Gaelic Games

Image source, Inpho

Gerard Walsh scored a late goal for Antrim to rescue a 2-18 to 1-21 draw against Carlow at Dr Cullen Park in hurling's Division 1B.

Walsh netted from a free with the last puck of the game to salvage a point for Davy Fitzgerald's side.

Carlow led 1-11 to 0-8 at the break after Chris Nolan's goal, but Antrim managed to stay in the game before James McNaughton missed a penalty.

Late goals from Conor Johnston and Walsh then completed the unlikely comeback.

Nolan netted on 28 minutes with James Doyle tagging on three points from play for Carlow.

The Saffrons responded with two points from Eoghan Campbell and three from McNaughton as they tried to stay in touch with the hosts.

Nolan got Carlow's first score after the restart, but Antrim fought back as Johnstone hit two quick points.

McNaughton's accuracy from frees helped Fitzgerald's side continue to chip away at Carlow's lead before the late drama ensued.

With 10 minutes remaining Paul Doyle fouled McNaughton and was shown a black-carded, but McNaughton's penalty was saved by Brian Tracey.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Carlow continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over through a Conor Kehoe point and two Marty Kavanagh frees.

McNaughton and Eoin McFerran responded for Antrim with points before Johnston goal set up a tense finale.

Carlow were then the architects of their own downfall, losing the ball in own half and then conceded a 35-metre free from which Walsh netted the unlikely equaliser.

Antrim now have a huge game in Ballycastle to look forward to next weekend as they face Laois, looking to keep their hopes of staying in the division alive.

Image source, Inpho

Reigning Division One champions Armagh remain on course to reach another league final after a 2-15 to 1-7 victory against Kildare.

The Orchard County racked up a fifth successive league win thanks to goals in either half from Niamh Henderson and Emily Druse.

They led 1-6 to 0-2 at the break after a dominant first half display as Henderson rifled home after being played through by Aoife McCoy.

Druse gave them a 13-point advantage at one stage in the second half when she scored their second goal before Leah McGovern slotted home what proved to be a late consolation for Kildare.

Also in Division One, Tyrone were thrashed 6-15 to 0-6 by an impressive Waterford side at Aghyaran.

Waterford controlled the game from start to finish and were well on their way to the win by half-time as they held a commanding 3-8 to 0-2 lead.

Lauren McGregor scored a hat-trick and they also had goals from Chloe Fennell, Katie Murray and Kellyann Hogan in their dominant win.

The Red Hands, despite having three points on the board, now find themselves in a relegation battle with fellow strugglers Mayo.

In Division Two, Donegal were beaten 2-16 to 0-6 by Galway whilst Monaghan claimed a 4-11 to 1-9 win against Clare.

In Division Three, Cavan overcame Offaly 3-12 to 0-4 whilst Down played out a draw with Wexford.

In Division Four, Antrim and Fermanagh booked their places in the semi-finals as the Saffrons continued their winning streak.

They eased past Wicklow 7-6 to 1-7 whilst Fermanagh picked up a 2-10 to 0-6 victory against Sligo.

Derry got a much-needed win as they beat Kilkenny 5-15 to 0-4.

Image source, Inpho

Monaghan sit top of Division Two thanks to a 1-27 to 1-21 victory over Louth in Drogheda on Sunday.

The Ulster side were firmly on course for the win with Conor McCarthy netting as they led by 17 points just before the break.

However, Louth fought back and Sam Mulroy slotted home a penalty to help his side move within three points.

Monaghan responded with late points as the visitors came away with a six-point success.

Monaghan surged into a 10-point advantage after just 12 minutes with Andrew Woods and Stephen O'Hanlon each firing over four apiece in a one-sided first half.

McCarthy shot low into the net to increase the lead and at half-time Monaghan boasted a 1-19 to 0-07 lead.

It was all change on the restart as Louth launched a comeback which saw them threaten an unlikely victory.

Louth went on a run of 1-9 without reply with Mulroy accounting for 1-7 of the total.

Now just three points ahead with two minutes left and Monaghan were in danger of letting slip a huge lead but they rallied to see out the remaining time to secure another two league points.

Roscommon and Meath are also on eight points but Monaghan lead the way on scoring difference.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Donegal came from eight points down with 15 minutes left to play to beat Derry 1-22 to 1-19 in Ballyshannon.

Daire O Baoill and Ciaran Thompson landed two-pointed efforts either side of a Shane O'Donnell goal as Jim McGuinness' side made a Lazarus like recovery to make it four wins from five in Division One.

The Oakleafers led 0-11 to 0-7 at half time after playing with the aid of whatever breeze that was on offer at Father Tierney Park with Lachlan Murray and Shane McGuigan carrying the Derry cause on the scoring front.

Despite playing against the wind in the second half, it was Derry who edged the exchanges with Lachlan Murray and Shane McGuigan landing two-pointers of their own before Conor Glass was slipped through by Ethan Doherty before shooting low beyond Sean Patton to the back of the net.

Paddy Tally's side led 1-18 to 0-13 with 15 minutes remaining on the clock and were dealt a hammer blow with an injury to Rogers dealing a significant blow to their cause.

The hosts hit an unanswered 1-6 as Shane O'Donnell played a neat one-two with Michael Murphy to hit the roof of the net to put three between them.

Thompson quickly followed with a two-pointer before a Ciaran Moore point and two from Conor O'Donnell sealing a win for Donegal to leave Derry with a slim chance of retaining their top-tier status despite being league champions.

The two sides will meet in Ballybofey on 6 April in the preliminary round of the Ulster senior football championship.

Kieran Lynch
BBC Sport NI contributor at the Athletic Grounds

Image source, Getty Images

Armagh claimed a crucial two points at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday night with a 1-20 to 1-12 victory over Dublin.

Conor Turbitt top-scored for the victors with 0-6 whilst Andrew Murnin impressed in a deeper role and Greg McCabe stormed forward from defence, contributing three points.

Armagh's start could hardly have been any better, as they had 1-9 on the scoreboard before Dublin raised their first white flag of the evening.

Turbitt led the way with three of those points while his Clann Eireann clubmate Barry McCambridge found the net on 16 minutes – drilling his shot into the bottom corner after a pinpoint pass from Ethan Rafferty.

Turbitt could have had two goals himself, but he had one effort blocked by full back Theo Clancy, and another shot saved by Evan Comerford at point-blank range.

The Dubs struggled to make much headway in attack in the first half, with just three points scored via Con O'Callaghan, Brian Howard and Luke Breathnach.

Armagh pushed themselves 15 points ahead early in the second half, but Dublin rattled off 1-7 without reply to pull themselves back into the contest. O'Callaghan hit five points during this period and set up Lorcan O'Dell's goal.

However, Armagh steadied the tide with a score from McCabe and grabbed four of the last six points of the day to see out the win.

The result moves them three points above the relegation zone with Tyrone and Derry still to play on Sunday.

Image source, BBC Sport

Kildare goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine is this week's guest on The GAA Social as she reveals how her religious faith helped turn her life around following a lengthy battle against alcohol and drug addiction.

Hulgraine will be in Crossmaglen on Sunday when Kildare face Armagh in Division One of the Ladies National Football League.

The podcast explores faith in a modern Ireland and is a fascinating insight into recovery and second chances.

"When I look back and see say 2016, it's a million miles away from where I am today playing football," Mary told Thomas and Oisin.

"My preparation is impeccable [now]. Looking back then, I was drinking the night before an All-Ireland Final."

Hulgraine added that she has to battle against a sense of "shame" that can envelope her when she thinks about those dark days.

"I really do work and praying over it and that shame and condemnation that comes with stuff, I really do have to try and not let that get in.

"That's a battle. That's called spiritual warfare I suppose. It's a constant battle to be like 'I'm not listening to you today'. I have a bit of work to do yet I think."

