Kerry and Cork are sitting pretty atop Division One of the National Football League after wins over Laois and Mayo respectively this afternoon.
Tomás Ó Sé’s red card – his second of the season so far – only ten minutes into the game didn’t put the off the Kingdom as they put 20 points up on Laois in Killarney to secure their position as league leaders. It should be noted that this is a Kerry side who are waiting on the return of a certain Colm Cooper, so the signs for the Championship are already ominous.
Cork also had to cope with a first half red-card as Mark Collins was given his marching orders in the first half of their clash with Mayo in Castlebar. The Rebels trailed for almost the entire game up until the dying stages when Paul Kerrigan and Donncha O’Connor pounced for late scores and earned a win that pushes them up to second and puts Mayo in a relegation dogfight.
In Division Two, Kildare and Galway look the most likely to join Tyrone in Division One next season after victories over Westmeath and Monaghan respectively. The Lilywhites ran rampant with a 3-23 tally in a 17-point victory, while Derry and Louth finished all square in the other game of the day in the division.
The promotion business is all taken care of in Division Three and Wexford will join Longford in the second tier next year after victory over Antrim in Casement Park. Sligo and Roscommon were also on the winning side, while in Division Four, Leitrim, Clare and Wicklow had most reasons to be happy with their day’s work.
In the world of the small ball, the reign of Jimmy Barry Murphy sparked into life as the Rebels saw off reigning All-Ireland Champions Kilkenny at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, while the returning John Mullane was influential as Waterford gained a much-needed two points with a narrow victory over the Tribesmen at Pearse Stadium.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Clare and Antrim in Division 1B, Kerry and Carlow in 2A and Kildare and Meath in 2B on a day when sunshine radiated across the country and the smell of cut grass was fresh in the air.
If only it would last!
GAA Results:
Allianz Football League Division 1
Mayo 0-13 Cork 0-14
Kerry 0-20 Laois 1-13
Allianz Football League Division 2
Derry 0-19 Louth 1-16
Monaghan 0-12 Galway 1-14
Kildare 3-23 Westmeath 1-12
Allianz Football League Division 3
Offaly 1-12 Sligo 1-14
Roscommon 1-17 Cavan 1-12
Antrim 2-09 Wexford 0-18
Allianz Football League Division 4
Leitrim 4-26 Kilkenny 0-03
London 0-12 Clare 0-17
Carlow 0-10 Wicklow 1-09
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Cork 1-17 Kilkenny 1-15
Galway 0-16 Waterford 1-14
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Clare 3-16 Wexford 0-18
Antrim 2-18 Laois 2-16
Allianz Hurling League Division 2A
Kerry 4-27 Down 1-21
Carlow 2-21 Derry 0-12
Allianz Hurling League Division 2B
Kildare 7-30 Armagh 0-07
Meath 3-16 Roscommon 1-11
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