O'Sullivan's perfect start

National Football League Division Two A/ Limerick 0-14 Roscommon 0-11: Depleted Limerick gave Mickey Ned O'Sullivan the perfect start to his managerial career when they carved an impressive win over a disjointed Roscommon at the Gaelic Grounds, yesterday.

Without six regulars, including captain Muiris Gavin, and reduced to 14 men on 62 minutes when Timmy Carroll was sent off for a second bookable offence, Limerick played some stylish football and maintained their six-point interval advantage up to the closing 10 minutes.

Substitute Jason Stokes also had to retire injured just seven minutes after being introduced.

"We played with confidence and composure, all our six forwards found their range and I am pleased," said O'Sullivan.

Roscommon depended on Ger Heneghan to keep them in touch, the corner forward scoring their first seven points.

Ahead by double scores, 0-12 to 0-6, after the third quarter, Limerick lost their competitive edge and were put on the back foot by a hitherto disappointing Roscommon side who suddenly found a new lease of life.

Ronan Cox, Karl Mannion, Heneghan and Cathal Cregg threatened to turn the game around, and were it not for a brilliant save by goalkeeper Seán Kiely from Séamus O'Neill on 59 minutes, and a brave block by the outstanding Stephen Lavin from the same player, the issue would have been much closer.

Limerick started with a buzz and with John Galvin and Stephen Lucey towering over Séamus O'Neill and Michael Finneran in midfield, the home side led 0-8 to 0-2 at the interval.

Heneghan raised Roscommon hopes with a brace of points, but Limerick were not prepared to roll over, and Michael Reidy and Johnny Murphy kept them ahead.

Roscommon finished on a high with a string of points but the closest they came was to within two, before Michael Crowley had the final say to ease the pressure.

LIMERICK: S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, P Browne; C Mullane, D Reidy, S Lavin (0-1); J Galvin, S Lucey; P Ahern (0-1), T Carroll (0-1), S Buckley (0-1); M Crowley (0-3), J Murphy (0-3, one free), M Reidy (0-4, three frees). Subs: A Lane for Gallagher (inj, 40 mins), J Stokes for Browne (47 mins), G Noonan for Stokes (inj, 56 mins)

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; J Whyte, D Casey, S McDermott; J Rogers, P O'Connor, B Goode; S O'Neill, M Finneran; J Tiernan, G Lohan, D Connellan; G Heneghan (0-8, five frees), K Mannion (0-1), S Fahy. Subs: R Cox (0-1) for Lohan (21mins), C Cregg (0-1) for Finneran (35 mins), S Purcell for Rogers (55 mins), M O'Carroll for Goode (58 mins), B Higgins for Tiernan (63 mins)

Referee: D McColdrick (Meath)

Longford travel well

Longford 1-16 London 1-5: Longford got their campaign off to a winning start at Ruislip yesterday.They were leading 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time, their goal coming from Paul Barden.

They then took over in the second half, outscoring London 0-11 to 1-1. London's goal came nine minutes into the half through Andy Gallagher.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, C Conefery; D Corcoran, M Kelly, S Mulligan; A O'Connor, B McElvaney; K Smith, P Bergin (1-1), P Dowd; J Martin (0-3), K Mulligan (0-3), B Kavanagh (0-6, five frees). Subs: P Berry for Smith, D Barden (0-1) for Dowd, P Foy for Corcoran, T Glendenning for O'Connor, F Magee (0-2) for Martin.

LONDON: B Bearty; J Quinn, P Callaghan, P Earley; J Niblock, P McConigley, S Curran; E Brennan, K Waldron; N Clinton, E Sweeney, C Foody; J P Boyle (0-3, two frees), A Gallagher (1-1), W O'Sullivan. Subs: C Scanlon (0-1) for Quinn, A Dillane for Clinton, G Kane for Boyle, A McLernon for Dillane.

Referee: R Hickey (Clare).

Donegal saved by Sweeney's late point

Donegal 0-11 Leitrim 1-8: A point from Adrian Sweeney a minute into added-time gave Donegal a draw in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, yesterday.

It looked as if Leitrim had pulled off a shock when substitute Darren Duignan fired to the Donegal net with nine minutes left to put his side three points clear.

Donegal rallied well to hit three points in the last six minutes but they will not be happy with a very lacklustre performance.

The sides were level 0-5 each at the break as Leitrim started well before Donegal got into their stride.

Ciarán Duignan was in top form for Leitrim, hitting four first-half scores.

Donegal lost their goalkeeper, Michael Boyle, to injury after nine minutes but got back in the game thanks to the accurate boot of Michael Doherty.

The home side could never shake off Leitrim in the second period and were lucky in the end to get a draw.

DONEGAL: M Boyle; N McGee, R Sweeney, K Lacey; E McGee, B Monaghan, S McHugh; B Boyle, S McDermott (0-1); C Toye (0-2), C Bonner, M Caulfield; L Thompson, A Sweeney (0-2), M Doherty (0-5, five frees). Subs: P Durcan for Boyle, C Dunne for Caulfield, F McGlynn (0-1) for McHugh, R Kavanagh for Thompson, P McNulty for Bonner.

LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; D McHugh, B McWeeney, S Foley; G McCloskey, C Carroll; J Goldrick, C Regan, M Foley; B Prior, D Maxwell (0-1), C Duignan (0-7, five frees). Subs: E Mulligan for Regan, D Beck for Goldrick, D Duignan (1-0) for Foley.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).

Kane ensures Clare wrap things up early

Clare 1-11 Carlow 0-8: Both points were sealed before half-time at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday when Clare corner forward Richie Kane produced the game's only goal, giving the home-side a deserved 1-8 to 0-5 half-time lead.

The first half saw the sides level on two occasions before Clare took the lead for the first time on 27 minutes., a Michael O'Shea effort giving them a 0-6 to 0-5 advantage as his side upped their game considerably before the half-time break.

The Kilkee man added another before his club-mate, recently introduced substitute David Russell, added another in the 32nd minute.

Kane produced the goal on the stroke of half-time following an impressive movement that began in defence.

Following the break Clare increased their lead with a Rory Donnelly pointed free and then their prospects improved considerably due to the dismissal of Carlow half forward John Fitzgerald.

CLARE: D O'Brien; L Healy, D Kelly, P Gallagher; K Dilleen, R Slattery, G Kelly; B Considine, F O'Dea (0-2); N Considine, M O'Shea (0-2), A Clohessy (0-1, free), R Donnelly (0-3, frees), M O'Dwyer, R Kane (1-1). Subs: D Russell (0-1) for O'Dwyer (28 mins), E Coughlan (0-1) for N Considine (39 mins), G O'Leary for Dilleen (62 mins), J Dowling for Kane (69 mins).

CARLOW: J Brennan; C McCarthy, D Byrne, T Smith; P Fitzgerald, J Kehoe, J Ryan; P Walsh, R Walker (0-1); B Carbery (0-1), M Brennan, J Fitzgerald; K Pender (0-2), T Walsh (0-1), B Kelly (0-3, frees). Subs: B Hammon for P Fitzgerald, V Kavanagh for Smith, S Murphy for Walker.

Referee: V Neary (Mayo).