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Allianz FL D4 Roundup: Louth and Antrim on the rise

Louth football manager, Mickey Harte.

Louth football manager, Mickey Harte.

Allianz Football League Division Four results

Antrim 1-15 Waterford 0-11

Louth 1-23 Carlow 1-15

Wexford 2-15 Sligo 0-9

When Antrim and Louth clashed in the first round of this year's league, it was the men from the Glens that prevailed thanks to a late point from Ryan Murray. There was no such tension this weekend as both counties secured promotion to Division Three of the Allianz Football League thanks to comfortable wins over Waterford and Carlow respectively.

A scorching hot Fraher Field was the venue for Waterford's clash with Antrim this afternoon, but it was the visiting side who were on fire early on as Ruairí McCann, Odhrán Eastwood and Conor Small pointed to make it 0-6 to no score in favour of the visiting side early on.

Waterford finally got off the mark in the 28th minute when midfielder Jason Curry pointed a '45, and full-forward Dylan Guiry followed up with a point that could easily have been a goal. Missed goal chances were a feature at both ends of the field, with Guiry also hitting the post while Conor Murray passed up a great chance for Antrim.

Paudie Hunt kept Waterford in the game with two sublime saves early in the second half, but gradually Antrim were taking control of the game and moving clear, effectively settling the tie when Odhrán Eastwood struck a late goal.

Louth also picked up a big win in the south-east of the country when they travelled to Netwatch Cullen Park and beat Carlow in a promotion shootout yesterday afternoon. Seven of the starting eight forwards and midfielders scored from play for the Wee County, who produced undoubtedly their best performance under Mickey Harte's guidance. Conor Grimes and Sam Mulroy were excellent as an axis at full and centre forward respectively, and it was Grimes who put the rubber stamp on Louth's dominance when he hit the net shortly before half time, having also set up three points for midfielder Ciarán Byrne.

Two points from Paul Broderick and another from Josh Moore cut the gap to just five points shortly after half-time, but Louth were able to kick on again in the final quarter, with Sam Mulroy firing over five of his seven points after the second half water-break.

There was one bright spark for the southern section of Division Four as Wexford easily overcame Sligo by 2-15 to 0-9 in the shield final, Ben Brosnan and Liam Coleman their goalscorers at MW Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise.