All-Ireland SFC Round 2
Tyrone 3-15 Clare 0-10 (FT)
Meath 0-9 Kerry 2-18 (FT)
Galway 1-12 Westmeath 0-11 (FT)
Monaghan 2-10 Louth 2-10 (FT)
Armagh 3-17 Derry 0-15 (FT)
Tailteann Cup round 3
Down 2-22 Offaly 3-13 (FT)
Sligo 0-20 Antrim 0-20 (FT)
Tailteann Cup Draw
(Preliminary quarter-finals)
Games next weekend, first named teams at home
Leitrim v Wicklow
Laois v New York
Limerick v Tipperary
Antrim v London
In Group Four, Monaghan’s comeback in Clones has left them with an outside chance of finishing second in the group, albeit they will have to turn around a 20-point difference with Louth. Kerry only need a draw against Louth to be sure of a quarter-final spot. Meath need to beat Monaghan to stay in the competition.
In Group One, Galway and Armagh will have what is effectively play-off for the quarter-final place in a fortnight. Both are through to the knock-out stage - a draw will see Armagh take their place in the last eight. It leaves Derry and Westmeath to face off for the right to play an away game in the preliminary quarter-final. Derry have gone from being third favourites for the All-Ireland after the league final to three stright defeats. A stunning collapse. Westmeath will feel they have nothing to fear.
Here’s how Group Three looks after that day of football. Cork are the only team certain to go through to the knock-out stage and only need a draw against Tyrone to be sure of a quarter-final spot. Anything other than a Clare win in the final group game will see both Donegal and Tyrone through to the preliminary quarter-final at least. But if both Donegal and Tyrone win on the last day, the quarter-final place will come down to scoring difference between the three big teams.
Sligo 0-20 Antrim 0-20 (FT): Referee Seán Lonergan blows it up and both sides come away with a point. Antrim will take great heart from that comeback - they looked dead and buried with 10 minutes to go.
Armagh 3-17 Derry 0-15 (FT): This is a real hammering now. Conaty flicks another superb point for Armagh, who have scored 3-13 from play today and made Derry look like complete beaten dockets. Derry are still in the championship but it’s impossible to see how they can come back from this to be any sort of factor in Croke Park. If, in fact they get there - Westmeath will fancy it against them in a fortnight. Brilliant from Armagh.
Sligo 0-20 Antrim 0-20 (70 mins): McQuillan is fouled and he calls Antrim goalie Michael Byrne up to kick it - he does it and we have a level game for the eighth time! This is gutsy stuff from Antrim, who have scored the last four points to draw it.
Sligo 0-20 Antrim 0-19 (69 mins): Ryan McQuillan pulls another back for Antrim and it’s a one-point game. Big finish coming up.
Armagh 3-14 Derry 0-13 (63 mins): It’s all got a bit forlorn from Derry now. Ciarán McFaul picks up a black card, which becomes a red on account of the yellow he already had. Oisin Conaty pushes them out to a 10-point lead with a terrific score on the run.
Sligo 0-19 Antrim 0-16 (59 mins): In the Tailteann Cup, it’s been a ding-dong battle between Antrim and Sligo in Breffni Park. Going into the last 10 minutes, Sligo have hit a purple patch and reeled off the last three scores in a row, the latest from Niall Murphy.
Armagh 3-10 Derry 0-11 (53 mins): Game over. Derry concede yet another goal from the simplest tactic in the game - a long kick-out, Armagh won the break and Derry were caught up the field. Rian O’Neill had his choice of how to finish it, as well as two men inside. He buried it low to Lynch’s left. No coming back from that.
Armagh 2-10 Derry 0-10 (51 mins): Oh, that was nearly it! Lachlan Murray scythed through the Armagh defence but dragged his shot left into the side-netting. In fairness to the young Derry forward, he dusted himself off to knock over a point 30 seconds later with Derry’s next attack. but that was a real goal chance. Derry can’t really afford to miss any of those.
Armagh 2-10 Derry 0-9 (48 mins): Conor Turbitt is having a magnificent game and he swishes another towering point off his left foot to put them seven points ahead. As long as they keep a clean sheet from here, they’re safe enough you’d think.
