Darragh Fitzgibbon has been named man of the match:
Here are this afternoon’s full-time scores -
Allianz Hurling League
Division 1A final: Cork 3-24 Tipperary 0-23
Division 1B final: Waterford 1-27 Offaly 2-20
Ulster SFC first round:
Donegal 1-25 Derry 1-15
Leinster SFC round 1:
Meath 1-30 Carlow 0-19
Longford 1-20 Wicklow 2-23 (after extra-time)
Connacht SFC quarter-finals: Mayo 2-20 Sligo 2-17;
New York v Galway, Gaelic Park, 8.0 (Irish time)
FULL-TIME: Longford 1-20 Wicklow 2-23: After a last-gasp point from Wicklow forced the game to extra-time, Wicklow held their cool to play most of the better football from there, including a late goal from Kevin Quinn. A victory to savour for now as Oisin McConville’s team face Dublin next weekend in the Leinster quarter-final at Aughrim.
FULL-TIME: Cork 3-24 Tipperary 0-23: As a contest it may have dried up by half-time, an ultimately one-sided league final, but there is no disputing Cork are the superior team of this hurling league, claiming their first title in 27 years with a superbly impressive display highlighted by three first-half goals. All six starting forwards scored in the 10-point win, with Patrick Horgan scoring the last point with a free, as influential as ever, a month before his 37th birthday.
Cork 3-23 Tipperary 0-22: Three minutes left to play at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Cork appear to be jogging in towards the finish line, perfectly content with the nature of their victory, and their first hurling league title in 27 years.
Cork 3-22 Tipperary 0-21: With eight minutes left to play, Tipp get a point back thanks to a 65-m from Jason Forde, but Cork are simply in cruise control at this stage.
That third Cork goal in case you missed it...
Cork 3-21 Tipperary 0-17: Cork bring their tally to 30 on 56 minutes, thanks to another free from Patrick Horgan, the official attendance at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh announced as 43,243.
FULL-TIME: Mayo 2-20 Sligo 2-17: A far from convincing three-point win by Mayo over a spirited Sligo challenge, who finished with a late goal from Cian Lally after a coiple of two pointers, but they’ll take it, as attention turns to a semi-final meeting with Leitrim.
Cork 3-20 Tipperary 0-15: With 49 minutes played, Tipp can’t make much inroads into Cork’s advantage, Jake Morris scoring from play to bring their tally to 15 points, before Brian Hayes hits back for Cork.
Longford 1-15 Wicklow 1-15: A last-gasp point from Wicklow in the final minute of injury time forces the game into extra-time, Podge O’Toole kicking the 77th minute equaliser for Wicklow.
Cork 3-16 Tipperary 0-14: Back underway at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and Darragh McCarthy gets a point back for Tipp from a placed ball, and Sean Kenneally adds one from play, but they still have a mountain to climb.
GOAL! Mayo 2-17 Sligo 2-12: Sligo refusing to give up the chase in Castlebar, scoring a second goal 27 minutes into the second half, probably too late though.
Longford 1-13 Wicklow 1-13: Longford draw level again, 25 minutes into the second half, this game heading towards a grandstand finish.
Mayo 2-17 Sligo 1-12: Mayo are starting to pull away 20 minutes into the second half at Castlebat, a point from Fergal Boland extending their advantage, before Niall Murphy gets one back for Sligo.
Here are the Meath-Carlow teams and scorers from Pairc Tailteann -
MEATH: Billy Hogan; Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Eoin Larkin, Donal Keogan, Ciarán Caulfield (0-0-1); Jack Flynn (0-1-1), Bryan Menton (0-0-1); Conor Duke (0-0-2), Ruairí Kinsella (1-1-3), Jack Kinlough (0-0-2); Keith Curtis (0-1-0), Mathew Costello (0-0-4, 3f), Eoghan Frayne (0-2-3, 2f, 1 2ptf). Subs: Diarmuid Moriarty (0-0-2) for Kinlough (21 mins); Ronan Ryan for Lavin (48 mins); Jason Scully (0-0-1) for Kinsella (50 mins); Michael Murphy for Harkin (53 mins); Cillian O’Sullivan for Murphy (68 mins)
CARLOW: Johnny Furey; Paddy Regan, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; Shane Clarke, Mikey Bambrick, John Murphy; Ciarán Moran (0-1-0), Liam Brennan; Paddy McDonnell (0-0-1), Ross Dunphy (0-0-1), Conor Doyle (0-2-1, 1 45, 1 2ptf); Aaron Amond, Kevin Murphy (0-1-2, 1 2ptf), Conor Crowley (0-0-3, 2f). Subs: Niall Hickey (0-1-1) for Regan (ht); Seán Murphy for Brennan (48 mins); Mark Mullen for Amond (52 mins); Cormac Lomax for K Murphy (63 mins); Lee Moore for Byrne (67 mins)
A half-time update from Sean Moran -
Half-time and it’s hard not to say that the league final is over. Tipperary have been battling away but their 12 points have been quarried out of a physically dominant Cork defence. At the other end, the home team have had 29 shots and bagged 3-16. The goals have each come like a hammer blow, nailing down what looks like a first title since 1998.
