Allianz Football League Division Three

LONGFORD 0-16 LOUTH 1-10

TIPPERARY 0-10 DOWN 0-10

Allianz Football League Division Four

ANTRIM 3-10 WEXFORD 0-13

SLIGO 5-9 LONDON 0-11

Owen McCabe’s late point scuppered Tipperary’s hopes of a winning start on their return to Division Three of the Allianz Football League at Clonmel Sportsfield.

Tipperary, despite being down to 14 men, almost held on for their first win, but newly crowned O’Byrne Cup champions Longford did get two points with victory at home to Louth.

In Division Four, Paul Galvin’s Wexford reign got off to a slow start at the other end of the country, where hosts Antrim were victorious. And Sligo finally got back to winning ways in London.

But Tipperary let a big chance slip when they allowed Down back into the game, after having Jack Kennedy sent-off in the second half of their 0-10 to 0-10 draw.

Michael Quinlivan won’t feature in 2020, but fellow star forward and captain Conor Sweeney landed three points in the first half as Tipperary took a 0-6 to 0-5 half-time lead.

The home side were slow to get going and were three in arrears early on, but despite the efforts of Barry O’Hagan, McCabe and Donal O’Hare Down were left to chase the game.

Kennedy was sent-off following a second black card offence, just six minutes after the restart, but Tipperary looked to have held their nerve when they went two points clear again, in the 56th minute.

Tipperary couldn’t find the target after Sweeney’s advanced mark. Down goalkeeper Rory Burns scored a 45 and then McCabe found the levelling score with five minutes remaining.

Darren Gallagher helped himself to 0-5 as Longford’s impressive start to the year continued with a 0-16 to 1-10 win over Louth at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Longford were on a high after their O’Byrne Cup final victory over Offaly and even though they were often erratic in front of goal, they still managed to take a 0-9 to 1-3 lead at half-time.

Longford registered seven wides in that first half but Gallagher put them in the ascendancy from an early free, and they never relinquished the lead.

Louth goalkeeper Craig Lynch denied Rían Brady and Iarla O’Sullivan and the visitors were given a lifeline when Gerry Garland fired a goal before half-time.

But Longford controlled proceedings in the second half and once they took a five-point lead in the 48th minute there was no stopping them.

Galvin couldn’t inspire Wexford to an opening day success as they fell to a 3-10 to 0-13 defeat away in Glenavy.

Wexford had struggled in recent years and two second half goals from Antrim’s Ruairi McCann ensured there was no bounce following the arrival of the former Kerry All-Ireland winner.

Eunan Walsh scored just before half-time to give Antrim a 1-7 to 0-8 interval lead, and there was no comeback.

Sligo won their first competitive fixture in 18 months when they hammered London 5-9 to 0-11 in Ruislip.

Pat Hughes and Paddy O’Connor scored two goals each while Darragh Cummins also found the net in an impressive start to their League campaign.