The Kildare keeper also talks about the role her beloved dog Bailey played in her recovery.

"I was anxious when I wasn't with him. There was a very strong emotional attachment there.

"Someone said 'God brought that dog to keep you going and now he's saying, his job is done…..we're bringing him home'," said Mary of Bailey, who had to be put to sleep last June because of illness.

You can listen to the GAA Social on BBC Sounds, with new episodes released every Monday and Wednesday.

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke says his side were punished for giving the ball away at "crucial times" in Sunday's Division One defeat by Kerry.

David Clifford scored three goals as Kerry came from five points down with 13 players to claim a crucial 3-13 to 2-13 win.

O'Rourke said the result was "disappointing" in a wind-affected game at Pomeroy and Clifford was "ruthless" with his hat-trick of goals.

"The effort was very good but it's disappointing we didn't get something out of the game," said O'Rourke.

"Overall, I'm happy with the way the boys dug in after a bad start but I'm just disappointed with the result."

O'Rourke felt Tyrone did not make the most of their wind advantage in the first half and they were made to pay for not being clinical - unlike their opponents.

"We wanted to get off to a good start, but we just didn't seem to have the energy we would have liked and, when we did get the ball up, we weren't linking up as well as we would have liked," he added.

"We knew at half-time, if we got our hands on the ball, we could control it and we would be very much in the game and that's how it turned out.

"I thought with 10 minutes to go we were in a great position, but we just didn't finish it out.

"Very disappointing for the boys because I know the effort they are putting in and they are working very hard - we just aren't getting the results at the minute."

Tyrone, who have one win in four matches, travel to unbeaten Galway in their fourth Division One match on 2 March.

Image source, Inpho

Holders Armagh claimed a fourth consecutive Division One win as they beat Mayo 2-14 to 1-10 at the Athletic Grounds.

Niamh Henderson scored a goal in each half to help the hosts maintain their winning run.

The Orchard County led 1-11 to 0-4 at half-time after a dominant first half display.

Mayo cut the gap to six at one stage of the second half, before a flurry of late Armagh scores wrapped up the comfortable win.

It was an even start to the game with both sides exchanging early points before the Orchard County rattled off seven consecutive scores to establish control.

Kayla Doherty reduced the deficit with Mayo's first point in 13 minutes, but a delicate lob from Henderson re-established Armagh's healthy advantage.

Mayo fought hard in the second half as an early point and then a goal from Saoirse Lally got them back in the game.

Henderson's goal alongside a number of late scores saw Armagh ease to victory and pick up another two points.

Reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry recorded a third win in a row as they beat Tyrone 4-5 to 1-7.

The game was moved from O'Neill's Healy Park to Garvaghey just an hour beforehand following a pitch inspection.

Kerry raced into an early lead with a Danielle O'Leary goal and points from Mary O'Connell and Niamh Carmody giving them a 1-2 lead in the opening five minutes.

Tyrone fought back with points from Aoife Horisk to close the gap in difficult conditions as the wind had an impact.

The Kingdom got their second goal of the game through O'Leary, who finished into an empty net.

Jaydn Lucey scored the final point of the half to give them a 2-4 to 0-4 at the break.

Kerry extended their advantage with on 42 minutes with a goal from the Anna Galvin before substitute Rachael Dwyer scored their fourth.

Tyrone kept fighting and got a late consolation goal from Sorcha Gormley.

In Division Two, Monaghan were beaten by Cork, whilst Donegal drew with Roscommon.

In Division Three, Down picked up a two-point win against Louth.

In Division Four, Antrim eased to a 3-8 to 1-10 win against Leitrim to continue their winning start and Derry lost 3-16 to 1-6 against Wicklow.

Image source, Getty Images

Galway made the most of a first-half wind advantage to defeat Donegal 0-21 to 0-14 and maintain their unbeaten start in Division One.