Monaghan 2-10 Louth 2-10 (Full-time): Frantic stuff in Clones, as both sides tried to work an opening for the winner. In the end, Monaghan corner-back Ryan O’Toole shot off balance and falling away, his effort falling wide. Draw game, one point each in the table. Louth will feel they should have seen it out, given they were five points up deep into the second half. But Monaghan had all the momentum at the end and will be kicking themselves for not finding a winner. Still, it ends a run of defeats stretching back to January for last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists.
Armagh 2-8 Derry 0-9 (40 mins): Derry have come out of the dressing room in fine fettle, kicking the first three scores of the second half. The third on was from Ethan Doherty, who had been quiet all day up to that.
Monaghan 2-10 Louth 2-10 (69 mins): Draw game in Clones. Sam Mulroy with a brilliant free, for his eights point of the day. Anyone’s game now.
Monaghan 2-10 Louth 2-9 (66 mins): Monaghan rampant now. Conor McCarthy grabbed the Louth kick-out and got fouled by Conro Grimes. Rory Beggan came forward to kick his first score of the day. That’s Monaghan’s first lead of the day, with four minutes to go.
Monaghan 2-9 Louth 2-9 (61 mins): Level game in Clones. Sam Mulroy hit the post with a free at one end and Monaghan broke out, leading to a free for Conor McManus. They’ve wiped out a five-point lead in seven minutes.
Louth 2-9 Monaghan 2-8 (60 mins): There it is! For the first time all day, Monaghan pressure the Louth kick-out and turnover the Louth golakkper. Michael Bannigan roll it in to the net from 25 yards and there’s a point in it.
Louth 2-9 Monaghan 1-8 (58 mins): Conor McManus scores his first free of the day, having come off the bench in the second half. Louth are comfortable here, Monaghan will need a goal you’d imagine.
Louth 2-9 Monaghan 1-7 (50 mins): Louth have steadied the ship in Clones. Monaghan got within touching distance but Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns and Ciaran Downey have reaffirmed the visitors’ superiority.
Offaly maestro Niall McNamee sums it up for Derry.
Armagh 2-8 Derry 0-6 (half-time): Terrific display by Armagh so far. Conor Turbitt has rattled up 1-3 alone and Derry look to be in disarray. Such a different team to the one who made such strides in the league.
Galway 1-12 Westmeath 0-11 (73 mins): That’s the insurance score for Galway, Kieran Molloy showing huge leadership by striding up for a score. Four points ahead with 90 seconds to go will surely be enough.
Louth 2-6 Monaghan 1-6 (42 mins): It’s been all Monaghan since the restart in Clones. Points from Michael Bannigan, Gary Mohan and Ryan O’Toole meant the margin came down to two. But Ryan Burns has hit back for Louth so there’s a goal between them again.
Galway 1-10 Westmeath 0-10 (66 mins): Goal for Shane Walsh! Westmeath were in possession around the middle of the pitch before Walsh nipped in and turned them over before haring away into open country and finishing with class. That’s a massive goal oin Galway’s season - their best player has come up trumps again.
Armagh 2-3 Derry 0-4 (21 mins): Another goal for Armagh, another disastrous turnover for Derry. Brendan Rodgers misplaced a crossfield handpass in midfield and all of a sudden, Armagh were three-on-one with only Odhran Lynch to beat. Conor Turbitt used his two teammates by not using them (with apologies to Barry Davies) and stroked home a lovely finish. Derry will not learn this lesson, it seems.
Westmeath 0-9 Galway 0-9 (54 mins): Westmeath are causing Galway all sorts of bother. John heslin put them two points clear but Galway pulled one back and now Shane Walsh has tacked on a free to draw them level.
Armagh 1-3 Derry 0-3 (14 mins): Goal for Armagh! They turned Derry over in midfield and broke at pace, with Oisin Conaty feeding Ross McQuillan, who buried it past the retreating Odhran Lynch. Devastating break.
Louth 2-5 Monaghan 1-3 (half-time): Another goal for Louth! Conor Grimes finished off another slick passing move to end the half on an up for the visitors. Louth have been so clinical - 2-5 scored from eight chances. Ciaran Keenan worked the ball in and released Grimes in front of goal. A deserved five-point lead.
Derry 0-2 Armagh 0-1 (6 mins): Sprightly start to the game in Celtic Park. Oisin Conaty just rattled the crossbar for Armagh, after a brilliant long score from Rian O’Neill. Conor Glass has put Derry ahead with a mark at the other end. it’s all happening at breakneck speed.
