Wins for Galway, Laois, Down and Wexford in 1B

Galway, Laois, Down and Wexford all enjoyed wins in Division 1B of the Allianz NFL today.

Sun, 06 Feb, 2005 - 18:33

Galway 2-11 Kildare 0-08

Second half goals from Noel Meehan and Kevin Brady steered Galway to a deserved 2-11 to 0-8 Division 1B win over Kildare this afternoon, in new manager Peter Forde's first NFL game in charge.

The Tribesmen were guilty of wasting their chances in the first half in Salthill, and could have paid for it had the visitors not amassed a worrying tally of 16 wides.

Forde's men led 0-07 to 0-03 at the break as the Meehan brothers, Michael (0-03) and Noel (0-02) did the bulk of their scoring, with Kildare relying on Tadhg Fennin (0-01f), John O'Donoghue (0-01f) and Derek McCormack.

With the wind at their backs, Kildare managed to answer a three-point burst from Galway's Noel Meehan, Derek Savage and Joe Bergin with three of their own early in the second half from Fennin, McCormack and Johnny Doyle.

But the tie was ended as a contest as Meehan and Brady goaled neatly in the final twelve minutes.

Laois 0-12 Limerick 2-05

O'Byrne Cup champions Laois edged the McGrath Cup victors Limerick 0-12 to 2-05 at O'Moore Park.

Mick O'Dwyer's side looked comfortable victors going into the closing stages but a 67th-minute goal from Michael Reidy, who also struck against Cork IT in the McGrath decider, rattled the home side.

An injury time free from Ross Munnelly finally killed off Limerick, who had midfielder Jim Donovan yellow-carded in the first half.

Laois also had Mark Dunne banished to the sideline on 15 minutes, and they were 1-04 to 0-4 at the end of a poor first-half.

They did motor in front with Padraig McMahon, Gary Kavanagh and Kieran Kelly pointing them into a 0-03 to no score lead.

Liam Kearns' visitors answered back with Ger Ahern and two Reidy points before the duo combined on the half-hour for Ahern to goal. Johnny Walsh's late point cancelled out a Munnelly effort for Laois.

Five points in a row from O'Dwyer's lot midway through the second half, with Gary Kavanagh (0-3) and Paul Lawlor (0-2) pushed Laois into a three-point lead on 65 minutes.

And although Reidy found the net for Limerick, who had Stephen Lavin and Conor Mullane carded in the final minutes, Munnelly came good for Laois.

Down 2-13 Sligo 0-10

Down profited from a poor Sligo defensive effort in Newcastle, as Paddy O'Rourke's men swept to a 2-13 to 0-10 triumph.

Early goals from Liam Doyle, who netted from a Dan Gordon pass on four minutes, and Gordon himself, set up by Ronan Murtagh's deft 22-minute through ball, gave the home side a buffer.

Trailing 2-4 to 0-5 at the break, Sligo came more into it on the restart and with possession coming their way, scored a trio of points from Dessie Sloyan (0-2 frees) and Sean Davey.

Sloyan ended the game with six frees in all, however Murtagh rounded off the game with 0-03 and man-of-the-match Doyle also chipped in with a late point.

Wexford 2-13 Armagh 2-6

Armagh's large travelling support at Wexford Park could do little as All-Star Matty Forde and captain John Hudson inspired Wexford to a 2-13 to 2-06 win.

The Orchard side - minus their Crossmaglen players - began well enough, leading 2-4 to 0-4 at the interval.

Steven McDonnell bagged two early points before setting up Ronan Clarke for a goal chance, which was blocked expertedly by Wexford net minder John Cooper.

McDonnell repeated the trick however on 20 minutes as he laid off for newcomer Paul Keenan to blast home.

Brian Mallon bagged another major in injury time to leave Joe Kernan's side two goals in front.

Forde, the GPA's Player of 2004, came into his own in the second half nonetheless, and scored 1-4 as the home side outscored Armagh 2-9 to 0-2.

Hudson banged home a late penalty to confirm the result.

Other Results:

DIVISION 2A:

Monaghan 0-20 Carlow 2-09, Clontibret

Roscommon 0-08 Clare 0-08, Hyde Park

Longford OFF Fermanagh, Pearse Park

Leitrim 0-21 London 0-03, Carrick-on-Shannon

DIVISION 2B:

Wicklow 0-16 Waterford 2-07, Aughrim