Westmeath 0-11 Offaly 0-11
Paddy Fagan’s point deep into injury-time ensured Westmeath secured a draw against Offaly in round two of the Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup in Mullingar.
James Maxwell opened the scoring for the hosts, but it was the visitors who shaded proceedings in the opening 35 minutes.
Anton Sullivan, Bernard Allen, Niall Darby, and two Shane Tierney frees ensured the Faithful County enjoyed a 0-06 to 0-04 lead at the interval, with Fagan and Kieran Martin on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Ger Egan drew the sides level 10 minutes into the second half, and the neighbours would be level on three further occasions before Shane Tierney’s point for Offaly appeared like it would be the winning score.
However Fagan kept his cool to ensure a share of the spoils at St Loman’s Park.
Louth 1-17 Wicklow 1-09
A strong second-half performance from Louth paved the way for their eight-point O'Byrne Cup victory over Wicklow in Bray.
The visitors held a two-point advantage at the break, 1-08 to 1-06, but John Evans’ team were very much second best from there on in.
Declan Byrne (above), Tommy Durnin and Sam Mulroy were among the scorers as the Wee County pressed ahead, with Ciarán Downey claiming the final two scores of the game.
Monaghan 1-20 Antrim 1-12
In the only game in the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup, All-Ireland semi-finalists Monaghan proved too strong for Antrim in Clones.
The opening 25 minutes were hard-fought, with Darren Freeman nudging the Fareny men into a 0-06 to 0-5 lead.
Antrim would add only one more score before the interval as Monaghan’s pressure began to tell in the scoreboard, holding a five-point advantage at the break.
A goal from James Mealiff three minutes after the resumption effectively put paid to the game as a contest, with three more points giving Malachy O’Rourke’s side a 12-point lead.
Monaghan made a raft of substitutions and a Ruairi McCann put a better look on the scoreboard, with the home side eventually easing to an eight-point win on the day Colin Walshe made his 100th appearance for his county while brother Jamie made his debut.
I wonder have these sheep 🐑 paid into Clones today? #BeThereAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/hYc8mkSgyd
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) December 29, 2018
