GAA round-up
Fermanagh and Donegal will replay next Sunday at Brewster Park to decide whoplays Monaghan in the next round of the Ulster championship following an entertaining preliminary round battle at Ballybofey this afternoon.
Fermanagh will come away from this afternoon’s game (2-13 to 1-16) bitterly disappointed after failing to hold off the late challenge of a gritty Donegal side.
With four minutes remaining, Fermanagh led by three points. However, their careless lack of discipline gifted Donegal the brace of frees to force the replay.
Aidan Sweeney fisted a goal for Donegal after four minutes of the game.Fermanagh manager, John Maughan, replied fifteen minutes later by introducing substitute Mark O’Donnell.
O’Donnell was on hand to capitalise on slack Donegal defending and steal through for a simple goal.That score restored the momentum in the Fermanagh side and they took to the break with a two point advantage (1-09 to 1-07).
The second half was marred by scrappy play from both sides.Sparkle was restored to the game when Fermanagh’s excellent full forward Stephen Maguire punched home a goal eight minutes from time.
That goal put John Maughan’s side three points ahead.With the clock ticking into injury time, Donegal managed to cut Fermanagh’s lead to two points.Then late in the game, a brace of pointed frees from Sweeney brought salvation to Donegal.
In Munster reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry breezed past a dire Tipperary side with a commanding 3-17 to 1-04 victory at Clonmel.
Leading 1-08 to 1-02 at half-time, Kerry turned on the style in the second half.
Dara O’Cinneide and second half substitute Noel Kennelly both scored fine goals while Maurice Fitzgerald sparkled with three unanswered points late in the second half.Kerry progress to play Limerick in the Munster semi-final.
At Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork hammered Waterford 3-16 to 1-07.Two goals in a minute from corner forwards Fionan Murray and Aidan Dorgan killed off the game at the end of the first half.
After the break, Waterford’s Con Power added a brace of points before Murray scissor-kicked a spectacular goal adding to Cork’s already substantial total.John Hennessy replied for Waterford with a punched goal but Cork were already out of reach.
In Leinster, Carlow and Wicklow forced a 1-09 to 2-06 draw at Newbridge and will replay next Sunday.Wicklow dominated the first half and led at half-time.
The second half, however, was a frustrating period for Wicklow.They failed to register a single score until the 29th minute and in doing so they allowed Carlow claw their way back and lead with one minute to play.
Staring at defeat, Wicklow conjured up a match saving point in injury time courtesy of Sean Kavanagh.The winners of next Sunday’s replay will play Kildare in the Leinster quarter-final.
Ulster SFC
Preliminary Round
Fermanagh 2-13 Donegal 1-16
Leinster SFC
Preliminary Round
Wicklow 2-06 Carlow 1-09
Munster SFC
First Round
Cork 3-16 Waterford 1-07
Munster SFC
First Round
Kerry 3-17 Tipperary 1-04