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[UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP]

Irish Times

Fancied Tyrone dumped at home

UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP

Tyrone 1-07 Derry 1-14

AARON KERRIGAN'S 1-4 tally helped Derry dump a fancied Tyrone team out of the Ulster Under-21 Football Championship at Healy Park last night.


Kerrigan banged in a 59th-minute goal, but Derry should have had the game wrapped up long before.

A Mattie Donnelly goal gave Tyrone a slender lead with 10 minutes to play, but Derry outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-1 in the closing stages.

Derry eased ahead through Kerrigan and James Kielt, but Tyrone enjoyed a productive spell towards the end of the opening quarter, when excellent scores from Niall McKenna and Peter Harte saw them go ahead for the first time.

But they scored just one point in the remaining 19 minutes of the half.

Tyrone led 11 minutes into the second half when Diarmuid McNulty Donnelly got his goal.

But they managed just one further point.

TYRONE: T Harney; A Girvan, R McNamee, K Mossey; R McNabb, L O'Neill, G Teague; M McKenna (0-1), N McKenna (0-1); K Gervin, P Harte (0-2, 1f), C Harkin; K Coney, M Donnelly (1-2, 1f), D McNulty (0-1). Subs: D McDermott for McNamee, B McGarvey for M McKenna.

DERRY: A Warnock; D Bell, C McWilliams, O Duffy; C Nevin, B Doyle, B McCallion; A Kelly, C O'Boyle (0-1); E McGuckin (0-1), J Keilt (0-5, 5f), C McGoldrick; A Kerrigan (1-4), L Moore (0-2), L Kennedy (0-1). Subs: C McFeely for McGoldrick, B Herron for Kelly.
Referee S McLaughlin(Donegal)




Preliminary Round:
Dia Céadaoine 10-03-10
Tyrone 1-07 Derry 1-14

Quarter Finals:
Dia Céadaoine 24-03-10

Antrim v Monaghan

Cavan v Down

Armagh v Donegal

Derry v Fermanagh

[ARMAGH 0-17 MAYO 0-19]

Magic Moran tips the scales
By Joe Pilkington

ARMAGH 0-17  MAYO 0-19
A 10 POINT haul, including nine frees and a '65', by Tipperary native Brian Moran tipped the scales in favour of Mayo in an intriguing encounter at Crossmaglen, last Saturday.

The Moycarkey-Borris clubman scored five points in each half as Mayo overcame an 0-11 to 0-9 half-time deficit with a strong second half performance to win by two points.

It looked as if it was going to be a cakewalk for the Westeners as they raced into a 0-8 to 0-1 lead after 14 minutes but were hauled back by a free running Armagh side that missed a penalty and accumulated 15 first half wides to the visitors one, yet went in at the break in the lead.

In the fourth minute Ger Enright registered Armagh's opening point to halve the deficit as the visitors, with points from a Moran free and one from play from David Dowling, were out of the blocks a lot quicker. Three more Moran points, two from midfielder Derek McConn and one from Eoghan Madigan had Mayo seven points ahead by the quarter hour.

The last 20 minutes of the opening half belonged to Armagh as the visitors wilted inexplicably to be outscored 10 points to one. A 21 minute pointed '65' from Mayo's Moran was all that interrupted the string of points and wides chalked up by a rampant Armagh who really turned this game around.

Paul Breen with two from frees and two from play led the Armagh fightback and Ryan Gaffney and John Corvan grabbed a brace apiece, with Kieran McKernan and Paul McCormack, a free, completing the Armagh points haul. Corvan elected to take his point on 26 minutes with a good goal chance presenting itself.

On the half hourmark Mayo registered their only wide of the half and three minutes later with the teams tied at 0-9 apiece, Brian Higgins batted away a Paul McCormack penalty to safety to ensure a goal free opening half.

Manager Martin Brennan must have read the riot act at the break as Mayo came out a different proposition. They got closer and tighter and the space and freedom which Armagh had enjoyed evaporated. Saying that, immediately after the throw-in Armagh stretched their lead through a Fiachra Bradley point before Moran and McKernan traded points.