With a strong win in their favour, All-Ireland finalists Galway made a blistering start at Pearse Stadium.

Shane Walsh (two), Conor Flaherty and Matthew Tierney all struck two-pointers inside the opening 15 minutes to open up an eight-point lead.

Robert Finnerty added another two-pointer and Daniel Flaherty landed a point, before Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton denied Cian Herron after Galway worked a goal chance.

Finnerty helped himself to another two-pointer before Walsh's set of two kicks from outside the arc and Liam Silke's point moved the hosts 17 points clear without reply.

Jamie Brennan eventually got Donegal on the board in the 29th minute as Jim McGuinness' side finally got a period of possession, and Brennan almost grabbed a goal moments later, but his attempt was cleared.

There was a big talking point in the final play of the half as Matthew Tierney was sent off by referee David Coldrick for a high shoulder charge into Hugh McFadden as Galway went into the changing rooms with a 0-17 to 0-1 advantage.

Donegal fightback falls short

With the breeze now in their favour, Conor O'Donnell got Donegal up and running after the restart with two points, but Shane Walsh hit an immediate response for Galway.

Brennan grabbed his second point and Donegal were denied a goal as Connor Gleeson kept out Domnhall McBride.

Daire O Baoill clawed another two points back for Donegal, but another Walsh point kept the Tribesmen in control midway through the second half despite being down to 13 players following Daniel O'Flaherty's black card.

Odhran Doherty, Oisin Gallen and O'Donnell all landed scores to bring Galway's lead down to 10 points, before Donegal finally took advantage of the new two-point rule as Peadar Morgan's effort reduced that margin to eight.

Walsh's ninth point of the game and a score from John Maher halted Donegal's momentum and, crucially, gave Galway the buffer required to see out the win before Shane O'Donnell, O Baoill and Ciaran Thompson landed consolation points in the closing stages.

Donegal will look to respond against neighbours Derry on 2 March while Galway, who now top Division One, host Tyrone.

Niall Keenan
BBC Sport NI contributor

Image source, Inpho

Down's relegation concerns in Division Two of the Allianz Football League increased as they were edged out 2-17 to 0-22 by Louth with Cavan boosting their hopes of avoiding the drop by earning a 1-22 to 0-21 comeback win over Westmeath at Mullingar.

In Division Three meanwhile, Fermanagh held on to beat Mickey Harte's previously unbeaten Offaly side 1-13 to 3-6.

The Mournemen started brightly at Drogheda, kicking four two-pointers in the opening 19 minutes to build up a six-point lead.

Louth responded though through the reliable Sam Mulroy and Tommy Durnin's point before the break left just two between the sides at half-time.

Inside 10 minutes the Wee County assumed control with a two-point free from Mulroy quickly followed by a Kieran McArdle goal to put Louth four points ahead.

Odhran Murdock and a couple of points from Conor McCrickard brought Conor Laverty's side back to within one of the hosts but another Mulroy free approaching stoppage time after a two-pointer from Ryan Burns, who netted in the first half, kept the home team's noses in front to the finish.

Down slip into the relegation places with three games remaining two of which are away from home.

Cavan used their numerical advantage to overcome a 12-point half-time deficit in Mullingar.

The Lake County struck five two-pointers in the opening 18 minutes and led 0-17 to 0-5 at the break.

However, Jack Geoghegan was issued a red card soon before the break with Jamie Gonoud black card which allowed Cavan to mount a significant comeback after the resumption.

Three frees from Oisin Brady, one of which was a two-pointer, and a goal from Gerard Smith reduced the deficit to a single point by the hour.

Despite a black card for the Breffni County's Killian Clarke, Raymond Galligan's team finished the stronger with Dara McVeety scoring a crucial late two-pointer.

At Ederney, Declan McCusker and Offaly's Cillian Bourke exchanging first-half goals as the home side led 1-10 to 1-1 at half-time despite having played against the breeze.

The Ernemen made hay in the first half with seven different point scorers.

