Mayo remain unbeaten after a tough battle with Roscommon, Galway and Armagh look on for that final spot in the decider not much separating the three, while Kerry need in their last two to avoid a relegation battle.
Armagh 0-13 Donegal 0-10, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
Armagh survived a late Donegal rally to claim a crucial win in the league, an additional time flurry saw them put the game to bed over Donegal.
Armagh were full value to pick up a four point lead at the break, Rian O’Neill and Andrew Murnin with two points each as they led 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.
The second half was a lot more entertaining as Donegal came back Hugh McFadden and Oisin Gallen made it a two point game, but Armagh came back into it as they exchanged scores but had a three point margin by the hour mark.
Points from Ciaran Thompson, Jamie Brennan and Jason McGee had Donegal a point behind as we entered added time, but O’Neill and a fine strike by Jarly Óg Burns had Armagh in control late on.
Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 2-9, O’Neills Healy Park
Tyrone picked up a huge win over Kerry to keep up their hopes of remaining in Div 1.
Sean O’Shea had the green flag unfurled in the opening minutes as Kerry raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead by the 12th minute. A blunder from Shane Ryan saw Brian Kennedy hit the net for Tyrone, the hosts came back toward the latter stages of the half as a Matty Donnelly effort saw them draw level at the break.
Like the opening half Kerry goaled early as Paul Murphy bagged their second, not long after David Mulgrew had put Tyrone ahead, points from Joe Oguz, Peter Harte and Darragh Canavan put Tyrone ahead by the 51st minute.
Darren McCurry and Donnelly edged Tyrone ahead before David Clifford and substitute Donal O’Sullivan reduced arrears to one point. Two Ruari Canavan points in added time sealed a big win for Tyrone.
Galway 1-13 Monaghan 0-10, Pearse Stadium
Despite finishing the game with 14 men Galway picked up a huge win as they now stake a claim to make the league final.
Monaghan started on top but Glaway would soon come back and make it a two point lead after the 28th minute with Paul Conry getting three points in the opening half hour. Killian Lavelle and Dessie Ward got Monagan back into it before Peter Cooke had the Tribesmen ahead once again.
Michael Banningan levelled the tie once again before Cooke was shown a straight red card, as Rory Began nailed a free to have the visitors ahead by one at the break.
Beggan added another free just after the break before Galway mounted a comeback, John Daly, Sean Kelly and Johnny Heaney all found their mark to put the hosts ahead by one, but Beggan again would soon equalise.
It really was a dramatic tie and little would separate them but Galway finished the half on the front foot, Robert Finnerty and Shane Walsh both scored points before Heaney fired into Beggan’s net, a late Matthew Tierney effort capped off the afternoon.
Roscommon 2-11 Mayo 1-16, Dr Hyde Park
Mayo have kept up their unbeaten start to the league with a two point win over Roscommon, despite a later Conor Cox goal they were composed to see out the win.
It was a Mayo bombardment in the opening quarter as by the 18th minute when the white flag signalled Rory Byrne had pointed his free, they were ahead by eight points, as it looked a one sided contest, two Diarmuid Murtagh points got the Rossies back into the tie,
Murtagh and Conor Daly pointed either side of James Carr and Cillian O’Connmor getting points, with O’Connor making it a five point lead for the Mayo men at the break.
O’Connor added two more after the break and despite Roscommon ticking over the scores Jack Carney made it a six point lead after 42 minutes. Carney hit the net five minutes later as Mayo looked in cruise control ahead 1-12 to 0-7.
But Roscommon were not dead and buried and points from Daire Cregg and Tadhg O’Rourke and a goal from Enda Smith made it a three point game in the 55th minute. O’Connor steadied the ship with a free but Cox landed one just after but Bob Tuohy kept Mayo four ahead.
James Carr was accurate as the minutes were ticking by till the end of lay, but a late flurry almost saw Roscommon snatch a draw, Ciaran Murtagh pointed a free before Cox rattled the Mayo net as we headed for added time, but Mattie Ruane was the calmest man on the field as his point two minutes into injury time proved crucial.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.