Down boss Sheehan unhappy with lack of TV coverage

Donal Hughes scored the late winning goal, just as he did in the league meeting, as Down secured a 1-22 to 0-23 win over Davy Fitzgerald's side.

Down's Donal Hughes. Pic ©INPHO/Grace Halton

Joe McDonagh Cup

Down manager Ronan Sheehan criticised RTÉ's lack of coverage of the game after lightning struck twice for his side in another dramatic win over Antrim in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Donal Hughes again scored the late winning goal, just as he did in the league meeting, as Down secured a 1-22 to 0-23 win over Davy Fitzgerald's side.

But after the victory, the Down boss took aim at RTÉ on social media, posting on X: "Disappointing but not surprising that no coverage of the McDonagh game between Down v Antrim today… same as the league game in Newry… partitionism alive and well at @RTÉsport."

Antrim led at the break with Conal Cunning, Eoin O’Neill and Keelan Molloy finding the target from play.

Tom McGrattan and James McNaughton led the Down resistance, but Antrim kept them at bay with Seaan Elliot’s free taking.

Then Hughes struck in injury time to see off their huge rivals as late Antrim efforts from Gerard Walsh and Ruairi Donaghy proved ineffective. Antrim will have to lick their wounds and quick as they face Laois in a weeks’ time.

Carlow scored two goals in each half to beat Laois 4-17 to 1-17. 

James Doyle and Fiachra Fitzpatrick pounced in the first half as Carlow led 2-9 to 0-8 at the break.

Ben Conroy's goal helped Laois level 10 minutes into the second half but their challenge petered out and Carlow struck the net again through Chris Nolan and Conor Kehoe. Marty Kavanagh landed nine points for the winners, all from frees.

Sunday brought double joy for Westmeath as their hurlers matched the footballers' heroics with a convincing win over London in Ruislip, 1-22 to 0-15.

David Williams fired 10 points for Westmeath, four from play, with Eoin Keyes hitting the net in a purple patch when he produced 1-2 in a matter of minutes.