FULL-TIME: Meath 1-30 Carlow 0-19: Jason Scully taps over the last score for Meath as they run out convincing winners at Pairc Tailteann, setting up a quarter-final meeting with Offaly next Sunday.
HALF-TIME: Cork 3-16 Tipperary 0-12: A fairly swashbuckling performance from Cork has them well on top, the game fast turning into damage limitation for Tipp. Tim O’Mahony has the last say of the first half with a point from play.
GOAL! Cork 3-15 Tipperary 0-12: Ethan Twomey makes it three goals for Cork in the first half, scoring with just a minute of normal time remaining to put the game well within their control.
GOAL! Longford 0-12 Wicklow 1-11: A rocket of a goal from Podge O’Toole puts Wicklow in front in their Leinster championship meeting with Longford, seven minutes into the second half.
Mayo: 2-9 Sligo 1-8: Sligo have got a goal back three minutes into the second half in Castlebar, keeping the game alive for now at least.
Cork 2-14 Tipperary 0-10: The gap is up to 10 points after 28 minutes as Patrick Horgan adds another free for Cork.
GOAL! Cork 2-13 Tipperary 0-10: Diarmuid Healy runs into space to score his second point of the match on 26 minutes, and Cork follow that with their second goal thanks to Darragh Fitzgibbon. Tipp are in trouble already it seems.
GOAL! Cork 1-12 0-8: Cork are starting to impose some dominance now, Alan Connolly continuing their goal scoring spree after 22 minutes, shortly before Ciaran Joyce adds another point.
HALF-TIME Longford 0-12 Wicklow 0-08: Still a close game in Longford, the prize here remember being a quarter-final meeting with Dublin.
Cork 0-8 Tipperary 0-7: Another cool free from McCarthy brings Tipp back to within a point again, after Patrick Horgan had edged Cork out to two points.
Cork 0-7 Tipperary 0-6: Nothing much between the sides so far, Connolly and then Twomey again giving Cork a two-point advantage after 14 minutes. Moments later Darragh McCarthy converts a free for Tipp and it’s back to a one-point game.
HALF-TIME: Mayo 1-8 Sligo 0-8: Sligo will be happy to be within three points to Mayo at half-time, less so by the number of scoring chances they missed, The conceession of that early goal didn’t help either.
Cork 0-4 Tipperary 0-3: A super fast start from both teams, Gearoid O’Connor reducing the gap to one point for Tipp after seven minutes.
Cork 0-3 Tipperary 0-1: Perfect hurling conditions for a league final, and points from Alan Connolly and Shane Barret guide Cork into an early - very early - advantage after four minutes., Patrick Horgan then adding his first of the afternoon.
Longford 0-8 Wicklow 0-7: In the Leinster football championship Dylan Farrell puts Longford ahead after 28 minutes.
Sean Moran also has a teaser for us ahead of the Allianz Hurling League final between Cork and Tipperary, which has a 4.0 throw-in.
Bright but chilly afternoon in a packed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first league final between Cork and Tipperary since 1960. Team news is unexpected with Brian Hayes, whose entire season looked in doubt after the final regulation match against Galway due to a knee injury, playing as named in the Cork team. His inclusion had been greeted initially with scepticism but he plays as Pat Ryan’s men go in search of a first Allianz League title in 26 years. Tipperary, who haven’t won it since 2008, also play as selected.
A half-time update from Gordon Manning at Pairc Tailteann -
Meath 0-22 Carlow 0-5. Meath played with the wind at their backs in the first half and kicked five two pointers as they built up a 17 point lead at the interval. It was a six point game in the 20th minute but Meath turned the screw in the closing stages of the first half. For Carlow, despite having the aid of the wind in the second half, the gap already looks too great to reel in Meath.
From Malachy Clerkin at Ballybofey -
Donegal have run out comfortable winners in Ballybofey, seeing Derry off by 1-25 to 1-15. Patrick McBrearty scored six points in the second half as the home side eased away from Derry, who were reduced to a string of hopeful attempts at two-pointers, which mostly dropped wide. Donegal go on now to play Monaghan in Clones in a fortnight.
