By Frank Shouldice

Galway 0-10 Kilkenny 1-16

ANY hopes of a repeat of last year’s thrilling All-Ireland semifinal were extinguished by an ill-tempered start to this Division 1B clash at Pearse Stadium.

Last year Galway forwards ran amok with such deadly pace that Kilkenny’s full-back line looked ready for retirement. However, the Cats were obviously still licking their wounds and they made their intentions clear early on that this time they were not for the taking.

Despite having the advantage of a strong breeze Galway failed to open up a first half lead. The sides were level on 0-7 apiece but Kilkenny pulled away in the third quarter.

Richie Power drilled a penalty over the bar and Eoin Larkin showed more of the form that has caught the eye this season. Willie O’Regan then punished a Tony Regan error for the only goal of the game.

Galway managed just two points from play in the second half, with Eugene Cloonan marked out by J.J. Delaney and Ger Farragher limited to rare contributions. “We were not good enough at all,” admitted losing manager Conor Hayes, realising that Galway are now out of contention for the League and must wait 11 weeks for their next competitive outing.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased,” countered Brian Cody, glad to have exacted some revenge for last year’s pasting.

Wexford 0-7 Cork 0-19

WEXFORD failed to produce any real challenge against the All-Ireland champions and Cork eased home by 12 points in a disappointingly one-sided game. Victory means that Cork can progress to the playoffs by beating Clare, and on the evidence produced at Wexford Park they are surely sharp enough to do just that.

Neil Ronan hit two rapid points to get the scoring going — he would hit five frees and five points from play — and even though Cork were playing into the breeze, it took Wexford 22 minutes to register their first point.

Even so, Dessie Mythen and Eoin Quigley followed a Rory Jacob free to level matters, however briefly. Ronan and Brian Corcoran then extended Cork’s lead, and although there was only two between the sides at the interval, five points without reply left the hosts struggling badly by the third quarter.

Laois 0-12 Tipperary 4-17

LAOIS fell foul of a Tipperary backlash after the Premier County’s humiliation by Galway last week. The game was effectively over by halftime. A penalty by Ken Dunne and a goal by Michael Webster gave Tipp a 2-11 to 0-4 advantage with the midlanders unable to make any inroads.

Webster grabbed a second goal and after Damien Culleton was sent off 14-man Laois were down and out. Dunne set up John Carroll to complete the rout.

Antrim 2-11 Limerick 4-24

LIMERICK were in no mood to squander League points at Casement Park and they went ruthlessly about their business. Each time Antrim raised a challenge Limerick responded, first when Donie Ryan cancelled out a Karl McKeegan free and then when Brian Begley set up Mark Keane for a goal just after McKeegan had converted a 65.

Limerick’s early dominance provided a nine-point half-time lead. Andrew O’Shaughnessy hit a hat-trick so that quick goals by Conor Cunning and Brendan Quinn didn’t really count for much.

Keane was also rampant, and with the job done Joe McKenna rested him ten minutes from the end. The win also ensured a playoff spot for Limerick and the manager was pleased with the season’s progress to date.

“We’re delighted but we’ll let things fall as they may now,” said McKenna. “We’ve progressed and that’s the important thing.”

Tyrone 0-12 Cork 0-8

AFTER a poor start that leaked defeats to Dublin and Fermanagh, Tyrone are back on track in the NFL after an assured display against Cork at Healy Park. The challenge now facing the All-Ireland champions is to beat Mayo to clinch an NFL semifinal spot, and on their current form few would bet against Mickey Harte’s prospects.

The fixture was delayed because of an unplayable pitch last month, and despite wet conditions Tyrone were quite comfortable in seeing off the Rebels. Joe McMahon was installed at center-back while Conor Gormley guarded the edge of the square.

Up front, Stephen O’Neill hit a series of wides before chalking up three points while Brian Dooher’s return to fitness saw him produce a trademark running game. The sides exchanged the first four points but Tyrone clocked the next three scores — Dooher, Sean Cavanagh and Martin Penrose — to take it up to halftime.

Cork struggled to make any room against a tight-marking defense and they could not narrow the deficit to less than three. Their best chance came when Kevin O’Sullivan had a goal chance five minutes from time. Pascal McConnell made a great save and Tyrone then closed it out.

Defeat in Omagh means Cork and Monaghan will meet next week to see which of them takes the drop from Division 1A.

“The trouble with our game is the scoreboard yet again,” rued Billy Morgan. “I mean eight points is just not good enough. We should be getting double figures at least and we’re not. It’s as simple as that. We’ve to go north again now (to Monaghan) to survive. Possibly a draw will do us although obviously, we’re not going to play for a draw.”