Clarke marks his debut for Down in impressive fashion

ROUND-UP SATURDAY'S GAMES:MARTIN CLARKE marked his senior debut for Down by bagging 1-6 in their 1-17 to 0-8 win over Queen's University in the Dr McKenna Cup on Saturday night. Clarke, who enjoyed some success with AFL side Collingwood last year, took his goal well from the penalty spot. Older brother John, back in the team under James McCartan, slotted three points.

Queen’s were never in contention and relied strongly on Derry’s James Kielt.

Perhaps the standout result in the competition was UUJ’s 0-16 to 1-12 win over Paddy O’Rourke’s Armagh at Crossmaglen. Ironically, Armagh players Stefan Forker and Jamie Clarke were amongst O’Rourke’s chief tormentors. Brian McCone’s first-half goal gave Armagh a good start but UUJ’s superior fitness told.

Dublin native Gareth Smith hit seven points in his first competitive outing for Cavan but lacked support up front. Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy and captain Kevin Cassidy were amongst the scorers as Donegal won 0-11 to 0-9.

A late goal from Cathal Óg Greene snatched victory for Laois over an unlucky DIT outfit in their O’Byrne Cup opener at Graiguecullen. DIT led by four points entering the final quarter but lost 2-9 to 1-9. It had begun well for Laois and Michael John Tierney’s 30th-minute goal was the difference between the sides at half-time. Dublin attacker Diarmuid Connolly seemed to have turned the game in DIT’s favour with his clinically converted penalty at the three-quarter mark helping to give them a 1-9 to 1-5 lead. The margin was halved by the time Greene fisted to the DIT net with less than four minutes of normal time remaining and points from Peter O’Leary and Tierney sealed the deal.

In the McGrath Cup preliminary round games played on Saturday, second-half goals from Barry John Keane, and George O’Keeffe produced the win for an experimental Kerry unit against Tralee IT at Strand Road. Tralee led by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time thanks to a goal at the end of the first quarter from Patrick Curtin. Points from Niall O’Mahony, Dave Geaney and Brian Looney kept Kerry in touch, with the goals sealing victory 2-12 to 1-11.

It was much more comfortable for Limerick against Waterford IT, with Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s Munster finalists recording a 3-9 to 0-6 success. Ian Ryan landed a brace of goals to give the Shannonsiders a six-point interval lead and Jim O’Donovan’s strike early in the second half ended the college side’s brave resistance.

Limerick IT almost made it a nice double but failed by just a goal to beat Tipperary. John Evans’ men prevailed 2-9 to 1-9 but it wasn’t until Peter Acheson’s goal that the Premier edged clear.