Round-up: Allianz HL D3 action
Louth defeated Armagh in Division Three of the Allianz Hurling League. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division Three
SUNDAY
Roscommon 2-15 Wicklow 1-16
Donegal 3-21 Tyrone 1-18
SATURDAY
Louth 1-20 Armagh 1-15
Adam Donnelly’s goal from a free in the 72nd minute of action at King & Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park gave Roscommon a dream start to their 2026 Allianz League Division Three campaign, while Wicklow will have travelled back east with no shortage of regrets after hitting 14 wides and competing well even after Cian Bowes was sent off with 20 minutes to play.
Wicklow led by 1-6 to 0-1 by the 20th minute, and there was no evidence that such a tight finish was coming. Seánie Germaine’s goal only seemed to ignite the Rossies however and teenager Conor Morris hit a gorgeous point to get Brian Hanley’s men going.
The lead was down to two at half-time and when Liam Óg Coyle netted to level the game after Bowes was dismissed, it was advantage to the home team.
Pádraig Doyle and Fionn Darcy pointed as Wicklow dug deep for a final push, only to be undone by Donnelly’s powerful drive.
In Garvaghey, Donegal had an early six-point lead reeled in by a competitive Tyrone side, with a string of Aidy Kelly points and Shea Munroe’s goal doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the Red Hand County in their drive to draw level by the 50th minute.
Once they did, Donegal hit the accelerator, rattling off four points either side of Ronan McDermott’s goal to re-establish their commanding lead. Another green flag from John Kealy with five minutes to play extinguished any lingering hopes Tyrone would have entertained of a home win.
Louth may have come away from their short trip to the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds with two points, but they left it late, firing 1-2 in stoppage time to snatch their local derby win and become the first team to lead Division Three of the Allianz League in 2026.
Ciarán McKelvey was the star man for the Wee County, hitting 1-7 in all, and the debutant accounted for each of those crucial late scores for the winners.
Armagh had rallied themselves to draw level, scoring four points in a row and then scrambling and Aaron Cullinane goal, but they couldn’t close it out.
McKelvey, Darren Geoghegan and Conor Murphy were the main scorers for Louth in the opening half as they accumulated an 0-13 to 0-8 lead, with Aaron McGuinness and Stephen Kettle strong in defence.
Kyle Rafferty’s dismissal handed Armagh a chink of hope but he was followed to the sideline by Dylan McKenna of the home team, leaving it 14 men each going into a roller-coaster of a finish.
