Derry and Clare recorded wins to show newly promoted sides what the second tier is all about while Dublin and Meath took their first steps to promotion this weekend in this opening weekend of league fixtures.
Derry 0-16 – 0-04 Limerick
Ulster Champions Derry welcomed the Treaty County to Division 2 with a convincing win at Owenbeg.
The fixture saw Oak Leafs ease to a 12 point victory as star forward Shane McGuigan put on a fine display to notch nine points. The home side led by five points at half-time and powered onwards in the second period to show their promotion credentials.
Adrian Enright, Iain Corbett, James Naughton and Gordon Browne were the scorers for Limerick, and manager Ray Dempsey will know his outfit will have it all to do if they are to avoid an immediate drop.
Dublin 1-11 – 0-13 Kildare
The Dubs sneaked past the Lilywhites by a single point as they began their campaign to win promotion back to the top tier.
Dessie Farrell’s men were without some of their big hitters but a sixth minute goal from talisman Brian Fenton was pivotal to their eventual victory.
Several wides from the home side saw them lead Kildare by a point at the break but managed to open up a five point lead in the second-half.
However, the Lilies would come back and successive points from Jimmy Hyland, Jack Robinson, Darragh Kirwan and Neil Flynn put real pressure on their opponents but that all-important goal evaded the visitors and the Dubs held on.
Cork 0-19 – 3-14 Meath
Colm O’Rourke’s reign in charge of the Royals got off to a favourable start in the league as they handed the Rebels a four point defeat after a high-scoring affair.
Cork led by two points at the break despite Shane Walsh’s goal in the tenth minute thanks to the scoring of Stephen Sherlock, who had notched eight opening-half points for the Rebels.
Goals from Jordan Morris and Cillian O’Sullivan alongside several points saw Meath gain the upper hand in the second period and though Sherlock continued to kick over the bar for Cork, they couldn’t keep up with their opponent’s goal-scoring and the Royals took the day.
Clare 0-13 – 1-09 Louth
Second division veterans Clare used all their know-how to defeat the newly promoted Louth by the narrowest of margins on Sunday afternoon.
Sam Mulroy was well on form for the Wee County and stuck over five points in this tie and they looked to be heading for victory late on. Ciaran Downey netted what looked like a winning goal for Louth with a minute of normal time remaining but Clare launched a late comeback to fire over four points without reply.
A late,late point (scored over the six minutes of allotted additional time) from Jamie Malone sealed the win for the Banner as Louth once again failed to win their opening league game, a record running since 2017.
