Offaly and Antrim keep up pace

Division Four Round-up: Although they maintained their 100 per cent record, Offaly failed to impress when overcoming Tipperary, 1-11 to 1-7, on Saturday in Tullamore.

In a disappointing game fragmented by the awarding of a total of 59 frees, victory was assured only by the accurate finishing of ace marksman Niall McNamee, who chalked up 0-8.

Offaly led at the break by 0-7 to 0-4, but four minutes into the second half Barry Grogan tied the scores by netting a penalty awarded for a foul on himself.

Offaly responded well, a point by Pascal Kellaghan being followed by a sloppy goal finished by Thomas Deehan to put them back in front.

There they remained to the end, although the visitors had a chance to get back into contention when they were awarded a second penalty, which Grogan blazed over the bar.

In Ennis, Jody Gormley's Antrim made it three out of three when they dismissed Clare - 1-13 to 0-3.

Such was the poor display from the home side, they could only manage to score once from play during the 70 minutes.

A solid first-half performance in which they scored three goals set Carlow on their way to a 3-10 to 1-9 victory at the expense of London at Ruislip.

After having had the benefit of a strong wind in that period the visitors were well in command before the change of ends when they led by 3-5 to 0-3.

London had the better of the second half when they outscored their opponents by 1-6 to 0-5, but Carlow still ran out comfortable seven-point winners.

At Freshford, two early goals sent Waterford on their way to a 2-9 to 0-8 victory over Kilkenny.

Patrick Hurney and Ger Power raised the green flag inside the first nine minutes and the visitors led by 2-5 to 0-4 at the break.

SCORERS

Offaly: N McNamee 0-8, five frees; T Deehan 1-0; C McManus 0-2; P Kellaghan 0-1. Tipperary: B Grogan 1-5, all frees; D O'Brien, K Mulryan 0-1 each.

Antrim: M McCann 1-3, 0-1 from 45; P Cunningham 0-3, two frees; M McGill, T McCann; J Crozier, S Kelly, A Gallagher 0-1 each. Clare: D Tubridy 0-2, both frees; M O'Shea 0-1.

Waterford: G Power 1-1; P Hurney 1-0; C O'Keeffe, L Ó Lionáin, W Hennessy 0-2 each; S Briggs, S Cunningham 0-1 each. Kilkenny: E Brennan 0-6, all frees; P Sheehan 0-2.

Carlow: E McCormick 0-7, five frees; M Nolan 1-1; R Walker, B Kelly 1-0 each; P Broderick 0-1. London: C Donnellan 1-1, 0-1 from free; E Reilly (one free), M McNulty (one free), M Mulholland 0-2 each; F McMahon, D Moriarty 0-1 each.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times