Sport

Minor football and under-21 hurling round-up

LEINSTER MFC/Offaly 1-12 Carlow 0-9 : CARLOW minor footballers, beaten Leinster finalists by Laois in 2007, were eliminated …

Mon Apr 28 2008 - 01:00

LEINSTER MFC/Offaly 1-12 Carlow 0-9: CARLOW minor footballers, beaten Leinster finalists by Laois in 2007, were eliminated from this year's competition at Dr Cullen Park on Saturday when they were outscored 1-8 to 0-1 in the final 25 minutes by visitors Offaly.

Carlow held a slender 0-5 to 0-4 half-time lead and extended their advantage with three unanswered points from Niall Humphries, a Darragh Foley 45 and Denis Murphy to lead 0-8 to 0-4.

But then Offaly took control.

A Robbie Knight point was followed by a goal from Bernard Allen after 44 minutes.

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Knight put Offaly in front (1-6 to 0-8) on 49 minutes and Offaly finished with a flourish with a string of points from Noel Andrew Gallagher, Brian Connor, Bernard Allen and substitutes Stuart Cullen and Adrian Kelly.

Louth 1-14 Kildare 0-13

A 42nd-minute strike from Dean Matthews proved crucial as Louth secured a quarter-final berth at Drogheda on Saturday.

Kildare led 0-10 to 0-7 at half-time and increased their advantage on the resumption, but Louth rallied well and, after adding four quick points, Matthews's goal made it 1-11 to 0-11.

The home side never looked in trouble thereafter and a deserved four-point victory sets up a last-eight showdown with Longford on Saturday week.

CONNACHT MFC

Roscommon 0-11 Sligo 1-6

Roscommon advanced by defeating Sligo in an entertaining match at Hyde Park. A goal from a penalty by Conor Davey helped Sligo lead 1-2 to 0-1 after 11 minutes. Sligo, inspired by superb centre forward David Maye, were the better team in the first-half and led 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Maye extended the lead just after half-time but they scored just once more as Roscommon took control. Eoin Sheehy brought the sides level in the 52nd minute and, with Maye forced off through an injury, Darren McDermott and Dara Lennon scored the points which gave Roscommon victory.

Leinster UNDER-21 A HC

Carlow 3-12 Meath 1-5

Craig Doyle, a senior county player, grabbed 2-1 as Carlow proved far too strong for Meath at Dr Cullen Park. The home side held a 2-5 to 1-4 lead at the interval, the Meath goal coming from Kevin Fagan. But it was one-way traffic for dominant Carlow in the second half.