Dylan Hyland (penalty) and Cormac Egan netted after the resumption to cut into Fermanagh's lead.

The home side managed three points in the second half and went 16 minutes without scoring but Garvan Jones' point in the final minute clinched a vital win for Kieran Donnelly's side who move up to fifth place in the Division Three table - but are only two points behind Offaly who remain in the promotion spots behind leaders, Kildare who have a maximum eight points.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI contributor at Corrigan Park

Image source, Inpho

A return to Corrigan Park did not have the desired effect for Antrim on Sunday as they were out-gunned by an impressive Waterford who claimed a utterly dominant 2-23 to 0-11 win in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League.

The Déise made good use of the elements in the first period to build a 16-point wind and managed the game well in the second with Antrim never really threatened to get back into it.

It was a disappointing display from Davy Fitzgerald's men who were out-hustled and out-muscled as the visitors came at them with intensity and the result now leaves them in a precarious position in the battle to avoid the drop.

Playing with an extremely strong wind at their backs, Waterford immediately set about building a big lead and had two points on the board within the opening minute.

The lead was three with 10 played before the visitors grabbed their first goal as a superb poc-out from Billy Nolan found Conor Prunty in stride with the ball worked to Kevin Mahony to crack home.

Their second major came six minutes later and from a Stephen Bennett penalty, awarded as he was adjudged to have been clipped outside the area, but deemed a goalscoring opportunity denied and Keelan Molloy would spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin to compound matters.

The scores flowed for Waterford with Jamie Barron and Dessie Hutchinson hitting some beauties, as Antrim only had a couple of James McNaughton frees to show until late in the half when Seaan Elliott had a sight of goal but shot over.

But the visitors had a commanding 2-14 to 0-4 lead at the interval with Antrim's hopes long gone.

The Saffrons made a decent start to the second period with the first four points including one from substitute Eoin O'Neill, but were unable to sustain the momentum with Waterford adapting to playing into the gale, rattling off four of their own to restore to 16-point gap going into the final quarter.

They could have had a third goal only for the crossbar denying Hutchinson, but the game was long decided and petered out late with Waterford home and hosed.

Image source, Inpho

Chrissy McKaigue says next Sunday's Division One contest in Donegal is now effectively must-win for relegation-threatened Derry but believes they can achieve a surprise victory in Ballyshannon despite Saturday's heavy defeat by Dublin.

McKaigue said that Derry were "never in a position to win" at Croke Park, adding that the 3-20 to 2-12 scoreline "reflected what it was, which was a fairly one-sided game".

Yet he contends his former Oak Leaf team-mates can still avoid the drop, which would be quite a fall after beating Dublin to land the Division One title last March.

"I would still back those players to get points in the next three games but they need to start by getting two points in the next game against Donegal," said McKaigue who was on punditry duty for BBC Sport during the iPlayer coverage of the Dublin contest.

"I still believe the Donegal game is a game that they can see as winnable."

Derry will go into the Donegal contest bottom of the table on one point with their campaign then concluding with a home contest against Mayo before an away trip to All-Ireland champions Armagh.

"This is probably the first performance in the four games where they haven't been really competitive," added former All-Star defender McKaigue.

"They should have won the Kerry game. They should have really won the Galway game at the end of it when you look back on it. The Tyrone game [at the start] maybe just came a wee bit too soon. They just can't throw the toys out of the pram with this one performance."

Even though Derry's championship totally unravelled after their league triumph last year, McKaigue still contends that relegation would not aid the Oak Leafers' chances of contending for the Sam Maguire Cup.

Pointing out that Jim Gavin's Dublin side won the league title on five occasions during their period of championship dominance, McKaigue added: "I just would worry that it's hard to pick up confidence after a poor league campaign.

"It's not the defeat as such. It's just the manner of it. That can erode a playing group's confidence but hopefully there are enough strong characters in there, Shane McGuigan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers who just have to say: 'Lads…..we draw a line in the sand'."