Louth 1-5 Monaghan 1-2 (34 mins): Two Sam Mulroy frees stretch the Louth lead. Monaghan have kicked seven wides, Louth have kicked one. No prizes for guessing the difference between the teams.
The final game of the day is Derry v Armagh in Celtic Park. huge game for both sides - if they lose here, you’d imagine any momentum they have for the rest of the way will be snuffed out. Here’s the teams..
Derry: Odhran Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Chrissy McKaigue, Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty, Donncha Gilmore, Emmett Bradley; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Eunan Mulholland, Paul Cassidy; Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.
Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Barry McCambridge, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane; Joe McElroy, Connaire Mackin, Aidan Forker; Rian O’Neill, Ben Crealey; Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan, Tiernan Kelly; Oisín Conaty, Niall Grimley, Conor Turbitt.
Louth 1-3 Monaghan 1-2 (24 mins): Goal for Monaghan! That’s some response. Conor McCarthy, the 2023 All Star, got on the end of good work by Stephen O’Hanlon to bury a class finish and immediately wipe out the Louth goal. Game on now.
Louth 1-3 Monaghan 0-2 (22 mins): Goal for Louth. That was coming - Craig Lennon got on the end of a rapid passing move from ger Brennan’s side and that’s his third goal in two games from wing-back. No more than Louth deserve.
Monaghan 0-2 Louth 0-3 (21 mins): Inspirational score from Monaghan captain Kieran Duffy, striding up from defence to bring the margin back to one with a forward mark. It’s attritional stuff in Clones with both sides packing their defence and attacking pretty slowly once they get the ball. Louth have a bit more bite about them in the early exchanges.
Monaghan 0-1 Louth 0-3 (12 mins): Huge save from Rory Beggan! Sam Mulroy has scored two points already from frees and he was in for a goal here but Beggan spread himself to knock it out for a 45, which Mulroy dusts himself off to score. Louth have been on top in the early exchanges. Joel Wilson got Monaghan’s first score on 11 minutes but they’ve kicked three wides and dropped one short.
Westmeath 0-8 Galway 0-7 (half-time): Ronan Wallace is causing Galway all sorts of bother and that’s a score just before the break to push Westmeath into a one-point lead. They deserve every bit of it too. Dessie Dolan is annoyed that Darcy didn’t get a black card but there wasn’t much the referee could to - a push isn’t a black card offence. Big second half to come.
Westmeath 0-7 Galway 0-7 (35 mins): Ooof. That was deeply cynical from Galway - Ronan Wallace was in on goal and Cian Darcy pushed him in the back just as he was about to pull the trigger. Not a black card, by the letter of the law. John Heslin iced the free and it’s level scores coming up to half-time.
Kerry 2-18 Meath 0-9 (FT): All over in Navan. A final kick from Paudie Clifford makes it a 15-point win for Kerry. They weren’t at full-steam really at any stage but a hammering is a hammering. Meath just aren’t at this level whatsoever.
Kerry 2-17 Meath 0-9 (72 mins): Kerry have comfortably kept Meath at arms’ length since the first Clifford goal and now he’s stuck another. Kerry attacked en masse, threw around a neclacke of handpasses and the two-time Footballer of the Year found the bottom corner, via a deflection. The scoreline is probably a little harsh on Meath, in fairness.
Westmeath 0-3 Galway 0-5 (24 mins): Westmeath are giving Galway plenty of it here, surviving the black card without any huge disasters. Shane Walsh just got a cheap enough free though and popped it himself to give Galway their first two-point lead of the day.
The fourth game of the day is Monaghn v Louth in Clones. Reasonably big ramifications to this one - with Meath getting beaten in Navan, this is probably a sort-out for second and third behind Kerry. Throw-in at 3.30. Here’s some team news...
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Ryan O’Toole; Jason Irwin, Killian Lavelle, Conor McCarthy; Gary Mohan, Ryan McAnespie; Stephen O’Hanlon, Micheál Bannigan, Michael Hamill; Ciarán McNulty, Joel Wilson, Jack McCarron.
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch; Conall McKeever, Anthony Williams, Craig Lennon; Tommy Durnin, Bevan Duffy; Niall Sharkey, Ciarán Keenan, Conor Grimes; Ryan Burns, Sam Mulroy, Ciarán Downey.
Down 2-22 Offaly 3-13 (full-time): Down have got out the gap in the Tailteann Cup. Goals for Oisin Savage and Ryan Magill late on bought them a bit of breathing space at the end of a titanic encounter. Offaly played most of the second half with 14 men and it told in the end. Some game.
