Round-up: Saturday's Allianz HL D3 action
A general view of Markievicz Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 3A
Sligo 4-19 Cavan 3-18
Sligo withstood a determined Cavan fightback as they secured the spoils on home soil at the end of a hugely entertaining tie at Markievicz Park this afternoon.
The winners appeared destined to cruise to victory as they led 4-13 to 0-10 at half-time. Sligo edged the opening quarter before a ruthless second quarter saw them power to a 15-point half time lead. Gerard O’Kelly Lynch was first to hit the net with Conor Griffin following up for a second green flag. Brothers Tony and Liam O’Kelly Lynch both found the net to give Sligo a comprehensive lead by the interval, suggesting a landslide win.
It wasn’t to be, however, as Cavan gave themselves ample cause for optimism for the remainder of this campaign with a very impressive second 35 minutes. Nicholas Kenny and Liam O’Brien hit back with majors and despite Thomas Leonard seeing red for the away side, Kenny nabbed a late third goal, setting up a tense finale in which Sligo held on.
Allianz Hurling League Division 3B
Lancashire 0-12 Longford 1-9
Longford dug in to secure a draw against Lancashire at Abbotstown this afternoon, striking late to deny the Exiles the opportunity to move top of Division 3B.
The Leinster side led this game by 1-4 to 0-5 at the break, with Reuben Murray bagging 1-3 in a lively individual display. Lancashire had drawn level by the three-quarter mark and even managed to briefly move in front before Longford struck in injury time to secure parity.
Warwickshire 1-17 Leitrim 0-20
Jack Grealish came up trumps in the closing minutes to guarantee a share of the spoils for Lancashire in their home tie against Leitrim, which felt like a fair result at the end of a topsy-turvy contest at Páirc na hÉireann.
Grealish, Breen Fallon and a string of frees from Dan Devine ensure the tie was in the balance after 20 minutes, level at 0-6 apiece, but Leitrim powered on to lead by four at the interval, 0-11 to 0-7.
Dan Lowry’s goal in the second minute after the restart ensured that the game reverted to a nip and tuck battle. Conor Beirne and Murray appeared to do enough for Leitrim with impressive late points, but Warwickshire struck late to deny the Connacht side and leave this Division very delicately poised.