Mayo, however, then introduced dual star Keith Higgins to telling effect as he dropped in front of the half back line and mopped up a lot of loose ball to really steady the Mayo ship. Two Moran frees were followed by the best score of the match from David Dowling and the sides were level at 0-13 each some 10 minutes after the restart.



Higgins from play fired Mayo into a lead that they would never relinquish with parity twice the nearest Armagh got for the remainder of the game. A second Bradley point tied things before Mayo substitute Kenny Feeney gave the Westeners a shortlived lead as a Paul Breen free brought parity with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Mayo full-forward Ronan Cullinan got himself on the scoresheet on the hour mark before a Moran free, following a red card offence by Armagh's Barney McCann, doubled the lead. Another Mayo substitute Niall Murphy put a goal between the teams with his side's eighteenth point of the afternoon. Paul McCormack, now operating at full-forward, pulled one back for Armagh before Armagh goalkeeper Joby Burke pointed a free which was moved closer to goal for dissent as the game moved into added time.

Fittingly, Man-of-the-Match Moran had the final say with the last point of the game taking him to double figures in a most productive afternoon for the Tipperary man.

As Mayo returned to the West, they will have contemplated how they lost control after such a terrific start.

SCORERS – Mayo: Brian Moran 0-10 (9f, 1 '65'), Derek McConn and David Dowling 0-2 each, Ronan Cullinane, Eoghan Madigan, Keith Higgins, Niall Murphy and Kenney Feeney 0-1 each. Armagh: P Breen 0-5, P McCormack, J Corvan, R Gaffney, F Bradley and K McKernan 0-2 each, J Burke and G Enright 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: J Burke; B Mallon, P McArdle, F McMullan; P McCormack, B McCann, B Breen; K McKernan, R Gaffney; J Corvan, C Carvill, P Breen; G Enright, C McCann, F Bradley. Subs: B McCormack (for C McCann), P Cunningham (for McKernan).

MAYO: D O'Brien; B Higgins, K Moran, S Morley; E Madigan, P Barrett, C Ryan; S Markham, D McConn; S Hunt, D Dowling, B Moran; S Hoban, R Cullinane, Kenny Robinson. Subs: K Higgins (for Hunt), K Feeney (for Robinson), N Murphy (for Hoban), S Hunt (for Madigan).

Referee: Garrett Duffy (Antrim)

[Armagh: 1-14]

By DARAGH O CONCHUIR
National Football League Division 2

Armagh: 1-14
Kildare:   1-12

KILDARE'S education continues under Kieran McGeeney but the former All-Ireland winning captain had to watch his charges endure a painful lesson at the hands of many of his former team-mates, as Armagh ground out a deserved victory in Newbridge to end the hosts' unbeaten record in Division 2.

Kildare's Brian Flanagan gets the ball upfield against Armagh in the Allianz NFL Division 2 game at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.

The result and display prompted much doom and gloom around St Conleth's Park, which tells a tale.

The Lilies have come a long way in a short space of time, and expectation had begun to go through the roof.

This should introduce a little reality to proceedings but the fact of the matter is this. Kildare played very poorly – scoring only three second half points, with two of those from Johnny Doyle frees - and still almost stole victory against the strongest team Armagh have been able to field this year.

They lost but remain favourites to be promoted, with their fate in their own hands. Much more importantly, they are making themselves genuine contenders to reach a Leinster final.

That is a bit down the line yet of course. But there was much to be upbeat about after Sunday's game, if you sift through the details.
Kildare did so much wrong. Midfield struggled badly for a start. Armagh targeted Dermot Earley and Kevin Toner did a number on the Sarsfields man, not always within the boundaries of the rules.

Earley allowed Toner's bumping, buffeting, pulling and dragging to get under his skin however and that clearly affected his overall game, quite apart from the aerial stakes.

In contrast to Toner, Charlie Vernon was very prominent on the ball, making numerous runs in support of his attack as well as winning primary possession, chiefly because Earley was unable to make a run.
Recognising this, McGeeney moved swiftly, hauling Killian Brennan ashore after just 18 minutes. Rob Kelly came on and he tried hard in what was a competitive baptism of fire for the Straffan man.

Shane McCormack might have varied his kickouts a bit more given Kildare's midfield travails, but only used two short ones. It always helps to have Plans B, C and D. Ronan Sweeney's off-day at wing-forward didn't help with the options mind you.