Westmeath 0-2 Galway 0-2 (12 mins): It’s been a cagey opening in Mullingar, with Westmeath points for Robbie Forde and Sam McCartan balanced out by two Galway replies. The home side have lost Ronan O’Toole to an early black card.
Tyrone 3-15 Clare 0-10 (full-time): Game over in Omagh, comfortable win for Tyrone in the end.
Kerry 1-11 Meath 0-5 (49 mins): GOAL for David Clifford! That’ll be that for Kerry, you’d imagine. David Clifford has barely had a sniff all day but when given a sight of goal by Tom O’Sullivan, his finish is emphatic and all of Meath’s good work since half-time has been undone.
Tyrone 3-14 Clare 0-10 (74 mins): Tyrone have turned this into a bit of a turkey shoot. Darragh Canavan is the latest to get in on the goalscoring act, scudding one to the net as Clare got caught forward. But it’s Mattie Donnelly has been the clear man of the match, with four points from play.
Kerry 0-10 Meath 0-5 (43 mins): Meath have been much the sharper team since the restart in Navan. Seán Coffey and Matthew Costello have found their range and it’s back to a five-point game.
Down 0-21 Offaly 3-11 (55 mins): Game on in the Tailteann Cup game Breffni. Offaly looked to be dead and buried with a red card soon after the restart. But they’ve plundered two goals in five minutes to draw level with 20 minutes to go. Down seemed to be easing to a handy win but this is anyone’s game now.
Tyrone 2-10 Clare 0-8 (62 mins): Comfortable for Tyrone now in Omagh. The Canavan brothers swap points and Mattie Donnely swishes one from play to push the home side into a eight-point lead with 10 minutes to go.
The third game of the day is Westmeath v Galway in Mullingar. Throw-in at 3pm. Here’s some team news...
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Johnny Heaney, Matthew Tierney, Céin D’Arcy; Cian Hernon, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid.
Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jamie Gonoud, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan; Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace, David Lynch; Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack; Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O’Toole, Charlie Drumm; Senan Baker, John Heslin, Robbie Forde.
Tyrone 2-7 Clare 0-8 (53 mins): Clare hit the post! They’re really having a cut here but Gavin Murray shot hops back to Niall Morgan and Tyrone go up the other end, where Darragh Canavan pops a free to put them five ahead.
Tyrone 2-6 Clare 0-8 (50 mins): A Darragh Canavan free quells a mini-fightback from Clare, who had kicked the previous two scores. Emmet McMahon answers with a free of his own and it’s a four-point game with 20 left on the clock.
Kerry 0-10 Meath 0-3 (half-time): Tony Brosnan posts his second of the day, Ó Beaglaoich doubles his total as well soon after. Kerry are at their ease thanks to Meath’s wastefulness. A seven-point lead at half-time for Jack O’Connor’s side, with most of their scores coming from their defenders. Neither David nor Paudie Clifford have had any real impact yet.
Tyrone 2-5 Clare 0-6 (41 mins): Badly needed free from Emmet McMahon, cutting the margin back to five for Clare. This could get away from them very easily here.
Kerry 0-7 Meath 0-3 (29 mins): Kerry go four ahead, a second point from Tom O’Sullivan. Meath have had more shots than Kerry but have kicked eight wides and dropped two short.
Tyrone 2-4 Clare 0-5 (38 mins): Back in action in Omagh and Mattie Donnelly puts Tyrone five ahead with a typically well-taken score.
Kerry 0-6 Meath 0-3 (27 mins): Meath’s wides are killing them. That’s six already, the latest from Matthew Costello.
Kerry 0-6 Meath 0-3 (25 mins): Eoghan Frayne is having a ball against Kerry. He has his third point on the board already, two of them from play. Meath are sticking in there against a Kerry team that hasn’t quite hit its stride yet. Sean O’Shea ups it though with a soaring point.
Kerry 0-4 Meath 0-1 (16 mins): Death, taxes and a Tom O’Sullivan point. The Kerry corner-forward gets up for his customary white flag, followed by one from Briain Ó Beaglaoich. Meath have had four wides, which they obviously can’t afford.
Down 0-11 Offaly 1-3 (30 mins): In the Tailteann Cup, Down have overcome the loss of an early goal to be in cruise control against Offaly. The latest score came from a Paul Quinn free.
