Nick Doyle, Wexford, and Darragh Treacy, Limerick, collide at Rathkeale.
Allianz National Football League Division Four
WEXFORD 1-13 LIMERICK 1-10
WICKLOW 7-11 ANTRIM 0-7
CARLOW 2-17 SLIGO 2-15
SUNDAY
Wexford enjoyed an excellent win over Limerick at Rathkeale on Sunday afternoon.
Under new boss Shane Roche, Wexford made a smart start accumulating a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage early on.
Indeed Daithi Waters goal before the break ensured Wexford held a commanding 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
After the restart Limerick came thundering back with a Tommy Griffin goal injecting the home team with hope.
Limerick eventually narrowed the gap to two points, but Ben Brosnan, who finished with a 0-7 haul, landed a critical score for Wexford.
SATURDAY
Any two of six teams can still be promoted from Division Four of the Allianz Football League after wins for Wicklow and Carlow made sure it’s all to play for in an exciting tier four.
Wicklow boosted their hopes of promotion following their comprehensive 7-11 to 0-7 triumph over Antrim at Aughrim. In the day’s early throw-in, the Leinster outfit hit the ground running and had the two points wrapped up and delivered before half time of this tie.
Despite falling behind to a Kevin Quinn point from Antrim, Davy Burke’s Wicklow side got up and running with an early goal when Seanie Furlong converted from the penalty spot, which meant they were 1-1 to 0-1 clear at the first water break.
Padraig O’Toole hit the home side’s second goal shortly after the action restarted, while Conor Byrne put them in total control at half time with his side’s third goal, which earned them a 3-5 to 0-1 interval lead.
Tomás McCann kicked Antrim’s second point shortly after the restart, but when Furlong scored his second goal there was no doubt about the winners.
A sin binning for Eoin Darcy didn’t stall Wicklow’s progress as further goals from Pat Burke, Darcy and Gearoid Murphy saw them canter to a 7-11 to 0-7 victory, which drew them level with leaders Limerick in the standings.
Dermot McAleese, 19, of Antrim kicks the ball towards goal near the end of the Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 6 match between Wicklow and Antrim at Joule Park in Aughrim, Wicklow.
And in the late game, Niall Carew’s Carlow side left it late, but the new manager saw his team deny his old side with a late, late show at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Sligo looked to be on the way to victory following Red Óg Murphy’s second half goal, but Ross Dunphy and Conor Crowley hit back for Carlow, before Paul Broderick edged it for Carlow deep into added time.
In a pulsating game, Broderick kicked two early points for Carlow and Chris Blake also found the target as Carew’s side raced into an early lead, but after a Pat Hughes point, the Connacht side claimed a vital score when Mikey Gordon found the net in the sixth minute.
With Broderick and Jordan Morrissey on song, Carlow reclaimed the advantage, but a Liam Gaughan brace and a lovely Red Óg Murphy effort meant Sligo worked their way into a 1-7 to 0-9 half-time lead.
Broderick and Murphy kicked a point each to start the second half but Sligo looked set for victory when Murphy fired to the roof of the net after some great build up play by Hughes in the 41st minute.
Straight away Carlow replied in style though, when Dunphy fired to the net to cut the lead to two points, but despite further points from Hughes and Gordon, Sligo held a perilous lead.
And seven minutes from time substitute Crowley struck Carlow’s second goal, as Blake and Broderick points made sure of the win – despite the best efforts of Gaughan in added time.
