Monaghan maintain strong position with high-scoring win against Wicklow

Monaghan came out on top of a goal-fest at St Tiernach’s Park to maintain their strong position in Division Three with a 5-13 to 3-10 win over Wicklow.

Conor McManus plundered two of those goals, while Paul Finlay, Colin Walshe and Dermot Malone also netted.

Austin O’Malley bagged a brace for Wicklow and Seanie Furlong struck late on, but by that juncture Monaghan had reaped the dividends of an excellent second half to render that contribution redundant.

Meath recorded a much-needed 1-17 to 2-12 win over Sligo in Páirc Tailteann. It wasn’t looking good for the hosts as they trailed by 2-9 to 1-5 at half time after Shane McManus and Adrian Marren had goaled for Sligo inside 11 minutes.

Stephen Bray did get one back though, prompting a much-improved second-half effort. Michael Newman, Brian Meade and Graham Reilly were among the scorers as the deficit was reduced. Further points from Newman and substitute Joe Sheridan snatched the honours.

Antrim paid the price for a dreadful first half to lose to Roscommon 0-11 to 1-6. They trailed by 0-7 to 0-1 at the break against John Evans’s side, for whom Cathal Cregg and Donie Smith impressed.

Fermanagh claimed their third win of the campaign with an impressive 1-12 to 1-10 win over Cavan.

In Division Four, Tipperary inflicted a first defeat on Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds. The visitors led by two points at the interval and kept up the momentum after the restart for a 0-15 to 0-9 win.

Offaly kept their promotion hopes alive as late goals from Sean Pender and Brian Connor snatched a 2-11 to 1-11 win over Carlow at O’Connor Park.

Leitrim maintained their progress with a 3-14 to 3-7 victory over Waterford in Carrick-on-Shannon.