Allianz Football League Division Three

Cork 3-13 Tipperary 0-21

Down 2-13 Longford 1-14

Allianz Football League Division Four

Waterford 2-12 Sligo 0-16

Cork were holding on in the end, but despite conceding 21 points they claimed victory by the narrowest margin to seal a fourth straight win of their Allianz Football League Division Three campaign and denied Tipperary in Semple Stadium.

It didn’t look good for Cork in the early stages as Tipp led by 0-5 to 0-0 and by 0-7 to 0-2, but after Ruairí Deane’s goal in the 21st minute the Rebels settled. The were a couple of points in arrears at the interval, but Luke Connolly’s penalty six minutes after the restart and his second strike seven minutes later gave Cork the foundation they needed to hold on for the win.

Even with that cushion it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Division Three leaders. Conor Sweeney and Jack Kennedy combined for nine points between them, while David Power’s side registered 10 different scorers but they fell agonisingly short of a deserved share of the spoils and lost out on a 3-13 to 0-21 margin in Thurles.

In the other Division Three fixture on Saturday evening, Down left it late but they came out on the right side of the result thanks to a couple of goals from James Guinness and Corey Quinn in the final quarter against Longford.

There was very little between the teams in the opening half but points from Liam Kerr and Barry O’Hagan just before half time meant the Ulster side held a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

Paddy Tally’s men looked to have the game in control when they built on that lead after the restart, but Longford surged back into contention with a goal from Liam Connerton, while points from Dessie Reynolds and Darren Gallagher gave them the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

But with a vocal home crowd roaring them on, Down hit back with scores from Kerr and O’Hagan, before Guinness and Quinn hit the net in the last eight minutes to make sure of the win.

Meanwhile in Division Four, Sligo slipped to a second loss in a week as Waterford’s late comeback sealed a 2-12 to 0-16 victory.

Liam Gaughan’s fifth point had helped Sligo draw level two minutes from time, but Waterford kicked on to the win with Darragh Corcoran’s scoring two points from open play in added time to secure a first win of the competition for Benji Whelan’s side.

Sligo had started their Division Four campaign with back to back wins, but they followed up last week’s defeat in Aughrim with this home loss.

Fifteen minutes after the restart Sligo were four points clear but a goal from Sean O’Donovan lifted Waterford. Sligo had John F Carr sent off Dylan Guiry’s goal seven minutes form the end put the Déise side in front and they never looked back.