Most disappointing of all though was the number of times Kildare players lost the ball in the tackle, or gave it away with a dreadful pass. For some reason players overcarried when the likes of Johnny Doyle, James Kavanagh and Alan Smith were making good runs.

The irony of the situation is that Kildare's style of play this season is perfectly suited to beating Armagh; the long, quick ball into a moving forward. They lost their composure though, having been hit hard, and been faced with a sea of orange.

And yet, they nearly won.

Judging from the past 12 months the lessons will be learned and when similar conditions are encountered again, in a much more important game, one would expect the brain to maintain control and stave of panic.
The crucial score of the game was Aidan O'Rourke's goal from a 40th minute penalty, after Brian Flanagan was adjudged to have hauled Martin O'Rourke down inside the area.

It looked a harsh enough call by the overly fussy Michael Kelly but Flanagan might well recall that it was him losing possession cheaply around midfield that led to the swift counter-attack.

The stand-in full-back converted the kick with aplomb, sending McCormack the wrong way.

Kelly's officiating was eccentric to say the least – how it took Toner until the second half to get a black book having committed three fouls on Earley inside the opening five minutes beggars belief – and the Sligo man tried to even matters up when giving an even softer penalty to Kildare three minutes from time, somehow concluding that Andy Mallon had fouled Eamonn Callaghan.

Michael Conway was the man entrusted with the spot-kick duties, having already slotted three brilliant points from play. His score just before half time will live long in the memory, an example of what this team can do when at their free-flowing best.

Clarke was penalised for over-carrying when trying to make ground along the Kildare endline. Conway himself took the free and the ball went through at least another six pair of hands before finding its way back to the Nurney man who drove over with relish from 35m.

The penalty wasn't so memorable though. Once again Kildare missed from the spot, although this time it was a good save from Philip McEvoy – who had denied Ken Donnelly and Callaghan earlier – that was the cause.
The rebound came back out to Conway, significantly, on his right boot. He didn't realise the amount of time he had and his scuffed effort came back off the inside of the post and was eventually cleared.

The first half had been better for the hosts, with James Kavanagh kicking two wonderful points and Pàdraig O'Neill lofting over a massive, soaring left-footed effort from just outside the 45.

Callaghan continued his impressive scoring form this season to go with his industry, rocketing a shoot to the Armagh net in the 25th minute via the underside of the crossbar, although the suspicion might have been that he was going for a point. Given that his jersey was tugged for what probably should actually have been a penalty, it was a fair result.

That score gave Kildare a 1-7 to 0-8 half time lead but Armagh upped the intensity even further in the second half and the Lilies struggled badly for 25 minutes.

They did find it within themselves to almost commit daylight robbery though and threw everything at the visitors in the closing stages.
This wasn't a glorious defeat but it could be one that is remembered most fondly come the summer.

Armagh: P McEvoy; A Mallon, A O'Rourke 1-0(pen), F Moriarty; T McClelland, C McKeever, B Shannon; K Toner, C Vernon; A Kernan 0-3(fs), M O'Rourke, B Mallon 0-1; S McDonnell 0-2(fs), R Clarke 0-4, K O'Rourke 0-2. Subs: S Kernan for K O'Rourke (62); T Kernan for Clarke (67); P Courtney for Moriarty (70+2)

Yellow: B Donoghue for M O'Rourke (70)

Kildare: S McCormack; A McLoughlin, K O'Neill, H McGrillen; M Scanlon, B Flanagan, M Conway 0-3; K Brennan, D Earley; E Callaghan 1-0, P O'Neill 0-1, R Sweeney; J Kavanagh 0-2, K Donnelly, J Doyle 0-4(3fs). Subs: R Kelly for Brennan (19); K Ennis for Sweeney (ht); M O'Flaherty for Scanlon (42); A Smith for Donnelly (44)

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo)

[(Tuesday)]

09-03-10 (Tuesday)
National Hurling League

Round 1 Re Fixture

Laois 1-15 Cill Dara 0-08

[Ulster Under 21 Football Championship]

Ulster Under 21 Football Championship:
Preliminary Round

Tyrone v Derry  (Healy Park Omagh)  Dia Céadaoine 10-03-2010 20:00 Shaun McLaughlin

