ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR RESULTS

LAOIS 2-13 WATERFORD 0-5

CARLOW 0-13 LONDON 0-9

WICKLOW 0-15 LEITRIM 1-9

SLIGO 1-20 WEXFORD 3-8

Sligo, Laois and Wicklow all took massive steps towards promotion out of Division Four of the Allianz Football League as they recorded big home wins over the weekend.

Laois were first into action on Saturday night, when they rode on Eoin Lowry’s coat-tails to a comprehensive win over Waterford.

In a tie that never quite caught fire, there were just five scorers overall, three Laois forwards and a wing back and midfielder for Waterford. Among those five, Dermot Ryan put in another tireless shift for the Déise, shooting four points and causing Laois plenty of problems, while Paul Kingston fired two points late, and Mark Barry picked off one immaculate score, but otherwise was all about kicking frees.

Lowry however, was sublime. He finished off his first goal from close range in the first half, making a darting run to get on the end of Evan O’Carroll’s flat layoff, and then killed any hopes of a Waterford revival with the first play of the second half when he ghosted in behind the full-back line to collect a long ball and beat Ben Kirwan from close range.

Waterford scored one point in 32 minutes of the first half and then went scoreless for 33 minutes in the second, but a brief flurry of 1-2 before half time cut the gap to three points at the break, with Jason Curry hitting the net from a penalty after Darragh Corcoran’s run towards goal was halted by a Mark Timmons foul.

Sligo had it all their own way at Markievicz Park, despite conceding a ninth minute goal to John Tubritt. That made it 1-1 to 0-2 in Wexford’s favour, but they went on to outscore the Leinster county by 1-14 to 0-2 over the next 50 minutes or so, with Seán Carrabine racking up seven points, Pat Spillane adding a goal, while Paul Kilcoyne, Niall Murphy and Mark Walsh all scored well for the home side too.

Wexford did bounce back well from losing Eoghan Nolan to a second bookable offence, and they rallied to score late goals from cousins Cian and Niall Hughes, but this still was a huge blow to the Model County in their bid to secure promotion.

For the second time this year, Leitrim travelled to South Leinster and put themselves in a good position, only to lose out to a second half surge from the home team. Echelon Park in Aughrim was the destination for Andy Moran’s troops this afternoon, and for long stretches of the tie, it looked like they were good value for a win over Wicklow, who were hoping to build on last weekend’s momentous victory in Portlaoise.

Keith Beirne, top scorer in the Allianz League so far, shot 1-4 for the visitors, who would have been the happier side at half-time. They led by 0-6 to 0-5 at that stage with the wind to come, and would have been hugely grateful to goalkeeper Darren Maxwell for making two excellent saves.

They used that breeze to go long early and often, with Beirne taking advantage as he fielded a long delivery and rounded Mark Jackson to finish, and with 56 minutes, they were clear favourites, 1-9 to 0-9 in front.

Wicklow dominated from here on however, and points by Padraig O’Toole, Eoin D’Arcy (three) and Dean Healy (two) secured a victory that sets up Oisín McConville and his players perfectly, with games against Wexford and Waterford still to come.

Finally in the division, seven points from Darragh Foley helped Carlow to a 0-13 to 0-9 win over London at McGovern Park in Ruislip. London started well with Aidan McLoughlin and Joseph McGill on the scoresheet, but Carlow rallied to draw level by the half-hour mark, and then finish stronger to lead by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time. They kicked on after half-time too, and while James Gallagher picked off some good scores for London, Carlow always had a little bit to spare.

A late brace from Darragh Foley (one free) and a beauty by Colm Hulton gave Carlow a handy 0-7 to 0-4 half-time lead.