Lethal Laois demolish Down, Westmeath survive with win over Meath
Willie Dunphy scored 2-2 for Laois. pic ©INPHO/Tom Maher
The Joe McDonagh Cup landscape was completely cleared up on Saturday afternoon, as Laois racked up a comprehensive 4-31 to 0-17 win over Down, while Westmeath cruised past Meath by 1-29 to 0-14 to condemn the Royals to Christy Ring Cup hurling next year.
Willie Dunphy and Tomás Keyes scored 2-2 each for Laois, who scored one point in the opening 13 minutes and 4-8 in the next seven, to completely blow Down out of the water and ensure that they can opt for squad rotation next time out against Westmeath.
After taking just one point from their opening three games, relegation was on the table for Westmeath but they put that to bed this evening, with Darragh Clinton scoring 1-4 from play while U-20 player David O’Reilly continued his exceptional recent form with 0-6.
In the Christy Ring Cup, Derry secured their place in the decider with a 4-30 to 0-19 win over Sligo at Markievicz Park, where Callum O’Kane’s early goal helped them to an 11-point half-time lead, before Seán Quinn, Ruairí Ó Mianáin and John Mullan piled on further goals to take advantage of Eoghan Rua McGowan’s red card for Sligo.
London still had a chance of progressing to the decider but they needed to beat Kildare at Ruislip, and although Jack Goulding’s goal pushed them into an early lead, goals from James Dolan and David Qualter pushed Kildare nine clear.
Jack Sheridan was red carded and London surged late to cut the gap to three, 2-20 to 3-14, but it’s still the Lilywhites who will meet Derry in the decider. Tyrone’s 1-25 to 2-16 win over Wicklow rounded out the day’s action.
In the Nickey Rackard Cup, Tomás Galvin shot two goals as Armagh beat Monaghan by 3-19 to 0-18 at the Athletic Grounds, condemning the Farney men to relegation, while Donegal made it five wins from five by beating Louth, 4-19 to 1-20.
The big game of the day was at Dr Hyde Park, where Cormac Phillips shot 1-6 for Mayo to help them to an eight-point lead midway through the second half, but Brendan Mulry’s goal sparked a Roscommon comeback. Three points from James Hardiman helped the home side draw level, 2-16 to 1-19, but they needed a win to advance, and the Offaly native missed a late free, meaning it’s Mayo who will take on Donegal.
The Lory Meagher final will be between Longford and Fermanagh, who drew 3-18 to 2-21 at Pearse Park yesterday. Cavan needed to beat Leitrim by 28 to sneak in on scoring difference and came close, but not quite getting there at 7-19 to 0-18. Also, Warwickshire beat Lancashire by 6-22 to 2-24 in Birmingham.
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