Lower Tier Hurling Round-up: Christy Ring Cup favourites Kildare easily overcome Sligo

Elsewhere: Division 2B champions Derry made it three wins from three for away sides in the competition, thanks to their 0-17 to 0-12 win over Wicklow in Aughrim.

After finishing the last two rounds of the league with victories, Christy Ring Cup favourites Kildare carried that form into the first round of championship action this weekend, easily overcoming the concession of an early goal to comfortably account for Sligo in a potential banana skin fixture at Markievicz Park.

After finishing the last two rounds of the league with victories, Christy Ring Cup favourites Kildare carried that form into the first round of championship action this weekend, easily overcoming the concession of an early goal to comfortably account for Sligo in a potential banana skin fixture at Markievicz Park.

After Gerard O’Kelly Lynch netted for the hosts, Cathal Dowling hit back with two in five minutes, bookending a brace of points from James Burke.

O’Kelly Lynch also added a second goal but Kildare were always comfortable, with James Burke (0-5) and Jack Sheridan (0-7) leading the charge in their 2-19 to 2-8 win.

London’s failure to secure a place in next year’s Allianz League Division Two was one of the big surprises of the league, and they proved how big of a disappointment that was when they travelled to Dungannon to take on Tyrone – who did make the cut – and cruised to a 2-23 to 2-12 win.

Having struck the first four points of the game, London took a firm grip on proceedings through Ronan Crowley’s goal in the 15th minute, briefly moving nine points clear.

Three Tyrone points either side of half-time hinted at a potential comeback, but Owen Shiel rattling the Tyrone net crushed those hopes, and the contest was a dead duck by the time Seán Duffin and Aidan Kelly raised green flags for the home side in the last ten minutes.

Division 2B champions Derry made it three wins from three for away sides in the competition, thanks to their 0-17 to 0-12 win over Wicklow in Aughrim. The home side led by 0-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes, with Luke Evans on the mark twice, but Derry hit the next eight points in a row and had at least six points to spare all the way up to the closing stages.

In the Nickey Rackard Cup, goals from Niall Garland and Niall Arthur helped Monaghan to take a shock 2-5 to 0-9 halftime lead in Castlebar, but Joseph Burke found the net to push Mayo back in front in the third minute of the second half, and the westerners kicked on in style to prevail by 4-24 to 2-8.

Donegal and Roscommon also picked up opening round wins, accounting for Armagh and Louth respectively. Alex O’Boyle shot 1-6 for Armagh in the Athletic Grounds as the home side was still within striking distance against Donegal with ten minutes to play, but five points in a row made it 0-22 to 1-12 at the long whistle.

Dr. Hyde Park was the venue as Brendan Mulry (1-5) and Paddy Fallon (0-8) led the scoring for Roscommon in their 1-20 to 1-14 win over Louth.

In the Lory Meaghar Cup, Longford had a meagre 0-10 to 0-8 lead over Lancashire at half-time in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, but once Lancashire were reduced to 14 men, Cian Darcy and David Buckley goals helped to make it 2-22 to 0-10 at the end.

Fermanagh weren’t as prolific but still eased to a 0-19 to 1-9 win over Leitrim in Drumshanbo, while championship favourites Cavan conceded 1-5 just before half-time against Warwickshire to trail by three, the goal coming from Luke Hands, but they stepped up a gear in the second half with Sean Keating (0-6) and Nicky Kenny (1-10) the top scorers in a 1-22 to 2-13 victory.