Allianz Hurling League Division Two Results

Roinn 2A

OFFALY 2-17 KILDARE 0-23

KERRY 1-20 DOWN 1-19

CARLOW 2-21 DERRY 0-16

Kildare are just 70 minutes away from Division One hurling after James Burke’s tenth point of the afternoon in the sixth minute of stoppage time salvaged a 2-17 to 0-23 draw for them at Glenisk O’Connor Park this afternoon. The result means that with both teams tied on nine points, Kildare’s superior scoring difference puts them straight through to a league final, while Offaly will host Kerry in a semi-final next weekend.

For 50 minutes of this game – the entirety of the first half and the closing 15 – Offaly were fractionally the better team. For the 20 at the start of the second half., Kildare were utterly dominant, outscoring their hosts by 0-10 to 0-1 in that period.

Johnny Kelly’s side relied on superior accuracy, largely from freetaker Eoghan Cahill, to lead by 0-13 to 0-10 at half-time, but they were in big trouble by the 55th minute. David Nally and Charlie Mitchell got goals to turn the tide however and it looked like Cahill’s last two points would see them home, before late Kildare pressure forced the equaliser.

It was also closely fought at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, where a 70th minute equaliser from Dan Goggin and an injury time winner from Philip Lucid gave Kerry a one-point win over Down.

The return to form of Shane Conway was the big positive for Stephen Molumphy’s side, as he shot 0-9 with Jordan Conway adding 1-2.

Down did most of their best hurling in the first half when a run of scores from Daithí Sands, Pearse Óg McCrickard (two), Paul Sheehan (two), Chris Egan and Tom Grattan pushed them 0-12 to 0-9 in front at half-time, and Tom Grattan’s superb goal on 52 minutes made it a five-point game before Kerry rallied.

That result meant that Derry could have averted relegation if they had overcome Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park, but they were knocked to the canvas twice in the first five minutes, as a brace of goals from Paudie Kehoe gave Carlow a dream start. Cormac O’Doherty battled manfully for the Oak Leaf men but they were shipping too much damage at the other end, with Marty Kavanagh, Paddy Boland, Richard Coady and Chris Nolan all scoring to help build up a 2-13 to 0-8 interval lead. The second half was pedestrian fare by comparison, as there was little doubt about the result, with both counties starting to turn their focus towards their next competitive outings in the Joe McDonagh and Christy Ring Cups.

Roinn 2B

SLIGO 1-14 WICKLOW 0-12

MEATH 2-22 LONDON 2-21

DONEGAL 1-18 TYRONE 1-17

There was very little at stake in two of the three games in Division 2B this afternoon, as the only business left to be resolved was who would play Wicklow in next weekend’s league semi-final.

Seán Duffin’s first half goals was cancelled out by a strike from Donegal’s Rúairí Campbell in the first half at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny, and a nip and tuck tie stayed in the balance right up until the closing minutes, when it looked like Tyrone might sneak the win (or draw) they needed to keep their promotion chase alive. Jack O’Loughlin, Ruairi Campbell and Oisín Marley fired the last three points of the game to flip the script however, with Marley’s effort from out on the sideline worthy of winning any game.

Wicklow put in an anaemic display at Markievicz Park so a goal from Tomás Cawley was able to give Sligo their first win of the campaign and give them a boost in advance of next Sunday’s relegation final against London, though the Exiles will also feel relatively good about themselves after they ran table toppers Meath very close at McGovern Park in Ruislip.

Eoghan McHugh and Jack Goulding found the back of the net for London as they led by 2-11 to 1-11 at half-time, though Eamon Ó Donnchadha's second goal of the tie in the 40th minute edged Meath back in front. The sides were never separated by much right up until the final whistle, when Jack Regan’s scores proved to be the difference between the teams.