Never do maths on live TV, or on Twitter – that is the lesson we have learned from today’s final round of Allianz football league matches.
In the end, Monaghan’s single-point win was enough to keep them afloat in Division One, while Cork, after a 0-20 to 1-12 loss in Tralee, slip into Division Two along with Down.
It had looked good for so long for the Rebels, despite being outplayed by Kerry in Tralee for long spells.
They were level with less than 15 minutes to go, but Michael Shields’ red card ended their hopes of getting a precious win, but they still had hope of staying up despite the loss.
Red for Michael Shields for a box to the nose pic.twitter.com/B6SlVdnLh8
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 3, 2016
If Donegal could have beaten Monaghan, the Munster side would have been fine, and that looked the case until Colin Walshe, scoring in the second minute of the additional time, helped the Farney lead for the first time, and hold on for a 1-10 to 1-9 win.
It was all down to simple, or not so simple, maths as the teams ended level on the same amount of points, but their inferior scoring difference condemned Cork to relegation along with Down.
Dublin continued their impressive spring form with a narrow win against ‘home’ side Roscommon in Carrick-on-Shannon by 1-13 to 1-12, while Mayo just held on for a 1-19 to 1-6 win over luckless, and winless, Down.
Allianz football Div 1 semi-finals
Dub v Donegal
Roscommon V Kerry— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 3, 2016
In Divison 2, the best efforts of Armagh were not enough to prevent them dropping to Division 3 for 2017.
They beat Derry well, 1-18 to 0-15, but the damage had been done in the earlier rounds, and they, along with Laois are demoted.
Div 2 league final is Tyrone and Cavan. Laois and Armagh demoted to Div 3 for 2017
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 3, 2016
Cavan, the so-called ‘Black Death of Gaelic football’ according to one Joe Brolly, are in a Division 2 final against Tyrone after a 1-16 to 0-12 win over Galway, while Mickey Harte’s side grasped a draw in their clash with Fermanagh, 0-12 to 1-9.
NFL Division 2 – Fermanagh 0-12 v Tyrone 1-9. FULL TIME. We are staying in Division 2 for 2017. Yesssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done lads
— Fermanagh GAA (@FermanaghGAA) April 3, 2016
The relegation four-pointer was won by Meath, as Evan Carroll’s red card for Laois unsettled them and the Royals won by 0-17 to 1-9, with Graham Reilly key to the win for an under-pressure Mick O’Dowd.
In Division 3, Clare and Kildare will contest the league final later this month despite the Munster side’s loss to Cian O’Neill’s side.
It’s a second successive promotion for the Banner men and a serious boost to football in the county.
Div 3 relegation is Limerick and Westmeath. Kildare and Clare will contest league final.
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 3, 2016
The only other game of note was the Longford-Westmeath game, where it was a second successive demotion for the Lake County after a 0-16 to 0-13 loss while Limerick’s miserable season, and relegation, was compounded by a 0-16 to 0-13 loss to Offaly.
Three consecutive relegation for Westmeath footballers. Division 1 to Division 4 in three years 😕
— Conor Donnelly (@conorjdonnelly) April 3, 2016
In Division 4, Antrim and Louth played a preamble to their league final proper by sharing a draw in a 0-12 to 1-9 encounter, while Wicklow enjoyed a 2-10 to 1-10 win over London and Wexford ended their season with a 2-17 to 2-6 win over Carlow.
The best tweet of the year 😃 @odhran_mckenna and @CJMcKenna1 watching @AontroimGAA today👍😃👏👌 pic.twitter.com/3EfoZJtxtF
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) April 3, 2016
