This weekend’s top-flight action saw Mayo, Galway and Monaghan secure their first league wins while Roscommon remained at the top of Division One.
Mayo 2-14 Kerry 1-10 @ Hastings MacHale Park
Having gone some time without contending with the Kingdom, Mayo got their own back on Saturday evening. Kevin McStay’s side led 2-8 to 0-3 at half-time and went on to win despite Kerry introducing David Clifford and Sean O’Shea at the break.
Ryan O’Donoghue was again the main man for Mayo, the forward struck 1-3, while additional scoring from James Carr (1-2) and Jordan Flynn (0-4) would see the hosts ease to their first victory in their 2023 league campaign.
Galway 0-16 Tyrone 0-13 @ Tuam Stadium
Galway clawed their opening Division One win after overcoming Tyrone in testing conditions at Tuam. With the breeze at their backs, the Tribesmen led at the interval by 0-7 to 0-3 and that would set them up for victory.
The Red Hands were improved in the second period and scores from Darren McCurry (0-4) and Cathal McShane (0-2) had the visitors within a point of their Connacht opponents with less just over ten minutes remaining.
But Galway fought their way back into the game and points from the red-hot Matthew Tierney (0-6) and Ian Burke (0-1) provided Padraig Joyce’s side with enough of an advantage to see off a late Tyrone surge.
Monaghan 1-20 Donegal 0-15 @ Clones
Donegal were condemned to a second loss on the bounce after a massive second half performance from Monaghan secured the Farney’s first league victory of 2023. The hosts were a point down at half time but a period when they scored six successive points could not be answered by the Tir Chonaill.
As ever, Jack McCarron led the Monaghan forward line and notched 0-7 in Clones while a late goal from substitute Sean Jones (1-2) ensured the county’s first win. Without skipper Patrick McBrearty, Donegal relied on Oisin Gallen (0-5) to keep them in the game but couldn’t cope with their hosts’ attack.
Roscommon 1-2 Armagh 0-12 @ Dr Hyde Park
Roscommon made it an impressive three in-a-row in the top-flight after they beat off Armagh by a three point margin. The Rossies remain at the summit of the league and look a dangerous prospect under Davy Burke.
Armagh just about edged proceedings in the opening half and led their hosts by a single point at the break. But their Connacht opponents came flying out of the blocks in the second half and an Enda Smith penalty was the vital score soon after. Late scores from Daire Cregg and Ben O’Carroll secured another win in Roscommon’s surprise league campaign.