[Ulster Minor Football League]

Ulster Minor Football League
Section A
  Round 1
Armagh  - - Monaghan    13/03/2010   
Down  - - Dublin    13/03/2010   
Cavan  - - Meath    13/03/2010   

Round 2
Armagh  - - Meath    20/03/2010   
Monaghan  - - Down   20/03/2010   
Cavan  - - Dublin    20/03/2010 

Round 3 
Cavan  - - Armagh   27/03/2010
Monaghan  - - Dublin   27/03/2010   
Down  - - Meath   27/03/2010

Round 4 
Monaghan  - - Meath   03/04/2010   
Down  - - Cavan    03/04/2010   
Armagh  - - Dublin   03/04/2010 

Round 5
Armagh  - - Down   10/04/2010 12:00 
Monaghan  - - Cavan   10/04/2010 12:00   
Dublin  - - Meath    10/04/2010 12:00   


   

Ulster Minor Football League
Section B
Round 1
Donegal  - - Fermanagh   13/03/2010   
Tyrone  - - Derry    13/03/2010   
Antrim  - - Westmeath    13/03/2010 

Round 2
Derry  - - Donegal    20/03/2010 
Fermanagh  - - Antrim    20/03/2010   
Tyrone  - - Westmeath    20/03/2010

Round 3 
Derry  - - Antrim    27/03/2010
Donegal  - - Tyrone   27/03/2010   
Fermanagh  - - Westmeath   27/03/2010

Round 4 
Tyrone  - - Fermanagh    03/04/2010   
Antrim  - - Donegal   03/04/2010 
Derry  - - Westmeath    03/04/2010

Round 5 
Fermanagh  - - Derry   10/04/2010   
Antrim  - - Tyrone   10/04/2010   
Donegal  - - Westmeath    10/04/2010 

[Ulster Minor Football League]

Ulster Minor Football League
Section A 

Armagh  Monaghan  Cullyhanna 13/03/2010 12:00 Owen Quinn

Down  Dublin  Páirc Esler Newry  13/03/2010 12:00 Eugene McConnell   

Cavan  Meath  Breffni Park  13/03/2010 12:00 Sean Gilsenan

Ulster Minor Football League
Section B

Donegal  Fermanagh  Letterkenny 13/03/2010 12:00 Cathal O Hagan

Tyrone  Derry Pomeroy  13/03/2010 12:00 Shaun McLaughlin 

Antrim  Westmeath  Ahoghill  13/03/2010 13:00 Fergal Daly


Ulster Minor Hurling League Division 1

Antrim 3-11 Derry 2-07  Loughgiel  13/03/2010 12:00 Kieran McGuinness 

Armagh 1-14 Down 1-11 Middletown  14/03/2010 12:00 Colm Cunning 

Ulster Minor Hurling League Division 2

Fermanagh 1-03 Donegal 1-09 Lisnaskea 13/03/2010 12:00 Alan Richardson   

Monaghan 1-12 Tyrone 3-16 Cloghan-Annyalla 13/03/2010 12:00 Niall Clifford
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulster Minor Hurling League Division 1
Round 1
Antrim  3-11 Derry 2-07
Armagh  1-14 Down 1-11   

Round 2 
Down  - - Derry  20/03/2010
Antrim  - - Armagh  20/03/10

Round 3
Derry  - - Armagh  27/03/2010 
Down  - - Antrim  27/03/10

Ulster Minor Hurling League Division 2
Round 1 
Fermanagh  1-03 Donegal 1-09   
Monaghan  1-12 Tyrone 3-16

Round 2 
Fermanagh  - - Monaghan  20/03/2010 
Donegal  - - Tyrone  20/03/2010

Round 3
Tyrone  - - Fermanagh  27/03/2010 
Donegal  - - Monaghan  27/03/2010 

[(Sunday)]

14-03-010 (Sunday)
National Hurling League
Round 3
Roinn I
Thurles 2.30pm Tiobraid Árann v Gaillimh
Referee: John Sexton (Corcaigh)

Páirc Ui Chaoimh 2.30pm Corcaigh v Cill Chainnigh TG4 (Live)
Referee: Dickie Murphy (Loch Garman)