Kerry 0-2 Meath 0-1 (10 mins): Brisk start in Navan. Early points from Kerry’s midfield pairing of Joe and Diarmuid O’Connor, broken up by a smart one on the turn by Meath corner-forward Eoghan Frayne.
Tyrone 2-3 Clare 0-5 (half-time): Not to be. Four-point game at the break.
Tyrone 2-3 Clare 0-5 (34 mins): Niall Devlin is getting the freedom of the park in Omagh. Ostensibly the Tyrone corner back, he’s surging forward whenever he can and his latest point means he has 2-1 against his name for the afternoon already. Clare could do with a score before half-time here.
Tyrone 2-2 Clare 0-5 (30 mins): But Tyrone strike back for another goal. Niall Morgan joined the attack and picked out a terrific ball into the full-forward line. It found its way to Niall Devlin and he rolled home his second goal of the afternoon. Tyrone aren’t doing a whole piel here but they’ve taken their two goals beautifully. Clare have kicked six wides, which will be annoying for them.
Tyrone 1-2 Clare 0-5 (27 mins): Ronan Lanigan drives forward for a Clare point. And having pushed up ohn the kick-out, they find an equaliser from Cillian Rouine.
Tyrone 1-2 Clare 0-3 (19 mins): Kiss of death, Mal. Niall Devlin sweeps home a goal for Tyrone after a full-court press. Clare had hit the post at the other end through McMahon and that’s a killer blow at the other end.
Clare 0-3 Tyrone 0-2 (18 mins): Clare push on into the lead with a free from Emmet McMahon. A bit of lip from the Tyrone defence got it brought in front of the posts. Clare are enjoying their trip north.
The second game of the day is Meath v Kerry in Navan. Hard to see anything other than a win for jack O’Connor’s side, who blew Monaghan away on the opening day in Killarney. Throw-in at 2pm.
Meath: Billy Hogan; Donal Keogan, Adam O’Neill, Ronan Ryan; Brian O’Halloran, Darragh Campion, Seán Coffey; Conor Gray, Michael Murphy; Ciarán Caulfield, Cillian O’Sullivan, Cathal Hickey; Sean Ryan, Mathew Costello, Eoghan Frayne.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Joe O’Connor; Tony Brosnan, Paudie Clifford, Cillian Burke; David Clifford, Seán O’Shea, Paul Geaney.
13 mins: Clare aren’t one bit cowed here - Ugweru is back on after his spell in the bin and they saw out the black card period on level terms.
8 mins: Cracking reply from Clare, as Emmet McMahon draws them level. Five minutes left on the black card, they’re holding their own. Tyrone 0-2 Clare 0-2
4 mins: Black card for Clare - an early blow for the visitors as Ikem Ugweru is headed for the sinbin after a handtrip on Mattie Donnelly. Niall Devlin puts Tyrone ahead straight away with a fine score from a sharp angle. Tyrone 0-2 Clare 0-1
2 mins: A quick score for Clare from the opening attack - Cillian Rouine surges forward to put them ahead. But Tyrone hit back immediately with one from Ciarán Daly at the other end. Tyrone 0-1 Clare 0-1
Just about ready to go in Omagh. Joe Oguz and Aidan Clarke are late changes for Tyrone, on for Conn Kilpatrick and Ben Cullen.
First up today is Tyrone v Clare at Healy Park in Omagh. On the face of it, a straightforward task for Tyrone. But they still have to go and do it. A defeat here, however unlikely, puts them out of the championship. Clare ran Cork to two points in their opening game, a result that isn’t looking too shabby after yesterday’s events in Páirc Uí Rinn. Throw-in at 1.30.
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Niall Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Aidan Clarke, Mattie Donnelly, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Joe Oguz; Ciarán Daly, Michael O’Neill, Seán O’Donnell; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Ruairi Canavan.
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Alan Sweeney, Cillian Rouine, Ikem Ugweru; Brian McNamara, Darragh Bohannon; Daniel Walsh, Dermot Coughlan, Gavin Murray; Ciarán Downes, Aaron Griffin, Emmet McMahon.
The sun is out, the games are on. Welcome to the Irish Times GAA Championship liveblog. We have five matches in Round Two of the All-Ireland Championship group stages, as well as two final round matches in the Tailteann Cup.
Malachy Clerkin with you until teatime.
