National Hurling League Division 3B round-up

Donegal 0-9 Wicklow 3-16, Roscommon 1-17 Fingal 0-10, Tyrone 0-9 Louth 0-18

Louth moved joint top of Division 3B with a comfortable win over whipping boys Tyrone in Omagh today on a score-line of 0-18 points to 0-9.

As he has done so often throughout this campaign, Ger Smyth was again high amongst the scorers for the Wee county posting four points, while Diarmuid Murphy also came in with a similar tally.

However, the contribution of midfielder Ronan Byrne stood out on this occasion and six points was a fabulous return. Derek Horan, Donagh O’Sullivan, Barry Murphy, and Gary Rellis also notched points.

North Dublin representatives Fingal suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Roscommon in Athleague today, going down 1-17 to 0-10 points in a game dominated from start to finish by the Connacht men.

Fingal Manager Denis Murphy admitted afterwards: “there was certainly no argument about it at all, they were certainly ten points the better team today.

“We didn’t score for the first quarter while they went five points clear and managed to extend that by the break.”

Trailing by 1-12 to 0-06 at the break it was always going to be a big ask from last year’s Nicky Rackard Cup semi-finalists but the inability to score a goal meant they never really challenged Roscommon’s supremacy.

“We got it back to six points but a goal is what we needed and we never got it so it was just nip and tuck for the remainder of the game.”

John Coyne was the Roscommon scorer-in-chief, having a good battle with his opposite number Peter Coyne but the former notched a fine tally of a goal and seven points.

Having been beaten by Louth last weekend that proved to be a “smarting experience” admitted their manager David McConn afterwards.

Roscommon, Fingal and Donegal are all now locked on four points with Wicklow and Louth both on six points.

Wicklow all but secured their final berth with a thumping win over injury ravaged Donegal in Letterkenny.

Andy O’Brien bagged a hat-trick while John O’Neill at centre forward inflicted most of the damage, the latter getting 1-7 in an ultra convincing display.

Donegal Manager Paddy Wallace had no complaints after but bemoaned the fact that he had to plan without 10 first team regulars who were struck down by injury.

“Obviously we were outclassed today and I’ve no complaints or excuses but certainly, when a Manager has to plan without so many it makes life very difficult and I hate to admit it but we were beaten before we went out today which is the worst thing from a Managers point of view.”