Tullamore 2.30pm Uíbh Fhailí v Áth Cliath
Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois)

Fraher Field Dungarvan, 2.30pm Port Láirge v Luimneach
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tiobraid Árann)

Roinn II
Cusack Park 2.30pm An Clár v Loch Garman
Referee: Declan O'Driscoll (Luimneach)

Ballygalget 2.30pm An Dún v Ceatharlach
Referee: Owen Elliott (Aontroim)

Casement Aerodrome 2.30pm Aontroim v Laois
Referee: Gerard Devlin (Ard Macha)

Roinn IIIA
Tralee 2.30pm Ciarraí v An Mhí
Referee: Michael O'Connor (Luimneach)

Crossmaglen 12.45pm Ard Macha v Londain
Referee: Ray Matthews (Aontroim)

Castlebar 2.30pm Maigh Eo v Doire
Referee: Pat Greene (Gaillimh)

Roinn IIIB
Arklow 2.30pm Cill Mhantáin v Sligeach
Referee: Pat Casey (Port Láirge)

Swords 2.30pm Fingal v Dún na nGall
Referee: Ciaran Groome (Uíbh Fhailí)

Drogheda 2.30pm An Lú v Ros Comáin
Referee: Declan Magee (An Dún)

Tír Eoghain - no game

Roinn IV
Irvinestown 12.45pm Fear Manach v An Cabhán
Referee: Eamon Hasson (Doire)

Carrick-on- Shannon 2.30pm Liatroim v An Dún Theas
Referee: Jim O'Rourke (Muineachán)

Inniskeen 2.30pm Muineachán v Longfort
Referee: Garrett Duffy (Aontroim)

[(Saturday)]

13-03-2010 (Saturday)
Football National Football League
Round 4
Roinn I
Omagh 7.30pm Tír Eoghain v Corcaigh Setanta Ireland
Referee: David Coldrick (An Mhí)

Parnell Park 7.30pm Áth Cliath v Muineachán Setanta 1
Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

Celtic Park 7.30pm Doire v Maigh Eo
Referee: Cormac Reilly (An Mhí)

Roinn II
Ballybofey 7.30pm Dún na nGall v An Dún
Referee: Pat McEnaney (Muineachán)

Roinn III
Breffni Park 7.30pm An Cabhán v Loch Garman
Referee: Jimmy McKee (Ard Macha)

Round 5
Roinn IV
Gaelic Grounds 7.30pm Luimneach v Port Láirge
Referee: Jer Lynch (Ciarraí)

National Hurling League
Round 3
Roinn II
Cusack Park 2.30pm Iar Mhí v Cill Dara
Referee: Fergus Smith (An Mhí)

14-03-10 (Sunday)
National Football League
Round 4
Roinn I
Pearse Stadium 2.30pm Gaillimh v Ciarraí TG4 (Deferred)
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligeach)

Roinn II
Cusack Park 2.30pm An Iarmhí v Laois
Referee: Vincent Neary (Maigh Eo)

Crossmaglen 2.30pm Ard Macha v Cill Dara
Referee: Joe McQuillan (An Cabhán)

Thurles 12.45pm Tiobraid Árann v An Mhí
Referee: Tom Lynch (Ciarraí)

Roinn III
Markievicz Park 2.30pm Sligeach v Uíbh Fhailí
Referee: Frank Flynn (Liatroim)

Hyde Park 2.30pm Ros Comáin v Aontroim
Referee: Tomás Quigley (Áth Cliath)

Brewster Park, 2.30pm Fear Manach v An Lú
Referee: Martin Sludden (Tír Eoghain)

Round 5
Roinn IV
Dr Cullen Park 2.30pm Ceatharlach v Cill Chainnigh
Referee: Michael McGann (An Clár)

Pearse Park 2.30pm Longfort v Cill Mhantáin
Referee: Paul Kneel (Lú)

Ruislip 1.30pm Londain v An Clár
Referee: Paul Finnegan (Lú)

Liatroim - day off

[Football National Football League]

13-03-2010 (Saturday)
Football National Football League
Round 4
Roinn I
Omagh 7.30pm Tír Eoghain v Corcaigh Setanta Ireland
Referee: David Coldrick (An Mhí)

