Review: Allianz NFL Div 3 Week 5

Cavan made it five games unbeaten, while Fermanagh can still make it out of the division as they sit in second, Westmeath were 31 point winners over Antrim and lead the chasing pack for promotion.

Fermanagh 2-11 Tipperary 0-8, Ederney

Fermanagh kept up their great run of form as two first half goals set the tone for their fourth win of the league as they aim to reach a decider.

Sean Quigley’s goal after eight minutes helped build an early four point lead for the hosts, Jack Kennedy added a second point for Tipperary but Aidan Breen added a point followed by their second goal to further extend the hosts lead after 25 minutes, 2-3 to 0-2.

Michael O’Reilly got only the third Tipperary point in the 28th minute, but points from Ultan Kelm, Shane McGullion and Lee Cullen had them ahead by nine at the break. Teddy Doyle got Tipp on the mark early in the second half but Breen and McGullion responded as Fermanagh showed no signs of faltering.

Stephen Quirke claimed a great mark before Kennedy added a free to leave seven between them, Ciaran Corrigan added a hat trick of late points to cap another fine win for The Lakeland County.

Cavan 2-14 Down 1-10, Kingspan Breffni Park

Cavan have extended their unbeaten streak to five games as they look the favourite to land the Div 3 crown, Paddy Lynch with a display hitting 2-5 to steer the ship.

Miceal Rooney opened the scoring after three minutes putting the ball into the Cavan net, Raymond Galligan got Cavan on the board with a free before Pat Havern cancelled it out with a point shy of the tenth minute.

Paddy Lynch and Dara McVeety made it a one point game after 17 minutes, but Andrew Gilmore kicked the next score for Down and keep their lead in tact. Lynch added another point before Cian Madden’s point on the half hour served as the final score of the half as they teams went in level at the break.

Cian Madden and Lynch got Cavan into an early second half lead with three points after the break, Gilmore got The Mournemen on the board with a free in the 42nd minute, but Dara McVeety cancelled that out two minutes later. Pat Havern landed two points at the midway point to make it a one point game.

Cavan responded as Brandon Boylan and Gearóid McKiernan both kicked over the black spot to make it a three point game, after plenty of back and fourth Lynch hit the net after 66 minutes to hit the crucial score to keep their lead healthy.

Havern added two more points either side of Lynch pointing once more, but the corner forward was far from finished and hit a late goal in added time to put the tie beyond doubt.

Westmeath 4-27 Antrim 0-8, TEG Cusack Park

Westmeath needed a big win to put them in a promotion hunt and certainly got that as they came out 31 point winners in Mullingar.

Josh Heslin ran the show early on, converting three frees, he also added one point from play and hit the back of the net all in the opening 17 minutes of play to see his side ahead 1-4 to no score. Luke McLoughlin and Heslin added a point each before Pat Shivers got the Saffrons on the board after 23 minutes.

Odhrán Westwood got a second minutes later but Heslin hit form once again another two frees made it a nine point game, Sean Baker hit the net for their second as the hosts looked more than comfortable.

Conor Stewart added a third before the break for Antrim, but McLoughlin and another brace for Heslin had the score 2-12 to 0-3 at the break, Heslin with 1-9 in the half. 15 seconds after the restart David Lynch had the third goal for the Lake County, they hit form early on as Heslin, Sam McCartan and Tom Molloy all hit points, 3-16 to -3 read the scoreboard after 48 minutes.

Pat Shivers got Antrim on the board in the second half after 48 minutes, with him and Ronan O’Toole each exchanging three points each, O’Toole added another on the hour mark and after McCartan pointed once more the lead was 24 points. Ruairi McCann and Eastwood finished the scoring for Antrim.

However it was either side of another Blitz from the hosts, McCartan hitting the back of the net, with Heslin, Tom Molloy, Sam Duncan and Shane Dempsey all pointing, with Dempsey adding another at the death.

Longford 1-16 Offaly 2-14, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Offaly picked up a crucial win in the hunt for promotion as they overcame a stern Offaly side who were out to avoid the drop.

Bernard Allen ignited the game in the 4th minute after both teams exchanged an early point, but less than 60 seconds later Daniel Mimnagh buried the ball into the net to level matters. Offaly would get on the board next but points from David McGivney, Dylan Farrell and Rian Brady had Longford ahead by two points after 18 minutes.

It was a fairly even half between the two, a strong Offaly move after the 22nd minute saw them take an advantage as Allen, Nigel Dunnem Anton Sullivan and Jack McEvoy all added points for a two point lead, however Longford finished the half strong, Farrell, Dessie Reynolds and David McGivney had ahead but Allen hit a point at the end of the half to leave the scores level at the break 1-9 a piece.

Longford started the better as the second half got underway Joseph Hagan, Oran Kenny and McGivney all pointing for a three point winning margin, Dylan Hyland got one back for Offaly but McGivney added another to cancel it out.

But Offaly soon found their feet and came back into the tie, Nigel Dunne and Hyland adding points before Jack Bryant hit the net in the 54th minute, Offaly ahead by three after Bryant’s goal bound strike, Allen and Cian Farrell added a point each as the scoreboard was with the visitors, Michael Quinn kick started a late Longford surge in added time, Quinn added a point in the 68th minute but Keelin McCann and Joseph Hagan added a point each in time added on but they could not find a late equaliser.

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.

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