FULL-TIME: Donegal 1-25 Derry 1-15: Donegal finish up impressive and convincing winners over Derry, keeping the defence of their Ulster football title well on track, as minds turn already to the quarter-final meeting with Monaghan on April 20th, Paddy McBreary and Daire O Baoill leading their scoring.
GOAL! Mayo 1-1 Sligo : 0-2: A Mayo goal from Ryan O’Donoghue after four minutes gives the home team an early advantage in their Connacht quarter-final at Castlebar.
Meath 0-21 Carlow 0-4: Eoghan Frayne scores a two-pointer from the edge of the arc and Meath are absolutely cruising on the approach to half-time.
Donegal 1-23 Derry 1-13: With four minutes left to play in Ballybofey, Donegal continue to lord things as Derry are simply running out of steam, the home team unquestionably superior on the day.
Meath 0-10 Carlow 0-3: It’s still all going Meath’s way at Pairc Tailteann, Mat Costello with his second free after 21 minutes of the first half putting them seven points up.
Donegal 1-23 Derry 1-12. After 55 minutes in Ballybofey, Michael Murphy is turning back the clock for Donegal, scoring from play to incrase their lead to 10 points, as Derry are beginning to wilt in the sun. Paddy McBrearty then makes it 1-23, his seventh point of the day. Jim McGuinness calls him ashore soon after.
Meath 0-9 Carlow 0-2: Meath are enjoying a fine start to their Leinster football championship first round game against Carlow, including two two-pointers inside the first 20 minutes from Keith Curtis and Ruairi Kinsella.
FULL-TIME: Waterford 1-27 (30) Offaly 2-20 (26): Despite a late and impressive rally from Offaly, Waterford hold on for deserving win in the Division 1B hurling final, certainly superior throughout the first half, still Offaly will take some comfort from their spirited comeback.
Donegal 1-19 Derry 1-10. Donegal are running a minor riot now, Finnbarr Roarty getting in on the scoring on 47 minutes to press them nine points clear.
Waterford: 1-25 Offaly 2-18: A frantic finish in the Division 1B final, Offaly launching a late surge, with five minutes to play, but Waterford it seems are holding their nerve.
Donegal 1-13 Derry 1-10: Another two-pointer, this time from Brendan Rogers, and it’s back to a two-point game on 38 minutes. However Paddy McBrearty then opens Donegal’s second half account with a free.
Donegal 1-12 Derry 1-8 Back underway in Ballybofey, and Derry quickly open with two unanswered scores fron Brendan Rogers and then a two-pointer from Conor Doherty. Michael Murphy also gets a booking in the next passage of play.
Waterford: 1-25 Offaly 2-10: Two goals from Offaly have helped it more of a game in the Division 1B hurling final still Waterford are in control 18 minutes into the second half.
Gordon Manning is also on the ground for us at Pairc Tailteann, for the Leinster first round meeting between Meath and Carlow, which has 3.0 throw-in.
Beautiful sunny afternoon here in Navan but there is a very strong wind blowing towards the hospital end at Páirc Tailteann. Much of the attention will be on the sideline today after a chaotic few weeks in both the Meath and Carlow camps. Meath lost two coaches and Carlow lost their manager. Joe Murphy has taken on the role for the visitors at short notice. There is one change to the Meath team, Jack Kinlough replacing Cathal Hickey. There are no changes to the Carlow team.
From Malachy Clerkin at Ballybofey -
Donegal lead by 1-12 to 1-5 at half-time in Ballybofey. Slow going at times, with Derry holding possession playing into a strong breeze and Donegal not really making the most of it until late on. The game exploded in the 10 minutes before the break - Dan HIggins ran through for a Derry goal on debut, the excellent Dara Ó Baoill replied with one of his own, along with a couple of two-pointers. Derry aren’t out of it but even with the wind, seven points is probably too much.
Half-time: Waterford 0-17 Offaly 0-6: A long way back for Offaly in the Division 1B hurling final, as Waterford enjoy an 11-point advantage, fully deserving too.
Half-time: Donegal 1-12 Derry 1-5: An entertaining first half in Ballybofey, and Donegal gradually imposing some dominance, Daire O Baoill unquestionably the player of the half.
GOAL! Twice! Donegal 1-12 Derry 1-5: Soon after a second two-pointer from Daire O Baoill, Derry strike back with a wonderful close-range goal from Dan Higgins, the championship debutant. Donegal hit back again with a point of their own, and follow that on 33 minutes with a goal of their own from the very much in form O Baoill. Superb finish
Donegal 0-8 Derry 0-5: We have our first two-pointer of the afternoon, a beautiful strike from Daire O Baoill giving Donegal some much needed breathing space on 28 minutes. Moments later Michael Murphy adds a free.
Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-5: No doubt Derry are growing in some confidence too, McGuigan converting another free on 26 minutes to level it again after the home side briefly went in front thanks to Peader Mogan.
Donegal 0-4 Derry 0-4: After 22 minutes of play, Derry are certainly putting up a challenge to Donegal, a free from Shane McGuigan levelling the game with a well taken free. Donegal also have the breeze in their back.
Waterford 0-14 Offaly 0-5: It’s still Waterford showing the way in the Division 1B hurling final after 27 minutes, a free from Stephen Bennett pushing their lead out to nine.
Donegal 0-4 Derry 0-2: A tight game early on in Ballybofey, Donegal briefly going two points clear thanks to Shane O’Donnell, Derry getting one back, before Ciaran Moore doubles the advantage on 15 minutes.
PENALTY! Shane McGuigan is fouled in the area on nine minutes, the penalty undisputed, but Shaun Patton pulls off a magnificent save from McGuigan, getting to the rebound too, although Patton appeared to sustain a some kind of injury in the process.
Donegal 0-2 Derry 0-1
Donegal 0-2 Derry 0-1: Donegal promptly reply with two excellent scores, the first by Conor O’Donnell, then the ever-ready Ryan McHugh. They’re up and running now.
Donegal 0-0 Derry 0-1: After healthy periods of possession for both teams, and a couple of turnovers, Derry opening the scoring after four minutes thanks to a deft score from Padraig McGrogan. They follow that with a close-range wide by Paul Cassidy, playing his 70th game for Derry.
Waterford 0-8 Offaly 0-3: All one-way traffic in the early stages of the Division 1B hurling final,Waterford up by five points after 10 minutres, the sun also shining brightly at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Waterford 0-4 Offaly 0-1. No hanging around around for Waterford in the Division 1B final, who score four unanswered points in the first four minutes, before Offaly get one back.
First up in the hurling is the Division 1B final between Waterford and Offaly, which has a 1.45 throw-in at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Sean Moran doesn’t look too far past Donegal in his match preview, as the sun is shining bright in a packed Páirc Mac Cumhaill in Ballybofey.
A world of change since last year’s meeting. Derry have won two matches out of 12 in that time and dropped to Division Two 12 months after winning the league. In the recent campaign, they were undeniably misfortunate not to pick up a few more points, but equally, their inability to keep out late scores was borderline epic. When the counties met in the league, Donegal outscored their opponents 1-7 to nil in the closing 10 minutes. For all that, Conor Glass has led by example at centrefield but the leakiness of the defence has been ruinous: 18 goals over the seven matches.
Donegal have had an air of restrained business about them to date. Jim McGuinness more or less said that the prospect of a league final didn’t suit them, but managing that kind of closing slump is perilous and planning to the extent that a winner is kept out by the crossbar is hard to implement. At their best, they are formidable: Shaun Patton’s kick-outs, the hard running of their defenders and productivity of the forwards, even if Oisín Gallen isn’t at last year’s level yet and the immense presence of Michael Murphy in whatever capacity he’s going to be used. Too formidable.
Some team news from Ballybofey, Michael Murphy and Patrick MvBrearty start for Donegal. Murphy, McBrearty and Odhran McFadden-Ferry in for Michael Langan, Niall O’Donnell and Aaron Doherty. Derry play as named.
Good afternoon, and welcome to The Irish Times live coverage of the opening weekend of the 2025 provincial football championship, which runs smack bang into the back of the Allianz Hurling League, with the Division 1A and 1B finals also to be decided down at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.
There are five football games in all, the headline act being the Ulster preliminary round meeting between defending champions Donegal and Derry at Ballybofey, plus two first round games in Leinster, and two quarter-finals in Connacht, including the meeting of New York against Galway at Gaelic Park in The Bronx, which starts at 8pm Irish time.
Today’s full fixture list is
Allianz Hurling League -
Division 1A final
Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4pm
Division 1B final
Offaly v Waterford, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 1.45pm
Ulster SFC preliminary round –
Donegal v Derry, Ballybofey, 2pm
Leinster SFC Round 1
Meath V Carlow, Pairc Tailteann, 3pm
Longford V Wicklow, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 3.30pm
Connacht SFC quarter-finals
Mayo v Sligo, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 3.30pm
New York v Galway, Gaelic Park, 3pm (8pm Irish time)
On Saturday, in the Leinster championship, it finished Wexford 2-11, Laois 2-21 at Chadwicks Wexford Park. In the Munster football championship quarter-finals, it finished Tipperary 1-22, Waterford 1-19, at FBD Semple Stadium, and
Cork 0-24, Limerick 0-13, at TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Also in the Connacht quarter-final, it finished London 0-13, Roscommon 2-26, at Ruislip.