Parnell Park 7.30pm Áth Cliath v Muineachán Setanta 1
Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

Celtic Park7.30pm Doire v Maigh Eo
Referee: Cormac Reilly (An Mhí)

Roinn II
Ballybofey 7.30pm Dún na nGall v An Dún
Referee: Pat McEnaney (Muineachán)

Roinn III
Breffni Park 7.30pm An Cabhán v Loch Garman
Referee: Jimmy McKee (Ard Macha)

Round 5
Roinn IV
Gaelic Grounds 7.30pm Luimneach v Port Láirge
Referee: Jer Lynch (Ciarraí)
National Hurling League
Round 3
Roinn II
Cusack Park 2.30pm Iar Mhí v Cill Dara
Referee: Fergus Smith (An Mhí)

14-03-10 (Sunday)
National Football League
Round 4
Roinn I
Pearse Stadium 2.30pm Gaillimh v Ciarraí TG4 (Deferred)
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligeach)

Roinn II
Cusack Park 2.30pm An Iarmhí v Laois
Referee: Vincent Neary (Maigh Eo)

Crossmaglen 2.30pm Ard Macha v Cill Dara
Referee: Joe McQuillan (An Cabhán)

Thurles 12.45pm Tiobraid Árann v An Mhí
Referee: Tom Lynch (Ciarraí)

Roinn III
Markievicz Park 2.30pm Sligeach v Uíbh Fhailí
Referee: Frank Flynn (Liatroim)

Hyde Park 2.30pm Ros Comáin v Aontroim
Referee: Tomás Quigley (Áth Cliath)

Brewster Park, 2.30pm Fear Manach v An Lú
Referee: Martin Sludden (Tír Eoghain)

Round 5
Roinn IV
Dr Cullen Park 2.30pm Ceatharlach v Cill Chainnigh
Referee: Michael McGann (An Clár)

Pearse PK 2.30pm Longfort v Cill Mhantáin
Referee: Paul Kneel (Lú)

Ruislip 1.30pm Londain v An Clár
Referee: Paul Finnegan (Lú)

Liatroim - day off

[(Saturday)]

06-03-2010 (Saturday)

National Football League
Round 3

Roinn I

Cork 1-19 Gaillimh 1-17

Roinn II

Laois 0-12 Ard Macha 0-13

An Dún 0-14 Tiobraid Árann 1-11

An Mhí 1-12 An Iarmhí 2-08

Roinn III

Aontroim 0-16 Fear Manach 0-08

National Hurling League

Round 1 Re Fixtures

Roinn IIIA
Ard Macha 0-17 Maigh Eo 0-19

Roinn IIIB
Fingal 1-07 Cill Mhantáin 0-15

Roinn IV

Longfort 2-14 An Dún Theas 1-14

07-03-010 (Sunday)

National Football League
Round 3

Roinn I

Maigh Eo 1-08 Áth Cliath 1-09

Ciarraí 0-15 Doire 1-09

Muineachán 1-14 Tír Eoghain 0-16

Roinn II

Cill Dara 1-17 Dún na nGall 1-09

Roinn III
Loch Garman 3-07 Sligeach 1-06

Uíbh Fhailí 2-14 Ros Comáin 2-13

An Lú 0-13 An Cabhán 1-06

Round 4

Roinn IV

Port Láirge  0-10 Longfort 1-07

Cill Chainnigh 0-02 Londain 1-17

Cill Mhantáin 0-14 Ceatharlach 0-07

An Clár 2-12 Liatroim 0-17

Luimneach - no match


National Hurling League

Round 1 Re Fixture

Roinn I

Tiobraid Árann 1-14 Cill Chainnigh 0-13


Roinn IV

Muineachán 5-14 Fear Manach 3-07


09-03-10 (Tuesday)
National Hurling League

Round 1 Re Fixture

Portlaoise 8.00pm Laois v Cill Dara
Referee: Declan O'Driscoll (Luimneach)

Wexford 3-07 Sligo 1-06

The cluiche is 'ar an bhealach.'
After these adverts.

Squidward is in a bit of trouble.

Wexford 3-06 Sligo 0-06