Round-up: Saturday’s in inter-county action:
Saturday 6th January
Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup Quarter-Finals
Longford 0-9 Westmeath 0-7
Dublin 0-11 Offaly 0-10
Wexford 3-9 Kildare 0-14
Meath 2-13 Louth 1-7
Under the Saturday evening Ashbourne lights, Meath registered a convincing victory against Louth.
Matthew Costello’s goal from a penalty after half-time was an important moment as the Royals’ shrugged off Louth’s spirited resistance.
At the break, Meath, with Aaron Lynch netting a goal, were 1-5 to 1-4 ahead. Dan Corcoran scored Louth’s goal with Costello, once again, a key figure for Colm O’Rourke’s side.
Daire Rowe and Ruairi Kinsella contributed scores in the final quarter for Meath, who earned a place at the semi-final stage.
Wexford secured another encouraging win against Kildare at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Páraic Hughes, Ben Brosnan, and Cian Hughes netted goals for John Hegarty’s promising outfit, who advanced to the penultimate round the competition.
Late points from Brian O’Leary and Shane O’Leary earned an experimental Dublin team victory against Offaly at Gracefield.
In the closing stages the teams were deadlocked at 0-9 each, but Dublin edged in front.
At Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Longford, who triumphed last year, overcame Westmeath.
Ahead 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time, Longford enjoyed a productive burst at the start of the second period.
Dioralyte O’Byrne Shield Quarter-Final
Wicklow 1-12 Carlow 0-13
Brian Nesbitt’s goal was the key score as Wicklow defeated Carlow.
Oisín McConville’s charges trailed 0-9 to 0-7 before Nesbitt’s important intervention.
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup
Derry 0-13 Down 0-10
Derry finished with a real flourish to defeat Down in the Dr McKenna Cup.
Trailing 0-9 to 0-7 after 43 minutes, Derry subsequently scored six points on the spin to seize control.
Shane McGuigan, Declan Cassidy, Niall Loughlin (2), Conor Doherty, and Gareth McKinless all struck scores during an excellent Derry burst.
Andrew Gilmore responded for Down, but it wasn’t enough to deny Mickey Harte’s team.
Down had started brightly with Odhran Murdock and Pat Havern supplying fine scores as they led 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time.
Munster GAA McGrath Cup
Kerry 6-18 Limerick 0-11
Kerry cruised to an emphatic victory over Limerick at Rathkeale.
Following the midweek triumph over Tipperary, Jack O’Connor’s team impressed once again.
In the first half Kerry struck five goals against an outclassed Limerick.
Seán O’Shea (2), Conor Geaney (2), and Ronan Buckley rattled the Limerick net before the break.
Darragh Roche added a sixth Kerry major in the second period.
Conor McGurk Cup Quarter-Finals
Down 2-22 Louth 3-18
Donegal 4-24 Derry 1-8
Fermanagh 0-29 Queens University 1-18
Antrim 3-13 Ulster University 1-13
Connacht Hurling League Final
New York 2-25 Mayo 2-12 (Photo attached)
Connacht Hurling Shield Final
Galway Development 2-25 Roscommon 3-16
New York gleaned silverware at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome on Saturday evening.
Another industrious performance from a talented New York panel was rewarded as they proved too strong for Mayo.
At half-time a dominant New York led 0-13 to 1-2 and it was a similar story when the action recommenced.
Mayo were unable to cause New York too many problems as they cruised to a convincing victory.
Martin Cullen and Ger McPartland scored second half goals for New York, who were always in command.
Matthew Connor and Cormac Phillips netted for Mayo, but New York were worthy winners in the west.