Flynn braces saw Monaghan into the decider.
Cavan 2-18 Leitrim 2-19
A POOR finish at Breffni Park cost Cavan a place in the Lory Meagher final.
Although Cavan started well, the dismissal of Nickey Kenny after 18 minutes was to prove costly.
Warwickshire 3-17 Lancashire 5-13
LANCASHIRE won the battle of the exiles to leapfrog Cavan and secure a spot in the Lory Meagher final.
